Realities of tiny house living

I bought my property about 2 years ago now, and moved up here this May. I decided to build my guest cabin first so that I could spend some time observing the property during the seasons in order to develop the property responsibly. The property is sloped...goes from 7200' elevation to 7400' elevation bottom to top. So there are some run off issues that have to be dealt with using trenches and berms. So far, my driveway onto the property has held up pretty well, and we've had a few sustained, heavy rains up here. I'm fairly confident that it will do fine in the long run, however, I'll have some gravel brought in when all the heavy equipment work is completed.

The guest cabin is a Weather King cabin shell...side porch model...12' x 24', which is 288 sq. ft. total. Taking off the 4' x 8 ' porch from inside measurements comes out to about a 256 sq. ft. living space. I did two upgrades to the build: 2" x 6" walls (for better insulating), 2 extra windows...double paned...again, for better energy efficiency. There is no loft (I don't like the look of the loft style, and I'm too old to be climbing up and down ladders in the middle of the night!), so this cabin is limited to the actual floor space.

Moving the cabin onto my property.

The cabin in its permanent place.

Rough insides with initial move-in.

The curtained area is the bath area with the kitchen to the left. The handsome fella is my almost 14 yr. old GrandBoy.

Initial kitchen area.

For short periods of time, guests will be fine. For me, my 3 yr. old German Shepherd Gracie, and 3 cats, the space is definitely tight...particularly in the kitchen area when they all want to be under foot! The reality of living in such a small space with animals is quite a challenge. Paring down belongings isn't so difficult, but walking around can be tricky at times. Scary even!

KiKi (left) and Tippy (right)

Gracie

Tippy and Bandito (top)

The fine art of learning to share!

The finer art of learning to share!

I'll have to be creative in storage options while living in this cabin once it's completed...nearly there. Built in shelves will make a world of difference. The insulation, wiring, plumbing, and dry wall are completed, though I still need to drywall mud the screws and mud/tape the seams...then paint. I'll have a small wood stove installed, and have already had the fire-roc installed where it will be placed...along with spacers, and some kind of stone/brick backing and floor. Basically, I'm winter ready except for the wood stove. That's on hold for now, and I'm using one of those oil-filled radiator heaters when needed to take the chill off.

Small toaster oven, 800 watt microwave, 2-burner cast iron top electric stove, electric kettle, and my favorite secondhand find for storage.

Tiny, compact refrigerator (a problem as I like to cook/bake, and store the leftovers). There won't be a door on the bathroom...takes up too much floor space. I'll hang a nice curtain there when the painting is all done.

Temporary storage. This corner is where the small wood stove will be placed.

Sleeping area. Bed is a wooden futon frame that turns into a couch. However, I simply leave it down as a bed.

Let there be light! Great sale find at Home Depot...porch light cost was only about $13.

Insulation in the walls is R19...ceiling is R30. I wanted it to be comfortable winter and summer...coldest and hottest times of year. Finding a small wood stove that won't break the bank (this is, ultimately, my guest cabin...not my permanent house) has been difficult, but I think I found one.

Anyway...for me? The real challenge is moving around a small space with my animals. I've stepped on more tails than I care to count! Gracie has to be involved in every move I make...so she challenges me at every turn. I can manage storage...that'll be the easy part. Living in a small space with my critters? Not so easy at times.

Ciao

Scaling down my life...

I've spent the past few years clearing out the clutter...lots, and lots of clutter. I'm not a hoarder, but I had a couple of collections...always on display...not boxed up and put away...that I got tired of dusting all the time. Pink flamingos, brown stoneware, and colorful 30's and 40's pottery. I used to buy and sell antiques...had a nice booth in one of the local antique stores in Prescott, AZ for a couple of years. So...it was definitely a passion...and I got to make a little money off of it! Anyway...I've given things to my kids, Grands, sibs, and even a couple of my nieces, and friends as a means of getting rid of some things. The rest? It went to a second hand store in Springfield that supports victims of domestic violence.

Some of my pink flamingo collection...had a lot more of both these collections that weren't displayed in this particular house.

Some of the Brownstone and colorful pottery I'd collected over the years, and two of the three dining room pieces.

Even though I've cleaned out a lot of 'stuff', I find I still have too much. Too much to fit into the smallish cabin in which I'll be living. See...I went from about a 2000 sq ft house (where I raised my children) to about an 800 sq ft house (transition home after leaving the ex spousal unit) to a 2700 sq ft house (bought and lived in with my adult daughter and Grandboy) to an 1100 sq ft house (rental in my birth city that allowed me to be closer to family for the past 6 1/2 years). I'm not a mover...not really. I'm a nester by nature, but spent some time after ending a 25 yr marriage trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life...and where. Now that I know...well...I need to get rid of even more stuff!

I gave my too big bedroom outfit to my youngest son...a huge 4 poster bed with a humongous armoire that I couldn't even move once it was placed somewhere. I like to move furniture around rooms...so that was a frustration anyway. Beautiful pieces of furniture, but far too large for my soon to be home. Also gave him my largish L-shaped couch and various other pieces of furniture and miscellaneous doo dads. I also have a dining room set that is a family heirloom...I grew up with it, and love having it. However, it's three very large, simple lines, handmade oak pieces...5' long buffet, 3' wide china cabinet, and a 4' x 4' table with six leaves. That sh**s heavy, too! Sadly, none of my kids wanted it, and the only niece who did doesn't have room. I won't have room for it, but still have it. Can't sell it, though it's worth a small fortune...made in the early 1800's, solid oak...no veneer...beautiful, well-cared for pieces. It came from Sacred Heart rectory...where my Grandmother, Pops, and 4 of my 6 sibs attended school. The dark dents at one end of the table are where they counted the mass offerings every day...coins dented the surface. So it has an interesting provenance...aside from the fact that I was raised eating at the table, and that several of my sibs had it at one point or another before I got it. Why do I still have it? I'm saving it for one of my GrandBabes. I've planned for the space the dining set will take up in my cabin, but it will only be a temporary fit.

Can't seem to download a copy of cabin plans...but anyway...I'm purchasing a TuffShed garage shell with some custom modifications. 20'x28' equaling a total of about 560 square feet. It has 8' sidewalls with a 13'8" ceiling peak. It'll be just large enough to finish off the inside for a small...cozy...liveable space. I have the quote/estimate from the company...so have a basis with which to plan for the finishing work inside. Ultimately, it will be off grid for electricity...all solar...but I'll have the electricity for probably the first two years while I finish the inside. So...cutting down even more on the amount of 'stuff' I have will be very important. I will have as much storage as possible...included in the plans...but 'stuff' has gotta go! I mean...I even gave the majority of my Fiesta ware to my daughter...all but 4 place settings (my favorite colors, of course). I mean...really...why do I need a 9 place setting of dishes, and all the serving/etc stuff that goes with it? chucklin'...I'm gonna get her another place setting so she'll have an even 6, but I just couldn't justify keeping all of it.

Some things I won't be getting rid of, but have plans for them later. Like...I make jewelry, quilt, do pottery, knit, crochet, do needlework...blah blah blah...and have all the 'stuff' that's needed to do those things. Lots of boxes of 'stuff'...that...yes, gets used on a regular basis. But...no place to put it in my 'home' cabin. Plan for later will be to do a very simple, very small 'shell' to finish (like the cabin) where I can put all my 'craft' stuff. I'll keep that super simple...basic electricity as some of my 'tools' need electricity...no water/bath needed...insulation and drywall...paint...small...very small wood stove. And...that's where the dining room set will go. Buffet and china cabinet will make great storage, and the table holds quilts very nicely when they're bein' put together. Perfect solution! Reality is that I don't do much of that stuff during spring, summer, and fall. I'd much rather be...and usually am...outside. I do a LOT of it during the cold months when I hibernate, though.

So...thinking, planning, minimizing even that much more. lol...my kids are like..."Really, Mom! We don't want anymore 'stuff'!" Then they see the boxes of family photos with their names written on them, and have a LOT of fun looking through the photos.

Thanks for reading...ciao!