Alternative Housing

Resources for Those Who Like Tiny Houses

Thanks to rising heating costs, increased building costs, and a greater interest in eco-friendly living, the giant McMansion house is (thankfully) on the way out.  Even people with money to spend are realizing nobody needs that much space, and you'll make less of a negative impact on the environment by living in something smaller. 

Whether you're looking at pre-fab kits, tiny houses, or little cabins out on a remote parcel of land, there are plenty of resources for people looking to learn about the small housing movement.  In fact, there's a whole Small House Society.

Visit their site for articles on everything from builders who support small house construction, to sherpa cabins, low-impact living.  It's a great resource.

Living in a 96 s.f. House

Most of us think of a 500 square foot apartment as pretty darned small, but what would you say to living a house where the entire area meassures only 96 square feet?

Well, check out this little bit of "micro living."

"This dream house is the love child of artist-builder Jay Shafer, who lovingly hand-crafted it. The stainless-steel kitchen, gleaming next to the natural wood interior, is outfitted with customized storage and built-ins. From his bed, Shafer can gaze into the Northern California sky through a cathedral window. In his immaculate office space, a laptop sits alongside rows of architectural books and magazines -- many featuring his house on the cover. And from the old-fashioned front porch, he can look out on a breathtaking setting: an apple orchard in full bloom.

But in an era when bigger is taken as a synonym for better, calling Shafer's home a dream house might strike some as an oxymoron. Why? The entire house, including sleeping loft, measures only 96 square feet -- smaller than many people's bathrooms."

Definitely check out the original article at SF Gate for more.  It certainly challenges your perceptions on what a person really needs to live comfortably.

Small Houses Save Big Money

For a long time, the trend in the United States was towards big houses--the more square footage the better.  It says, hey, I've got money, right?  Well, if you're of the camp that says, "who cares if people think I have money?" or "I'd rather do something for the environment than worry about impressing someone" or maybe the simplest "why on earth would I want to clean a big house?" then you may be a prime candidate to help a new trend that is catching on: small houses.

People are slowly beginning to realize that 1) smaller houses are more affordable and less of a drain on the environment and 2) clever built-in storage can give you all the space you need, even in a smaller floor plan. 

If you're interested in downsizing for these reasons, or reasons of your own, I suggest you check out Little House on a Small Planet: Simple Homes, Cozy Retreats, and Energy Efficient Possibilities.  As the name implies, this book is all about buying or building a small home (and why you'd want to).  Real world examples will give you plenty of ideas.

The book is available at Amazon for about $14 (though my library had a copy too):

Little House on a Small Planet: Simple Homes, Cozy Retreats, and Energy Efficient Possibilities