In a time when the U.S. home size averages to roughly 2,000 square feet - which is 4 times the international average - I love seeing the development of these tiny homes which are sustainably built. They are absolutely beautiful, well designed and are proof that the right design and efficient living makes all the difference. We try to live under that philosophy - keeping our ownership of "stuff" to a minimum when we can and using our vertical space to take advantage of every inch of space our home has to offer - but for a couple of book lovers, sentimentalists and my fascination with furniture we aren't always successful.
These homes by Tumblweed Tiny House Company range in size from 65 square feet to 874 square feet. The B-53 and the Whidbey are two of my favorites for the larger sized options.
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| B-53 - 3 bedroom home with 874 sq. ft. Estimated cost to build: $58,000 |
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| Whidbey - 2 bedroom home 557 sq. ft. Estimated Cost to build: $41,500 |
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| Anderjack Box Bungalow - 99 sq. ft. |
Has your small home appetite still not be sated? Learn even more about building smaller-scale homes at the Build Small: Live Large Housing Summit being held on Friday, October 26 in Portland, Oregon hosted by that ol' employer I was raving about, Cascadia Region Green Building Council.
The 2012 Build Small | Live Large Housing Summit will gather leaders in the development, real estate, building and design sector from across the bioregion for an intensive day of inspiration, project case studies and peer-to-peer learning. Industry professionals will see innovative designs and learn about the financial success stories emerging across our area.
Could I live in a small home? Well, our condo in Seattle is a 667 square foot 2 bedroom 1 bathroom home and while it was a bit cramped for the hubs and I, after some good ol' downsizing and some creative decor options I think it would be more than enough for our family of three.
So what about you guys? Could you ditch your junk and live on a small footprint or does that thought terrify you?
I love small homes! We've downsized from roughly 1400 sq ft down to 840 sq ft. It was a rough transition due to all the "stuff" my husband and I accumulated when we were single just packed away in boxes in the garage. The process was terrifying at first, but it just made sense. Who needs 3 sets of Rock Band drums anyway?
ReplyDeleteWe've still got a long way to go in making our space more efficient and functional, but I don't regret purchasing a smaller home. It just forces you to be more creative! ;)
Cute houses. We're not in the market, but if we ever move I'd definitely go smaller!
ReplyDeleteMy partner and I moved from a spacious (in English terms!) one bedroom flat to a pretty small houseboat 6 months ago. I think it is around 270-300 square feet, and some of that is taken up by the engine. I was a little anxious about the space issue, but we have adjusted really well. There are so many advantages to livin in a smaller space: less time spent on cleaning (!), the sense of freedom that comes with having less "stuff", lower living costs and being able to own our own home instead of renting a bigger place, etc...
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