A Funky n' Futuristic(?) Small Cabin by Broisson Architects

Shelter No. 2 from Broisson Architects

Kind of a "paper lantern meets a Rubix cube" thing going on here. Over three levels it has a kitchen, sleeps three, and is made from 90% recycled materials (NOT salvaged- "recycled"- so it probably means that this thing would cost your a fortune- BUT its pretty unique/fun/cool).

I'd assume the kitchen, with its outwardly sloping walls (room for counterspace) is in the first, entry level. All in all, its certainly a new and very different offering for the world of vacation cabins and tiny/small homes/houses.

http://www.broissinarchitects.blogspot.com/ for MORE INFO...

And my book....up for pre-order on Amazon.com for only $11.53!

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A brand new micro-green hanging/"floating" cedar treehouse prototype

For kids, a mini-office, a small vacation camp or cabin- heck, even a treehouse for chickens!

Super-simple, made from mill cast-off tongue and groove boards, and painted what I call "Ghostbusters Slime Green".

I have TOO many shacks, cabins, home-prototypes, and forts in my yard from experimentation now (SEVEN OF THEM)- so I'm selling this one (flooring, etc- will soon be installed)- for $250.00- proceeds of which will go towards funding more "Tiny Yellow House" episodes on youtube. I might squeeze photos of this, and MANY other treehomes, treeforts, treehouses- into the photo galleries (all color) in the new edition of "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks"- as they let me know I can still toss in a few extras.

These style designs- and WAYYYYYYY more- are in my book

 -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen (Built and designed by)

El Camino's as campers? (A photo gallery of 60s/70s/80s RV Campers/Mobile Dwellings?)

For those who checked out my re-airing of the Chronicle HD TV feature on CBS Boston tonight- welcome, and the designs you saw (AND Approx. FIFTY MORE) are in my book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks"- which you can order BELOW- or in either side column of this blog..

That said...

 I'm fascinated with car and van dwelling and love reading about the whole mobile living sub-culture....I've slept in MANY a car and van (especially when touring with bands when I was younger) and while I did it the "wrong, unplanned, and unorganized" way, by comparison to seasoned vets, there STILL was such a sense of adventure to it- hopping fences to illegally use hotel pools (a substitute for bathing), overnighting in motel parking lots, sleeping behind gas stations, and you name it....

Anyway, I'm also enamored with the mighty "El Camino"- and for years have been wanting to convert one into a redneck road camper....and while I haven't done so, YET, here are a few very cool camper-versions of this classic automobile. The Ford Ranchero (Ford's version of the El Camino) also would make a great/same-style tiny road house conversion. 

This one is actually a tiny scale model! 

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A Redneck candle/coffee can "Flashlight" rig/hack (wall candles for your cabin)

This is the kinda stuff I love, and some of the style-ideas I tried to load my "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" book with....and the new edition will have MORE of that. I'm a total sucker for this kind of simple ingenuity.

     This one comes from Lloydkahn.com- via his longtime buddy Louie.
So damn simple, yet effective. The interior metal of a coffee can serves as a no-budget, curved reflector for the light, and as a wind housing, preventing it from easily going out.

My new book has a semi-similar idea- using coffee cans and wall mounting them to hold candles (in a safe manor) for light in ones tiny home, cabin, or vacation camp (or even for emergency use). You can do the same with glass jars, so long as they're vented and angled in a manor that doesn't collect carbon/soot.

 At least one of Lloyd's book through Shelter Publications WILL be in my upcoming blog post and video for my "Top Ten Tiny House/Small Living/Micro Architecture Books"- which I'll be working on real soon....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

The SKINNIEST home in the world? A high-tech, tiny, alleyway house in Poland (photo gallery)

 This one has been posted in our facebook group (thanks to Sam Brelsfoard), and has been kickin' around alot lately, and while I personally wouldn't want to live in something so cold, sterile, narrow, and angular- the idea, and execution, in an art-sense, is pretty amazing. I don't see how the heck building something like this would be allowed in a city, but then again, I'm not so up to date on my Polish Building codes these days! (There's a joke in there somewhere (and I'm a tiny part Polish, for the record)).

This super skinny house by Polish architects Centrala proves that practically any space can be transformed into a habitable residence. Set along a narrow alleyway, Keret House will be the narrowest residence in Warsaw, if not the world. The triangle-shaped house will span three levels, suspended between two existing buildings above the alley below.

The slim pod-like building will repurpose a derelict space that seemed to serve as a local dump – the alley was packed with old furniture, trash bags and graffiti. The three levels are built from a steel frame covered with inexpensive plywood, and panels made from Styrofoam and concrete cloth form the structure’s spaceship-like exterior. Visitors even “board” the vessel through a set of remote control stairs, which open and extend to the alley below and then fold into the floor.
Electricity will be provided by a neighboring host building, and a water and sewage system in the small space will be free-standing, much like systems used on boats. The first floor of the living space is a work space and a lounge. The second level, reachable by ladder, fits a sleeping loft with a skylight. The top space can be used for storage.
Part art installation, part workspace, the house was designed as a studio for Israeli writer, Etgar Keret. The creative space will also be open to visiting artists and writers, and hopefully it will to incite inspiration through its design. Construction is slated to begin in September.
+ Centrala
Via Arch Daily

 

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Today's EYE Candy Photo (A drool-worthy micro-house/cabin interior)

For all you tiny shelter, and small housing buffs out there- I just LOVED this random shot of a French Caravan's interior. I wish I could remember where I found this shot when I stowed it away months ago! Sorry....

I guess I have Caravans on my mind as of recent- especially after finally airing the "Sage's Tiny House on Wheels" episode of "Tiny Yellow House" just the other day......its reposted below, in case you missed it....

As for upcoming episodes, we have a "Return to Walden Woods" video, another on a project from my Relaxshacks.com workshop called "The Krunk Bunk" (a ceiling hanging micro-loft/bed/cubby-study of sorts), Dana's Maine Bunkhouse (a bunkhouse built and owned by the Mayor of Waterville, Maine), and more...

And again- the new EXPANDED edition of my book is out on pre-order right now- for a mere $11.53....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

NEW video- SAGE's GYPSY WAGON- a mobile, handbuilt, small house dwelling in Boston

We shot this many weeks back (alongside a few other builds and tours), and are happy to finally have this one up and running. All you vardo, vw bus, portable dwelling, and gypsy wagon fans should dig this. Thanks to Sage for opening his home to us. Unfortunately, he is currently being hassled by the city and its building inspectors- so I hope things work out for him.

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A "Floating 'I' (Eye)" micro-cabin or sleep pod (tiny housing takes the the trees"

Possibly a shelter for short weekending trips? A kid's fort? An ultra tiny micro home-office for those not so claustrophobic? An affordable hut for the homeless? Something to hide your collection of stale waffles in? (Just making sure you're paying attention!)

"The Floating "I"'- for lack of a better name currently. A late night cabin sketch/concept by Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Whatever its eventual use, who the heck knows?

I was just bangin' out ideas the other night, when all I could find in immediate reach were a few busted up crayons....above is one of many sketches/ideas I was throwing around.

Perhaps I'll build one of these someday....although "satisfaction is the death of desire"- as the old saying goes...not that it really applies too fittingly in this case (it merely makes for a blog post that is 38 words longer than it needed to be!). 39! ha! Damn, 42.....

This one WON'T be in my new book by the way- its a pretty cruddy sketch (aka a "slop sketch" as I call 'em)- Book's out on pre-order now though- only $11.53! Which means I make like $0.13 by the time royalties filter down to me! After the sale of 4000 copies or so, I'll have enough money for that dream vacation in Newark, NJ! No, its not THAT bad (not good either)- I'm just trying to get the word, ideas, and recycling mindset out there! So I DO HUGELY appreciate your support if you pre-order a copy and help the cause. Thanks!

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

MORE new tiny house/cabin/fort/shelter designs concepts for my NEW book....

 First off, a middle-man book order site botched my account, and its FINALLY fixed- so the existing, hand assembled, version of my tiny house design book is now BACK up for sale (what copies I have left). Sorry, to those who emailed and said that they couldn't purchase it.
    As for the NEW edition of the book (LOTS of new designs, photos, interviews, guest designers/builders, and more): again, its actually been kickin' ass (A recent 2-page COVER feature in the Boston Globe on my workshop and projects certainly helped!) and ranking real high on the amazon charts- which is going to show that people's tastes in shelter n' housing scopes/shapes/budgets is certainly changing! The book isn't even out yet too! Oh yeah- July 29th- 7:30 on CBS (Boston Area- WCVB)- a show called "Chronicle HD" will also be re-airing a piece on the structures I build, design, and write on- called "Eye Candy"- it was REALLY fun and well done!

 You can grab the book on pre-order at a very, very discounted price...if you don't mind waiting for it. I TRULY make JACK on each copy, but its good to know that enough interest in the book will allow me to put out another entirely new book down the road (which is already pretty much finished). The book advance also allowed me to fund several shoots/episodes of my show, and to buy some equipment we needed (because in this economy, its damn hard to find any backers- if interested- kidcedar at gmail dot com)- we reach ALOT of people....)

Better yet, my editor keeps asking for MORE new sketches to possibly fill out this newer version of the book (which is done- but they say there's still room to squeeze in a little more)....so the sketches you see are a couple cabins and concepts you just MAY find in print down the road (OR ones I might actually build for Make Magazine and/or "Tiny Yellow House" TV.). Again, I have more than enough for ANOTHER new book....but lets not get ahead of myself here....

 -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

The Bolt-Together House 1972- a prefabricated tiny vacation house HIT from Jeff Milstein

For any newcomers to the site (Make Mag, etc.) our NEW, very-expanded edition of our Tiny House/Cabin/Fort/Shack Design book is available for order at the end of this post...)- at a REALLY discounted price. Thanks! 
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I've been asked many times before by people "Just what IS your favorite small house style of design?", or "What's the coolest tiny home you've seen?"....in interviews, in casual conversations.....

Realtor's Photo- from Deer Island, New Brunswick (if the new owners EVER see this post, we'd LOVE to come up and film/interview you guys for our show! PLEASE don't buy this place for the land and tear down the cabin!)

Well, one of the reasons I hesitated on posting these photos and this info, is because the cabin in this blog post was actually recently for sale, and Dustin, Dawn (my brother and my sister-in-law) and I were actually contemplating buying it so that we could shoot a documentary film on it, and occasionally use it. The price (and its WATERFRONT, ON an island in New Brunswick)- a mere $18,000.00. The ultimate reason on us passing and making an offer was that it was just too far away- AND we already have our off-grid cabin in Vermont (See "Tiny Yellow House: Vermont Cabin" episode on youtube).

A shot of the micro-loft

THIS is definitely one of my favorite cabin designs and concepts- and it ties right into the Lester Walker book (link below) which was my FIRST tiny housing book I was gifted at age 10- back in the mid eighties. I STILL haven't tired of this book, and as I've slowly been piecing together a "Deek's Top 15/20 Tiny House Design Books" for an eventual post here, Walker's book will easily be in my top five. Again, check it out below....

Lester's book has some schematics and measurements/multi-views of how to construct this simple cabin. 

Exterior- overall length is just 16'- (four sheets of plywood/T-111)

Dustin "Dr. Demolition" Diedricksen actually had a chance to step inside this place on his way to Nova Scotia a few weekends back and has quite a bit of footage he filmed showing the interior, exterior, and surrounding landscape of this cool little cabin. Once he gets it edited down, we'll toss it up on my relaxshacksDOTcom youtube channel.

The History on this cabin design- Architect Jeff Milstein came up with the pre-fabricated concept of this vacation house (in 1972, which could be fully built for $2500.00), and released the idea through Family Circle Magazine- it not only became a huge hit, even with a cult-following to this very day, but still stands as THE best selling blueprints that the magazine ever carried- selling out its 25,000 copies.

And my book (above- Lester Walker gave me a very positive write-up/review on it as well- which didn't suck).  -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Relaxshacks.com Tiny House/Shelter Workshop 2011- Photos part 2 (and a Tiny House Music Video!?)

Lots goin' on here at the "Relaxshacks.com Camp"- as usual....(AND NEW photos of an unseen build are below- its NOT finished though- so I'm unsure as to whether or not I should have posted anything yet...too late...).

"The Little Blue Bump"- a micro-escape/single sleeper cabin (to be placed in the shade, or if not, roofed in WHITE poly panels) that we built at the workshop. This IS NOT done- and the paint and windows are all additions I personally added after the workshop concluded (the photos below). Still a ways to go on this one. The attendees did a great job on this (based on a sketch I handed 'em). This will have a tiny front deck, solar lights, interior paint, flooring, and more- ultimately. I've added FOUR makeshift "windows" to it so far....

The rear-side- at the conclusion of the workshop day (14 hours of speakers, cabin tours, building, eating, and demonstrations). "The Simple Shell" is/was another name for this easy-to-build (and afford), plywood disaster relief, or homeless shelter.

Dustin's (my brother) group came up with this scrap material door, complete with a cut-wine-bottle knob, a "chinese star" door latch, and the use of some scrap aluminum screening I had from my radiator cover-building days. Some scrap wood was worked into the mix too.

A close-up of the rear window....which utilizes a sash/glass pane that we grabbed from a dump (while at the Cape Cod Eco-fest).

 Also, I just spent a very late/long night dropping some new vocals on a song my band wrote (Age Against The Machine/Anklelock) and recorded called
"Pullit"- this being a parody "how-to" instructional video/version (the lyrics ARE the directions) that we'll soon film a music video for- for Make Magazine- another exclusive edition of "Tiny Yellow House".

Me, on the mic, over at Media Boss Studio- I look kinda evil in this one....

 We recorded over at "Media Boss" Studios with Jim Foster from the bands Nullset/White- he also has produced albums and recordings for Godsmack, P.O.D., Gary Cherone (Extreme, Van Halen), and more....the guys REALLY good at what he does.

Can't wait to finish this one- ONCE we film "The Krunk Bunk" for Make....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

"My Side Of The Mountain" Review (before I try to post some NEW workshop photos, and more, soon)

File under: A no stress, highly entertaining read, in which a boy runs away from civilization and fashions a cabin/home out of a HUGE hollowed out tree (in the Catskills).
      Also, for those who don't dig the book recommendations (sorry!)- I've just been gearing up for another filmed edition of "Man with the Ugly Hat"- my tiny housing/small living side-jaunt episodes about literature. 

     'Been feelin' lousy- prob. workin' too hard, AND have to hit a recording studio for a VERY late session tonight, but before I gear-up to head out....while feelin' cruddy, last night I finished the young adult novel "My Side Of The Mountain". Now I picked this book up for about $2.00, while staying out in Lincoln, VT (at that blog-aforementioned tiny used book shop (love those places)), and while gazing at the cover of the book, which I thought I had never heard of, somewhere deep in my memory, I completely remembered the cover-art from middle school books fairs. I also recall assuming the book was about wizardry, or had a medieval slant, as judged by the cover art- but no....

This little "easy-reader" was penned by Jean Craighead George- who was a Newberry Medal recipient (for "Julie Of The Wolves"), and "My Side Of The Mountain" was a runner-up to the very same award (a different year). The book was originally written in 1959, and has been a HUGE worldwide seller, so most of you might already know of it. It somewhat reminds me of the Gary Paulson HUGE-selling young-adult novel "Hatchet"- another one I never read until now- in my 30s. Both are quick, yet pretty phenomenal reads if you're looking for some outdoor adventure, and a "Get away from it all" motif. 

Anyway, I'm not going to give too many book write-ups afterall, but I HAVE been compiling my list of top ten or fifteen all-time tiny house/alternative shelter buildings, and if any of your readers have any input/suggestions- feel free to add them in the comments section, or on our "Tiny Yellow House" small housing club/group.

AND...

AND (yeah, I gotta mention it, because I killed myself creating it, AND would love for it to do well enough for the LYONS PRESS to sign me to a follow-up design book......only $11.53 right now- damn cheap....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

THE SKULL CAVE for kids (a folding play-fort/clubhouse)- but could it work beyond??

 First, my apologies- as a few readers pointed out that my ("old") book order link is not working. Its being worked on, and will be fixed in a few days. Again, the NEW, expanded edition of the book is now up for pre-order on amazon.com- at a REALLY reduced price- if interested.... the link is at the end of this blog entry.....
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Could something like this- as it loosely resembles a tent in structure/form- be built in a larger model for emergency shelter usage?

I just LOVE this tiny "Skull Cave", and it reminds me very much of one of the designs I penned a ways back, which I just may have to build soon, either for Make Magazine, or JUST for "Tiny Yellow House" TV....we'll see....Think: The book "AKU AKU" (a lousy clue, and one where you'll have to do some literary online-digging (By Thor Heyerdahl)). That book is AMAZING by the way....a total gem, and I found it for $1.00 at a used book store! -Another reason I'm very partial to printed books/matter.

"Indy, Cover your heart!"- it looks like something out of "The Temple of Doom". 

This lil' contraption is made by the company "Our Children's Gorilla" and I initially saw this over on A PLACE IMAGINED- a great blog run by Holly Gomez.

She had a very fun/kind review of my tiny house, fort, shack, cabin book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" recently too. Thanks Holly! You can check it out here... 
http://aplaceimagined.blogspot.com/2011/03/build-fort.html

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Kill Your Television- finding time to build YOUR tiny dream house- and other projects

My backyard with SOME of my micro-cabins- the locale for the recent Relaxshacks.com Workshop- photo by Bruce Bettis

 Alot of people have asked me over the past few years "Deek, how the heck do you find time to do any of these projects?"- to which I reply "Little Sleep n' Lots of Coffee!"- kiddingly- well, somewhat. Honestly and simply- and it ties right into another part of today's ramblings- one of the things we DON'T have in our household is cable tv, and the lack of that temptation has freed up quite a bit of my time both day and nights.
    Beyond that, we recently purchased a Vizio flat screen tv so as to gain some needed space in our modest/small home (small by US standards- four of us, and a huge dog, in approx. 1000 square feet or so- and lovin' it), and after mere months, the thing has crapped out (a recurring problem with their sets apparently). In the meantime, while we're wrestling with the warranty, the botched service jobs, and lousy customer service, we now haven't had tv AT ALL for almost a month now. Honestly, by day three I stopped instinctively reaching to turn it on while eating a bowl of cereal, or working on my blog, but beyond that, while already a total bookworm, I've not only had more time for reading and sketching, but for many other things as well. Ultimately, family-wise, the tv will be back, but I have to say, through this little unintentional experiment (and given that its something I've been wanting to kick for awhile), I can't say I'm in a rush to get the ole beast back. I do miss PBS and Create though...

Here's a few of the random things I've done recently, when I would have been watching re-runs of "Green Acres" instead....and its with little changes like this, that you might be able to find more time to plot YOUR next project, or future tiny home. Your tips and ideas are ALWAYS welcome too...

-Picked several pints of raspberries from the canes/garden in my yard.
-Went to a local pond to go swimming
-Visited a local farm I found by accident- where I discovered a new, closer, source of farm-fresh eggs.
-Worked on gussyin' up cabin #2 from our Relaxshacks.com building workshop the other week (pix soon- once I'm done painting it). "The Little Blue Bump" might be its name- you'll see...
-Took the communter rail into town to check out the Boston Common/ride the Swan Boats with the family
-Baked a HUGE homemade lasagna
-Made donuts from scratch with my family (something I'd never made before)
-Read a heck of alot more than I usually do (which is ALOT)- in fact, right now I'm reading a really cool book by NICK ROSEN- Called "Off The Grid"- kinda historical and political, while giving narration to the author's travels through several off the grid communities worldwide- and showing what worked, and what didn't, and how to potentially make such situations work. The book is pretty dang fascinating so far! I added a link below if you want to check it out....

And of course- my own book is out on pre-order now....at a really reduced price.....this edition has LOTS of new, unreleased stuff, art, designs, tiny house design advice from some BIG names in the game, TWO color photo sections, and more!

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A sneak peak at the early incarnations of "THE ODD POD"- a micro house/cabin/vacation shelter....

"THE ODD POD" design by Derek "Deek" Diedricksen- a micro vacation home for two- computer layout by Shelton Davis of Repurposedgoods.com. This is an early, VERY rough draft of one of the new cabins that will be in my NEW book...

   As I've mentioned- the NEW, EXPANDED version of my book (order via the link below) "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks, Cozy Cottages, Ramshackle Retreats, Funky Forts (And Whatever The Heck Else We Can Squeeze In Here) is now out for pre-order- at a HUGE discount too- $11.53 for a short time- so pick one up......inside the new edition will be BRAND NEW designs, a new intro from designers David and Jeanie Stiles, TWO color photo insert sections, new cartoons and sketches, new text sections, and another chapter called "Trixuvthatraid" ("Tricks Of The Trade") where we see informational interview snippets from chats I conducted with the likes of Dee Williams, Lloyd Kahn, Kent Griswold, Jay Shafer, Alex Pino, Mimi Zeiger, Cathy Johnson, Michael Tougias, Duo Dickinson, Colin Beaven, and a huge host of others involved in the field- SOME REALLY cool tips for designing and organizing/plotting small spaces. So yeah, I guess I've been kinda busy.....

That said- the ONE single non-hand-sketched offering in the book (later to be available as plans) is something that I designed called "The Odd Pod"- and with the help of the ever-awesome Shelton Davis from Repurposedgoods.com, we tweaked this design to look pretty dang slick. What you see is only an early, rough incarnation of the shelter- and not what its going to look like in the book. The final design is far different than this, but with the same general idea....a mini cabin with a sleep loft, that doubles as a roof over a porch/work-space area- and one that could later be screened in, or enclosed for more living room.

Anyway, back to workin' on some new projects- and readying more photos of our Relaxshacks.com 2011 workshop from last weekend....

Order the book at this link here....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A New Treehouse appears in my own town.....A kid's treefort-escape/clubhouse

I've been witnessing the slow development of this lil' treehouse/treefort, only about a mile or so from my own home, over the past couple months, and I gotta say, as far as a mostly kid-built treehut goes, its got a lot of character and contains some little creative additions/methods all around. The tarp roof twisted around the tree trunk (to better seal out the rain) is an interesting/affordable approach I haven't seen before, and the rear window of this structure also has a cookie/baking cooling rack that serves as its barrier/grate. A clubhouse like this is designed in size and scope for children, but again, there are always so many design elements that carry over from that world, into the one of tiny houses and homes, so I feel these structures are always worth a look and mention. Heck, I just may have to knock on this person's door someday to see if I can shoot a tiny little video on this fort for youtube- we'll see...
    As for the interior, I really couldn't see much of it from the side road where I took these photos, but I could see a few tiny folding chairs inside. and what looked like frisbies horizontally attached to the tree to serve as shelving- another first. Overall, THESE are the sort of slapped-together, and full-of-love/life/youth treehouses that I really dig. The custom built, extravagant treehomes for millionaires-only, are all well and good, and usually gorgeous, but they always seem devoid of true character, charm, and ingenuity.

 

 Treehouse from Stoughton, MA- photos by Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

a NEW video for MAKE MAGAZINE- a one-sheet plywood boat/shelter that I built/designed "THE BLUE CRAB"

Finally, its up and posted (and we're already midway into working on another project or two for "Tiny Yellow House" and Make Magazine....
Here's a brand new video on a one-sheet plywood boat, that additionally flips and folds out into a micro/temporary rain shelter/hut, complete with a skylight! Its an ultra-simple project, and the boat worked/maneuvered suprisingly well! Its not so much tiny house fodder, although it DOES become a shelter, but the methods of construction could also be used for making/constructing budget bathtubs, other-style huts/tiny homes, or even rainwater collectors.

And for those who missed some of our other more-recent side videos...

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

NEW BOOK PRE-ORDER EDITION IS OUT- a very expanded upon edition- at a discounted early price...pick up a copy so as to help me pay for 1/3 a packet of Ramen Noodles...

NEW tiny/small house design book ("Humble Homes, Simple Shacks")....More details....

Order a copy at the photo link below- this is the TEMP cover of the book.....

  First, MORE photos from our Relaxshacks.com SOLD OUT workshop last weekend, will be posted too (next most recent blog entry DOES have some)- I promise- and yes, there will be another down the road....so keep checkin' back or email so I'll have your address on file for an eventual announcement...   

And....Some of you might have seen some recent posts on our tiny house facebook group about the NEW Version 2.0 of the book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" (JOIN HERE) that will be coming out Feb. 2012 through the Lyons Press, but for those who haven't, this new, expanded version is already out for pre-order at a REALLY discounted price- a very random $11.53. Crazy thing is, for a book that isn't even out, it was the #22 best selling Carpentry/Home Improvement book on the planet at one point yesterday (my mom must have bought up a ton of copies at once! ha!). Note: what you see below isn't going to be the real cover down the road, and my name is even misspelled on it! ("No respect...." -Rodney Dangerfield voice...). The cover will be bad-ass when done...I'll soon post a few art-sketch/design examples too- so check back....

As for what exactly is going to be new/different than the old, soon-to-be illegal, hand-assembled version....

-A "designing for small spaces" section, with input from Lloyd Kahn of Shelter Publications, Jay Shafer of The Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, Dee Williams (small dweller extraordinaire), Gregory Johnson- author and founder of The Small House Society, Tammy Strobel of Rowdykittens.com (Downsizing Maven), Cathy Johnson (artist, author, and tiny house owner), Alex Pino of tinyhousetalk.com, Kent Griswold of tinyhouseblog.com, Mimi Zeiger (Tiny House Author, Architect), Duo Dickinson (Yale architect prof.), Michael Tougias (Author of the cabin book "There's a Porcupine in My Outhouse"), Colin Beaven (author of "No Impact Man"), and many more.....

-SEVERAL new cabin designs and concepts that we haven't released before....

-An intro from two of my favorite authors/designers David and Jeanie Stiles (who have penned numerous tiny house/cabin/shed books)

-Many new humorous, and instructive tiny cartoons, and sketch blurbs to go with the text and new text passages....

-TWO sizeable color photo insert sections showing a gallery of not only my work and designs, but that of many others who submitted their photos over the last year....

-An extended "books recommended section"

-Several new text sections...and so on....
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The old version of the book, by the way (still for sale on THIS blog) DOES have about 5-6 full page designs that WILL NOT be in the new book- and may never see the light of day again....so, if you want to grab a copy of that while I still have a few, check out the right hand column on this site for the link.

Thanks!
-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Welcome to our "Krunk Bunk" (punk)! A micro-mini sleep loft/bed for tiny/small/narrow homes

The Krunk Bunk- Not yet finished- Its 4' high, 4' wide, and 8' long, and designed to be fairly easy and affordable to build. This is just a temporary installation, as my finished basement is so small, but I'm going to regret having to take this down after we later shoot the rest of an episode on it- its comfortable- and fun!

Oh yeah- Real quick- our NEW, Expanded version of our tiny house design book is for sale by pre-order right now (at a very discounted price)- scroll way below...

  "THE KRUNK BUNK"- Its a tiny sleep/work chamber for studio apartments, city lofts, and small spaces in general- and was a project we undertook to exemplify small space efficiency. It HANGS from the ceiling, as opposed to most other bunks and micro-lofts that have legs (which often limit what you can do, store, place below them). It would be best suited in a high-ceiling environment, but we placed it here for the sake of demonstration- in a setting not perfectly ideal (but it was all we had for space in my small home).
     THIS is also ONE of two structures we built as groups two days ago in our workshop- 14 HOURS LONG- man, were we all tired by the end. We'll soon post photos of the group project that my brother Dustin led, as well- and MANY others....(NOTE: This structure is NOT finished yet, and will be added to, painted, decorated, and further tweaked/trimmed- AND will most likely appear (along with those who helped) in a future edition of "Tiny Yellow House" TV- a Make Magazine edition! We still have to build a mini-ladder to it as well.

The Krunk Bunk is one of the designs I had/have in my 34 page zine/packet "Quick Camps and Leg Cramps" that I'll soon be having up for sale (the remaining copies from loooong ago).
And thanks to the 22 heads who took part in our first annual Relaxshacks.com Tiny Shelter/House Hands-on workshop in Stoughton, MA. The ages ranged from 15, to early 70s- and it was a great, very intellectual, mix of all-around good people. We had FIVE of my mini cabins on display, The Whittled Down Caravan rolled into town for a show n' tell, solar showers and cookers, a sawdust composting toilet, and we had speaking sessions from Mimi Zeiger (who came from NYC), Alex Pino (from Florida), and Dustin Diedricksen. I personally had a great time too, and there was a great wealth of ideas, and background/experienced-information being passed around all day. We will have another down the road. In the meantime, check out the other photos.

 PS- Alex Pino, from Tinyhousetalk.com was THE FIRST to test out The Krunk Bunk- and spent a night in it, in fact.... One other student, Forest Zoll, our youngest, spent the night in The Gypsy Junker, as well- and loved it.

Mariah Coz, and other workshop attendees plotting and cutting the shell's shelves and windows...

Alex Pino, adding window trim to The Krunk Bunk....

This photo is a little deceiving- its taken from my micro closet office ("cloffice"). The side of the bunk is about 6-7 feet away, but in this photo it appears to block any exit from the office! 

 AGAIN, More photos (of Project #2)- coming soon. And again, thanks to all who attended the workshop!

Soonish- since I just don't have the room to keep it, The Krunk Bunk will be up for sale. Proceeds will simply go towards shooting more how-to/educational videos for our show "Tiny Yellow House"- and paying for materials to build those new structures.If interested- kidcedar at gmail dot com.

Again, my NEW, EXPANDED (new designs, color photos, guest contributors) edition of my tiny house/home/space design book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" is out at a discounted pre-order price right now....just click on the link above. Its only $11.53 (a random price, I know...). A few, older, signed, hand-assembled, copies of the book are still for sale in the right hand column of this site too- those have several designs that WILL NOT be in the new edition. So the two books WILL have several differences. The new book is sort of a Version 2.0.

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen