"Tiny house" nation, who wants in?

[Lichtbote]

I've often thought that what I really need is a small warehouse 8-10,000sq ft would be perfect, with a small loft built into it.

Exactly my thinking - one corner for my machines, one for the cars, one to live in, and one for the random needs. 

Now we have 100-120m² + some basement rooms, my wifes mom lives on the upper floor with seperate 80² - enough room for us without having/wanting kids.  I could manage to go a little bit smaller, as long as i got more room around the house for my hobbies. And of course a smaller garden, i don´t like to do gardenwork, and there is way to much out there.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I have so many projects and no space to do them.  I need to do some fiberglass work on one of my boats, work on both my jeeps, plus still need space for shooting various things..... Flying r/c's and so on.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

[Chako]

I live in a small house...but couldn't imagine living in anything bigger. My house is what is considered a story and a half. No basement, but I do have a nice large garage. With the two upstairs rooms, it totals to about 1200 ft². without those two rooms upstairs, it would really be around 800 ft². The floor layout does make a difference, and thankfully, this one is a nice one. Only one bathroom, but I can live with that.

The best thing, because I didn't go for something huge, I have paid off my mortgage a few years ago. Now its cheap living, and in no way house poor like quite a few of my friends...but they do have impressive places.

[MadPlumbarian]

I have 900sq ft now,  plus a small garage and it is perfectly livable. I would prefer more.... sort of. I'm happy with my living space but I would prefer a much larger garage. I mean I'd like a larger living space too, but my priority would be a bigger garage/workshop.  I've often thought that what I really need is a small warehouse 8-10,000sq ft would be perfect, with a small loft built into it.

Def

Sent from my smurfing hunk of techno sorcery

Yeah, a garage is always nice to have,, if that was the case my father-in-laws old place would have been nice, I could have cared less for the house but the garage, huh, it was a TEN car, with a loft, and the loft size was perfect, enough room for a bathroom, kitchen, and plenty of room left over for a large bed/living area, but he passed and his wife sold it. 
   Now my father, here's one for you grant! He has a 17,000sqft barn on 60acers of land, which would work in your case, 20 of meadow, 20 of woods, and 20 of just uneven terrain, all in which a jeeps good for, trust me ive done it! JR

[Grant Lamontagne]

Sounds like the perfect place for everything I like doing.... especially if it's lake front. 

Def

Sent from my smurfing hunk of techno sorcery

[MadPlumbarian]

Sounds like the perfect place for everything I like doing.... especially if it's lake front. 

Def

Sent from my smurfing hunk of techno sorcery

Which one? One is up in NY in the middle of nowhere,(that does over look a lake kinda) and the other is on Philly. JR

[Kampfer]

My America dream: Big house, Big guns and Big paycheck.

No thanks.

[Smashie]

This is what made me think seriously about the design of tiny houses and how larger houses could be better thought out

[Chako]

In an earth quake, that could give Indian Jones a run for his money.

Lots of neat concepts in that video though. Thanks for sharing.

[ToolJoe]

I've often thought that what I really need is a small warehouse 8-10,000sq ft would be perfect, with a small loft built into it.

Exactly my thinking - one corner for my machines, one for the cars, one to live in, and one for the random needs. 

Now we have 100-120m² + some basement rooms, my wifes mom lives on the upper floor with seperate 80² - enough room for us without having/wanting kids.  I could manage to go a little bit smaller, as long as i got more room around the house for my hobbies. And of course a smaller garden, i don´t like to do gardenwork, and there is way to much out there.

I'm not a big fan of yardwork myself. I don't mind mowing the lawn but I would swap out all the mulch and plants and just put stones down in the flower beds.  .

[pfrsantos]

Same space but better organized.

[ironraven]

I'm not a big fan of yardwork myself. I don't mind mowing the lawn but I would swap out all the mulch and plants and just put stones down in the flower beds.  .

Sounds like a great plan, but I'd add fruits and vegitables to. My plan for if I win the lottery involves a workshop about the size of the house for the cooler months, and at least a half acre each of garden and orchard.

[captain spaulding]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelzarrell/would-you-live-in-this-86-square-foot-apartment

[styx]

Realistically  I don't need or even want a huge living space. On the other hand a shop/garage does have to be decently big for my needs.
Still I'd sell my mother for a house outside of the city and preferably with neighbors so close it's a 15 minute hike to get to 'em

[flipe8]

We've talked about downsizing in the not too distant future, but as others have stated, I'd be happy with a better use of my current space at the moment. I've got way too much outdoor gear to cramp into somewhere much smaller yet.

[Smashie]

Well I am changing where I live due to circumstances that I have 50% control over so I am going to downsize for now.

In the new year I'm moving into a flat (apartment for those on the western side of the pond). It won't be a long term arrangement as I have been looking at a 70ft trad narrow boat that comes with it's own mooring. The mooring has a reasonably large garden, a garage with a workshop, a green house and a vegetable plot.

As I was told many years ago "Dry your eyes princess and man the smurf up!"

I see this as positive move in many ways

[AimlessWanderer]

Well I am changing where I live due to circumstances that I have 50% control over so I am going to downsize for now.

In the new year I'm moving into a flat (apartment for those on the western side of the pond). It won't be a long term arrangement as I have been looking at a 70ft trad narrow boat that comes with it's own mooring. The mooring has a reasonably large garden, a garage with a workshop, a green house and a vegetable plot.

As I was told many years ago "Dry your eyes princess and man the smurf up!"

I see this as positive move in many ways

If you need anyone to talk to about that dingy Mark, you know where to find me 

[Smashie]

If you need anyone to talk to about that dingy Mark, you know where to find me 

Cheers Al, I will, still negotiating at the moment 

[derekmac]

Best of luck Smashie!  If you do get the boat though, you'll need to change your user name to 70ft-trad! 

[AimlessWanderer]

If you need anyone to talk to about that dingy Mark, you know where to find me 

Cheers Al, I will, still negotiating at the moment 

Well I'm looking for a buyer for mine too ....   

Best of luck Smashie!  If you do get the boat though, you'll need to change your user name to 70ft-trad! 

Or ... he could buy mine, change his name to 50ft-trad, and I'll change mine to something else    That'd confuse people

[Smashie]

If you need anyone to talk to about that dingy Mark, you know where to find me 

Cheers Al, I will, still negotiating at the moment 

Well I'm looking for a buyer for mine too ....   

Best of luck Smashie!  If you do get the boat though, you'll need to change your user name to 70ft-trad! 

Or ... he could buy mine, change his name to 50ft-trad, and I'll change mine to something else    That'd confuse people

70ft-Smashie (that's what she said)

[ColoSwiss]

I'm planning to 'up-size'. Already made a down payment on this.   

[captain spaulding]

Oh goodie. Can I come over for dinner?

[ColoSwiss]

Oh goodie. Can I come over for dinner?

Of course! Its casual. We keep the ketchup bottles on the table, just like WRH did.

[Lynn LeFey]

I think I mentioned this youtube channel earlier, but thought I'd share a specific video from the Kirsten Dirksen channel.

Here's 'We the Tiny House people', a documentary compiling a number of interviews from the channel with people living in small spaces.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDcVrVA4bSQ&list=PLMRx8kgwkvhKUiW-UraPBN2rlmkyH1_fC

[Syncop8r]

I love George Clarke's Amazing Spaces. I love the innovation, space-saving ideas and glimpses of a simpler life. It also makes for a good drinking game - skull every time he says "Amaaazin'!" - double skull for "Absolutely amazin!'".

I have recently watched a few videos on tiny houses and thought "I can't live in a space that small", but I actually already do. I only use a few square metres of my flat.

An argument against them seems to be "But it won't fit all my stuff".
But do we really need all that stuff? I know I have lots of stuff that I neither want or need and is just cluttering up my house and cluttering up my mind. :-/

[Lynn LeFey]

When I left college, everything I owned fit in the back of a Chevy Chevette. Last time we moved, if we'd done it in a single trip, it would have required a 20 foot truck (about half of which would have been my stuff). So, I absolutely do feel I have too much stuff.

I've gone backpacking, and there are times when you realize you have everything you reasonably need on your back. Although, that's for fairly short durations. I suspect my 'fit everything in a Chevette' level was pretty close to dead minimum. For instance, at the time I didn't own a bicycle.

[Syncop8r]

I've gone backpacking, and there are times when you realize you have everything you reasonably need on your back. Although, that's for fairly short durations.

That's one of the things I love about hiking - being self-contained.