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tiny house

Vincent Russell | March 9, 2014 | 2 Comments

The Simple Things in Life – Tiny House Living – Vincent Russell

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A few weeks ago, I presented the idea of a movement happening around the globe known as the tiny house movement. A lot of people expressed serious concerns about space issues or having children in a tiny house. As such, I felt it due diligence to address those concerns by sharing a video from Graham Hill, founder of treehugger.com. He turned his 420 square-foot SoHo apartment into a “One-Size Fits All” space.

 

“The simple things in life are often the greatest gifts.” – Bryant McGill

 

1. Living with children in a tiny house. Is it possible?

Yes and no. But the term “tiny house” is relative, as many people have different views on what is tiny and what is not. If we are talking about a tiny house on wheels, then it may present some difficulty in having a family of three to four live comfortably. If we are talking about a tiny house on foundation or even a modular tiny house, then I believe living with a family of three to four people is possible. Take for instance this family of four who turned their 540-square-foot early 1940s recycled tiny house into a welcoming and comfortable living space. I encourage you to check out the link provided and see how this family of four is using their tiny space to live comfortably.

“Living in a smaller physical space magnifies whatever dynamics and issues already exist in a family. But with no place to hide from the people you live with, it forces more open communication.” – Jennifer Langston

I absolutely love what Jennifer says here. This family of four who she is interviewing, has realized that living in a smaller space does not mean they are less happy. Rather, it allows them to become closer, spend more time together, communicate openly, and appreciate the value of relationships rather than materialistic items.

2. Graham Hill’s 420-square-foot apartment morphs into 6 rooms.

 

 

In 2010, Graham Hill, who had just spent the previous year living in tiny spaces, bought two apartments in SoHo, NY to turn them into “tiny spaces that didn’t sacrifice function, but instead that would expand to provide a wish list including dinner parties for 12, accommodations for 2 overnight guests, a home office and a home theater with digital projector.” Check out the video to see this amazing innovation!

3. Maximize the space you have!

In this article on Tiny House Talk, Jay Shafer, founder of the tiny house movement, quotes Greg Johnson in regards to living simpler: “It’s not a movement about people claiming to be ‘tinier than thou’ but rather people making their own choices toward simpler and smaller living however they feel best fits their life.” To me this quote says, as I have stated before, consider what is most important to you if you are downsizing into a tiny house.

A. To provide more space in your tiny house, instead of using space coming “out” of the walls, use the space going “up” the walls by installing hanging shelves.

B. If you are considering a tiny house not on wheels, consider installing a fold-down bed like the one shown in the Graham Hill video. This could be installed in the living room above the couch, as to provide another room for guests or children.

C. Choose elements that are multifunctional. Consider finding a table that functions as a desk as well. In a tiny house on wheels, this super affordable drop-leaf table functions as a desk for daily work or a dining table for two or three. For more creative ideas to maximize living space, visit this article here and this one here, too.

“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” – Socrates

 

At the end of the day, the decision to downsize to a smaller living space comes down to feasibility. Does it work for you and your family? Can it work for you and your family? Will you make it work for you and your family? Share in the comments below your thoughts on the tiny house movement!

 

Image by Lincoln Barbour

Vincent Russell | February 16, 2014 | 5 Comments

The Tiny House Movement – Part 2

Last week’s article touched on some of the advantages to owning a tiny house such as becoming debt free due to lack of a mortgage payment and living a minimalistic lifestyle. Daniel, the focus writer for this blog, wrote an article (seen here) that also spoke on minimalism. It is funny how things like that work out. It is my belief that the idea behind the tiny house movement carries more weight than living in a small home. It also affords us an opportunity to really look inside ourselves, fighting to determine what is really most valuable in life. Will possessions make us happier? I do not believe so. Will having the biggest house on the block make us happier? I do not believe so either. In a world driven by materialism and clutter, being thankful for what we have, without striving for more material items, and making use of the space we have, undeniably opens our minds to a more simplified and fulfilling lifestyle.

Sandra Cisneros once said, “but I deal with this by meditating and by understanding I’ve been put on the planet to serve humanity. I have to remind myself to live simply and not overindulge, which is a constant battle in a material world.”

After saying all that, how does that tie into the tiny house movement? Well, I am glad you asked! Here are some advantages of owning a tiny house:

1. Clutter free 

When moving into a tiny house, one quickly learns that all the junk they have been saving over the course of a lifetime simply will not work. Daniel recently challenged us over the course of 30 days to get rid of one non-essential item each day as to free up space and remove clutter from our lives. I cannot wait to see how much space I’ll have after these 30 days.

If you are the type of person that likes to hold on to things like I am, then owning a storage shed might be a good option for you. These can be found at Home Depot or various other supply manufacturers. Owning a tiny house affords you an opportunity to reduce clutter and make space for more valuable items as well as for living space.

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Image by: Lincoln Barbour  (An example of a tiny house on foundation interior)

2. Time 

Time is of the essence. You have heard this term before, yes? Having no mortgage or a small payment on a tiny house will afford you an opportunity to work less and enjoy time with your loved ones, and friends. Not only that, but having no mortgage payment would also afford you new opportunities to pick back up those childhood dreams you once had and make them a reality. We all want more time, don’t we?

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3. Self-sufficiency & solar energy

tinyhouseoverthehillDOTblogspotDOTcom

Image by: www.tinyhouseoverthehill.blogspot.com

This is where solar energy comes into play. Now, I know that solar energy may not work well for everyone, due to geographic location and less exposure to direct sunlight, but for the majority of us, it will work.

“The most modern systems use a method of sun exposure to generate electricity via semiconductors. Simple, direct exposure to the sun and its heat generate electrons that are then captured into the system and translated into electricity. The design can be used for a variety of things as small as powering a mobile phone to as large of a system as that needed to power your home.” – solarenergy.com

Many tiny house owners live an off-grid lifestyle, in terms of how they cool, heat, and operate the electronics in their home. For an in-depth overview of solar panels, how to determine how much power and energy are needed, as well as a complete overview of an installation process, visit this tiny house blog.

Another resource of information for powering a tiny house with solar energy can be found here. For more information on tiny houses, as well as plans, videos, blogs, and more, visit these websites: www.thetinylife.com – www.tinyhouseblog.com – www.tumbleweedhouses.com

Lincoln-Barbour-tinyhouse-103

Image by: Lincoln Barbour  (An example of a tiny house on foundation interior)

What small step can you take to make your life more clutter free? What thoughts, comments, or concerns do you have about living in a tiny house? 

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Hi, my name is Adam Smith and welcome to asmithblog.com. I am the author of the book, The Bravest You. Because of my work as an entrepreneur, consultant, writer, and speaker, I have been named a top industry influencer by American Genius. I live with my wife, Jasmine, and three children in Shenandoah, IA.

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