"TINY YELLOW HOUSE"- A Writer's Retreat/Greenhouse built from "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks"

As the video explains, this build was based off the cabin design/concept named "Down At Big Lee's Swamp", in my book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks", which you can check out through the link below. "The Horror Hut", as I later dubbed it, is more greenhouse than tiny house, but you can see the potential its simple design for use, with some changes, as a tiny vacation cabin, shedworking spot, or a guest room for one's backyard. It measures a mere 6' by 12' in size, but its 8' ceiling (at its high point) make it seem more spacious.

This new edition of "Tiny Yellow House" for Make Magazine was shot by Mike Amato, and Steven Sherrick. And yes, we have LOTS more on the way, including three or four episodes, if all goes well, from the city of Seattle (a loooong ways from our home base near Boston, MA). We're always in need of sponsors- we'll thank you in the episodes and link you, etc- kidcedar at gmail dot com.

John Grover, the author we built this for, can be found at www.shadowtales.com

 and- HUGE THANKS to Kevin Harrington at www.CozyHomePlans.com (and a few others, who I'll mention soon), who have been VERY supportive and helpful with these videos! Check out some of Kevin's tiny house designs and links over at his site...    -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

NEW VIDEO TOUR- a 36' Catalina Sailboat- Tiny Living ON THE WATER.....

     Thanks to the Wellens Family, in Cape Coral, Florida for letting us snoop inside their boat (which was docked almost right outside the place we were staying). Their 36' Catalina was just gorgeous, and shows many examples of how boat living IS tiny house living. I joined up with Alex Pino of www.tinyhousetalk.com to shoot this quick little video....and we had a blast doing it. This is actually the second tiny housing jaunt he and I have gone on- another back in 2010 in Matlacha, Florida.

Anyway, shelving, creative storage and use of space, multi-purposing, and small, but cozy, sleep spaces all go to show the ingenuity that goes into designing boats. "A place for everything, and everything in its place", as the old saying goes....

I'll post some other photos I took of this boat, down the road.....

The caption for the screen shot below should read "Two tiny house geeks think they're ninjas..."

 

My New Book On Tiny House/Small Space Designs....

A Cordwood, Timber-Framed, Yurt from Natural Builder Marcos Grossman

     I'm a sucker for cordwood structures, and this one struck me as rather cool- from a guy, apparently, who is very well versed in the world/field of natural building- cob, adobe, etc. I also really dig the "leaning walls" in this tiny little house/out building (a seasonal one as evidenced by all the screening). Oh yeah, its timber framed too- and seemingly makes use of a recycled door and some salvaged windows (bonus points for Mr. Grossman there!). -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Cantilevered Cabin- A tiny shack bolted to the side of a city building.....

      LOVE this one! It was installed by the San Franciscan art group "Manifest Destiny" to bring awareness to urban homelessness.

      The cabin, 10 feet tall, 6 feet long and 7 feet deep. It was mainly built from wood that was recycled from a 100 year old barn. A small solar panel is the power source for its interior illumination at night. Custom steel 'L' brackets, alongside concrete anchor bolts were used to secure this building to the side of another city building, three stories above a restaurant. This building will remain on display until the end of October (although I don't know why they just don't leave it up for the sake or tourism...) -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Treehugger.com also has a good piece on this.....

Tumbleweed in Seattle! A four person (tiny house addict) QnA panel....

       First off, you might have seen this, or heard of the event already, but the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company's workshop this coming weekend in Seattle, will have a special added Q n' A session with Jay Shafer, Dee Williams, Pepper Clark, and myself. It's gonna be real fun(!), the workshop is packed already, and I can't wait to see Seattle in general. I'm also bringing out Christopher Smith from "Tiny: The Movie" to shoot a few tiny house tour videos, and how-tos, while I'm out on the west coast. A container house, a 68 square foot, transforming guest house, an ultra-micro, and modern, Seattle apartment, and more....Christopher's work is GREAT, and after meeting him and Merete Mueller when they interviewed me for their film, I found him to be a talented, and instantly likeable guy. Check him out a www.tiny-themovie.com

As for Tumbleweed- I'm hosting workshops here and there for them....if you're in the area, check 'em out!

MIAMI, FL- April 14-15th...  http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/workshops/miami/

BOSTON, MA- May 19-20th... http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/workshops/boston/

ALSO- and its FREE (and I'll mention it closer to the date)....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

TIRE'd of seeing old tires laying around? Another recycling use....

    From the Sanford n' Son School of Landscaping?? We talked about a slew of ideas for reusing tires when it comes to tiny house construction and design, but here's one more, in a photo that was too fun and colorful to pass up....I'm not sure if there's some internal framing (I would think so) or if the tires are merely bolted together in some fashion. This "conversation" all started with an email from a reader after he saw some of my ideas in my book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks"- from using tires as a small cabin's base, to filling them with concrete and pre-set bolts to use as walkway supports (for building/access on swampy (more affordable) land).

Here's a link to the other post with a TON of ideas. TEN OTHER USES FOR OLD TIRES

 I'm actually now off to pick up a CASE of old (never used) bicycle inner tubes (closely related enough) from VELO BICYCLES in Canton, MA (Thank You) for an upcoming project for my "Tiny Yellow House" show. My father-in-law, Paul Bendix, also just mentioned today that he has access to over 1000 brand new marching drumsticks (his gun club was using them for firewood otherwise)- so I'll be scheming some use for those down the road.  -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A Return To Crooked Shack- A Rickety, Old, Rotten, Roadside Shed

     I drive by this little shed a few times a week, and actually did a post on photos of it way back on the old version of the blog (the cabin in snow at that time). Here's a new look at it. Its just about ready to fall down, but still holding on, somehow.
     I'm a sucker for old sheds, silos, and especially abandoned desert gas stations. "Rotten Ruins: The Neglected Sheds Of America"- now THAT would be a book I'd check out- bizarre, but somehow interesting (at least to me).
     Anyhow, its not a tiny house or true cabin, per se, but houses are merely souped up sheds and shacks- and some of those are even quite livable.  -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

The Three Dollar Hammock- space efficient seating/sleeping for your tiny home or cabin

HAMMOCKS: Space (AND wallet) efficient- but not a perfect solution....

      I recently posted (not here yet, but on my youtube channel ( www.youtube.com/relaxshacksdotcom ) a video on an 8' by 8' by 8' cabin I built and designed for a show on The History Channel. Soon after, one of the viewer comments was "So many people worldwide sleep in them, and they take up so little space, so why didn't you include a hammock?"

     Well, I actually did plan on it, but didn't have the time- AND I had an intro section of the clip from my basement where I was also yammering from a hammock ("The Three Dollar Hammock" from my new book- below). I later thought the intro made the snippet too long, so I axed it altogether, BUT...  I do have a short video on the way that is on building these ultra-simple, hammocks.

As for them as sleep units....

The Pros

-Cheap

-Lightweight

-Stowable

-fun/swinging

The Cons

-They can be back killers after awhile

-Not so fun for those who get motion sick

-Tough to get in/out for some (shorter people, the elderly)

But still, even just as temporary seating in a your tiny house or cabin, or even for storage (when hung high near the ceiling (for pillows, stuffed animals, even books) hammocks certainly are something to consider!

The Lil' Blue House in Plymouth, MA (and the giant white dude...)

  Why do I suddenly have the theme song from "The Smurfs" in my head??

  
     I passed this on the way to look at a VW Bus in Plymouth, MA that a guy was selling, and couldn't resist stopping to take a few quick photos (in the lot of some church-related public building). It was locked, so I couldn't snap a shot of the inside, but it had a mini staircase and all, leading to a second play floor. From afar, the scale of it is pretty decent, and at a quick glance could ALMOST fake someone out if it didn't have so many objects of size reference nearby. Its certainly a tiny house, not liveable, but I thought you might get a kick out of it.  -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

My new tiny housing, shack, fort, shelter, cottage book...

A VERY simple, boxy, cabin (dang affordable too!)- "The Cub"

Here's another one- Sketch #48 of "Sixty Shack Sketches in Sixty Days". Its a very simple, easy-to-build, and very affordable (the whole point) cabin I've been messing with called "The Cub", which I'd like to build at some point. More or less its a tiny vacation camp/house/hut that can be built off site and prefabricated in pieces, much like "The Wolfe's Den Treehouse" (see video below). This one is NOT in the new "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks", but there are several similar ideas in that book.....its from the out of print mini-book of mine called "Quick Camps And Leg Cramps" (which we WILL have more of, with a new color cover, at some point).

The cabin is a mere 8' by 8'- but 12' tall, allowing for a generous little sleep loft, accessed by a ladder, or a built in shelving/ladder combination. The plan also allows for a simple 4' by 4' wet bath/bathroom to be added off the back, or side. With the 5' by 8' sleeping loft (5' of head room) this cabin is 104 Square Feet.

    -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Film Actor John Malcovich's Treehouse/Willow Huts....

     For a guy who always seems so stoic and menacing in movies (although I like him alot as an actor), I never would have thought that John Malcovich would have a kiddish side- as is evident by this spread of willow-woven treehuts/treehouses that he owns on his property in France. More sculptural, than functional, they still are pretty unique looking. They were built and designed by artist/land sculptor Clare Wilks- and are featured in a VERY cool book called "Treehouses" by Paula Henderson and Adam Mornement"- one of the better treehouse books I own. There's a link below, and I'll post a review on it at some point.

Here's a few treehouse/tiny house/shelter/cabin sketches too. The first one is in my new "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" book...

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Treehouse Eye Candy (A Tiny Escape Hut In A Farmer's Field)

Well, the TREE is actually the coolest part....

The color/leaves in this one have to be doctored in photoshop- the foliage is just too amazing looking! Regardless, talk about a great spot to get out of the sun, and hideout, while reading a book. Its the only photo I can find of this particular treefort/treehouse, and unfortunately its hard to make out just exactly how the structure looks and is set up.

That said, I have many more new sketches and concepts on the way- naturally some tiny homes in trees as well- a la some of the ones in "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks". I'll also have a new video up tomorrow or the next day- a short snippet on "The All Eights" cabin that I built and assembled in Brooklyn, NY back in October. I'm also slowly compiling all the new cabin sketches from the "Sixty Shack Sketches In Sixty Days" series, and making a slide show out of those for youtube as well; This way you can check them all out in one quick sitting.  -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Holy funky, weird, wild, neighbor-angering, hippied out, shed/tiny house!

The world's wildest/ugliest shed/tiny house??? 

     I wish I could find photos of the interior of this one- I think its a kids fort, but what an out-there guest house/shed this one would make! Its just CRAZY! I'd dub it the "Little Shed Dormitory"- "L.S.D."- lol.... very cool/unique though! I love it!

Shot is from Flickr user tastybit via Creative Commons

---------------------------

check out my new book- $11.53- OUT NOW.... 

Cool lil' Vardo/Caravan For Sale in "Joisey"..... (Three Cool Gypsy Wagons)

For any looking for an ultra-tiny "house"/cabin on wheels....
I thought this one simply looked fun because of the paint job (you'll NEVER be missed on the highway- actually you might be the cause of rubberneck-pile-ups!). What I like most about this is something I've sketched into a few past designs for a trailer-type homes I'd someday like to build; This vardo/caravan has made use of the tongue of the trailer as a front entrance deck. I don't know why more people don't do this- it makes good sense, and adds minimal weight to the overall structure. Its "dang" simple to build too...
This one's over on Tinyhouselistings.com  $6000 is the asking price (located in New Jersey)

 

Here's the info from the sales listing.....

This is my 2nd little gypsy caravan Ive built for camping. Its made out of MDO Epoxy encased plywood with solid foam insulation in the walls. The interior height is 54″, outside width is 6″4″, interior width of 5’11″, and 10 feet long. The box on the back is designed to be the galley area, the 5000 btu air conditioner is built in, but could be removed.
The bed is full sized futon (54″) with a memmory foam topper. It can be closed up to couch sized, or pulled out for a full sized bed. The propane heater keeps it comfy warm in 16′ temps with it barely on above a pilot light. Easily removed for the summer time. The front deck is red cedar. Its solidly constructed with a heavy gauge rubber roof thats rated for 20 years! It is equipped with a 12 volt deep cycle battery and also wired for ac power.
Easily sleeps 2 adults, with floor space for children. There is storage space under the bed for clothes etc.
I took it on a 500 mile shake down cruise and it tows nice and straight behind my truck. Tow weight as equipped was 1650lbs.
(bedding not included)

If you like gypsy wagons, caravans, and vardos, two of my favorites come from...
HORNBY ISLAND CARAVANS
(Michelle Wilson and Co.) and
GEORGE CRAWFORD of PALEOTOOLS

Both of these builders are photographically featured in my new "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" book- which has been #1 on Amazon in the carpentry section for almost 4 weeks running! Thank you! You can order it below....$11.53.....

George Crawford's Gypsy Wagon....

Michelle Wilson and Co's Wagon (Hornby Island Caravans)

Shipshape Cabins- A UK tiny hut/cabin builder, with a nautical twist....

Here's a unique take on cabin shape- well, based off fishing huts of old, but a more modern version. Tiny, simple, good looking, and pretty affordable.... Shipshape Cabins is the company- check them out a campinghuts.com. I love those round front windows.....add a few more windows, dormer-style, for natural light, or more of a view, and it might make for a great beach or lake hut too...

I saw this over on Alex Johnson's site Shedworking.co.uk- and Alex has a brand new book out that looks pretty damn cool- its called  "Bookshelf"- and its a coffee-table style book, apparently, on wild and unique bookshelves and storage. If I get a chance to check a copy out I'll certainly post a full review. Looks like it might be a fun one!

Here's a look at the cover, and a link to this book, and my new book, below....
     -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen