Andrea Funk's Super-Awesome Cabin/Tiny House!

 Blog reader, and fellow tiny house and cabin enthusiast (who's home was featured in a FULL PAGE photo in my book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks", Andrea Funk, just gave me a new set of photos showing the progress on her beautiful cabin in the woods- one where she also partly runs her cottage-industry business "Too Cool T-Shirt Quilts". Check this place out!

TINY HOUSE BUILDING WORKSHOP....
Also, I haven't mentioned it too recently, but slots for our 2013 Tiny House Building (Hands-On!) Workshop are filling up. If you're interested in joining us, check out the link for this Wilmington, NC THREE DAY workshop (April 26th-28th) and/or email me at kidcedar at gmail.com. Guest speakers include Kent Griswold of tinyhouseblog.com, Alex Pino of tinyhousetalk.com, Laura and Matt LaVoie of 120squarefeet.com, and more to be announced. All in all, it will be close to 40 hours of building contact and hands on instruction- we'll all be building a tiny guest house together. All ages, and all skill levels (even NONE), are welcome.

Hi Derek,

Here are some more photos I thought you could share. We are getting close to having the cabin finished. We need to work on the steps and railings.

So we began the house over 5 years ago. We wanted a cabin in our woods so we would not have to dive up north and spend the weekends taking care of a second home. So the cabin is in the back woods about 300 yards from the house. We have power, no sewer. Electric base board heat. I hope to get a propane stove eventually.

The first year we got the post and beam "foundation" and the basic structure of the building, including the windows and the 5th and 6 photos. Then I cedar shaked it. Then the ceilings went in - painted boards that we recycled from a 100 year old building . (we planed them, tongued and grooved) photo 7. Photo 8 is putting up the knotty pine. It's been a slow project, but we are getting close. I don't think that David wants to finish the sleeping loft with the railing so he can go out and sleep there without me. I can't sleep in the loft without a railing - too scared of falling.
   -Andrea

Here's the book the cabin is shown in...alongside a TON of hand sketched tiny house and shelter concepts, other photos, and building and design info from the likes of Lloyd Kahn, Jay Shafer, Mimi Zeiger, Duo Dickinson, David and Jeanie Stiles, Colin Beaven, Alex Pino, Kent Griswold, Dee Williams, and many more....

A log-cabin-like tree house/tiny house in the woods

One of THE cooler tree house photos I've seen! Everything about this says "Drop what you're doing, sell all your crap, and move into me!". If only I could convince the wife, and well, give something like this a little more support than a few birch trees (which don't fare so well in many parts of New England).

Speaking of which, as I've frequently been asked, THE BEST book on TREE HOUSE BUILDING- well, at least MY favorite is "Tree Houses and Forts You Can Build" by David and Jeanie Stiles. Most of the book is geared towards kid-like forts, but almost ALL the info and diagrams can be sensibly applied towards larger "adult" builds. There are some great, easy to understand, techniques within. There are MANY other tree house books out there, but I particularly like this one.

My "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" book has quite a few tree house, and tree house compatible ideas as well...and my next book will have LOTS more o' that!!!!

 

Photo shared from "Rooms With A View" on Facebook

A micro-cabin in the sun- photo gallery (its FOR SALE too!)

This is a series of photos I took at a CT Youth Fair in Old Saybrook, CT, where I was asked to display my tiny cabin/garden shelter "The GottaGiddaWay". This little structure fits in my 4' by 8' trailer and has been on display in Walden Woods, at M.I.T., The Deerfield Fair, The Guilford Library, NYC, and beyond....it also has been featured in the NY Times, The Boston Globe, and several tv and internet shows, alongside my other tiny, salvaged-material cabins. I LOVE this little place, and have often worked on THIS BLOG from within it, but its time for me to clear room in my tiny yard for NEW projects, for NEW DIY Video Tutorials.
So, yup, its for sale- garden hut for reading, kids fort, chicken coop, who knows- it could be used for MANY things. $500 asking price. ALL money will go towards building another micro shelter, and then filming it for my youtube show "Tiny Yellow House". You can subscribe to the channel at www.youtube.com/relaxshacksDOTcom. Email me at kidcedar at gmail dot com if interested. Most of the contents, art, and pillows do not come with it, but the stained glass does- which alone listed at $120 or so. I've also posted an old video tour of this little tiny house/cabin/fort.

A Merry "Tiny House In The Catskills" Christmas to all!

Thank you for such a great year, and for the many online, and in-person, friendships that have been made through this blog. 2012 has been great for me, and this blog, and we have some BIG things, tiny-house-wise, to come.... A Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours!

 Sandy Foster's Tiny Shabby-Chic Cabin in The Catskills- this one is also shown in my book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks". LOVE this lil' place!

Check out her very cool blog HERE 

A Modern/Funky Shipping Container House/Cabin

     I meant to post on this ages ago, but for those who haven't checked out this great example of container housing from the firm Hybrid Architecture, here you go.... funky, industrial, modern.....
    I've long wanted to buy, and mess with, a conex box/shipping container and see what I can come up with tiny house-wise, but that will have to wait until funds, time, and space allow.
    

For more from this design firm, check out www.hybridarc.com- they're based out of the Seattle, WA area....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Bye-Bye To "The Boxy Lady" Micro Cabin/Shelter

Bye-Bye to "The Boxy Lady".....

Photo by Bruce Bettis

My micro-cabin/shelter "The Boxy Lady", which won a "Best In Show" Ribbon at Maker Faire 2010 in NYC, visited a CT libary for a speaking event, was on display for weeks in the seaside town of Scituate, MA, has a cameo in the upcoming horror film "Slew Hampshire", and was MY FIRST mini-feature video for "Tiny Yellow House" for Make Zine, now has a new owner.

I'm slowly selling the tiny cabins I have, to make way for (with the proceeds) several NEW projects and designs that will be the subject of upcoming videos for my DIY youtube series. You can subscribe to my channel by going to www.youtube.com/relaxshacksDOTcom  I have SIXTY FOUR videos up there now- all DIY and Tiny House/Cabin related.

Soon, "The Gypsy Junker" cabin will be up for sale, as well as "The GottaGiddaWay". The money from these might also go towards an eventual Shipping Container Tiny House Project- as I've long been obsessed with the idea/concept.

Anyway, here is an older video, when I was younger, and had quite a bit more hair....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Talk about a MICRO OFFICE!?- the "WOW HAUS" field desk

A Micro Office that folds up into a suitcase/trunk! Wow... We're hosting another hands-on workshop April 26th-28th in Wilmington, NC- three days of design, building, networking, and FUN!- and while we are building a tiny guest house that will double as a small office, I don't think we'll get THIS tiny....kidcedar at gmail dot com if you might be interested- while we have space left....

Photo Credit- Wow Haus Architects

Not sure if I'd want to go this route, but it certainly is clever, and an affordable option for those looking to for a change of scenery- and that's what I love- this thing is so small and lightweight that you could move it to a new locale, over and over, very easily.

For more from Wow Haus- check out www.thewowhaus.com

A tiny, tiny escape house/tree house for monks....

A Couple Of Tree House Building Pointers...

A monk's tiny tree house- with permission from the publishers

This one's been featured in one of Pete Nelson's tree house books, and in another one or two, and I've always loved the look of it. Note the very simple stairs, the roof hatch, and beneath the cabin, what I imagine to be a storage bin, accessed through a floor hatch within the hut. I've looked for more info on this little shelter time and time again, but never can find much- just that its in the Berkshires in MA (and debatable, from sources, at that), part of a monastery retreat that used to feature/house a few dwellers and tree houses, and that as of more recently, only one man was left at the compound, and he only used this place occasionally. Man, I'd love to visit.

WHAT I WOULDN'T DO (as I've built a half dozen tree houses or so): It looks like the support girders are merely 2 by 4's, probably not treated ones too (although you can get away with that in some cases/applications). I see that they've backed up each attaching point with a 2 by 4 scrap beneath it (a good idea)- but again, I'd use something heftier, and would use carriage screws or bolts, not mere nails (they're bound to eventually pull from their anchored positions).

Two of the trees they've built off look about only 4" or so in diameter too- which I'd stray from, if possible- although, they are two of four trees holding this place up, so in that case, its probably fine, and perhaps we're dealing with a very petite monk here.

If possible, I personally TRY to only use trees that are 10" in diameter, but in some cases you're forced to work with what you're given. 

 

 -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

What to do with free-cycled windows and doors???

There are literally a hundred ideas out there, and free windows and doors being discarded EVERY DAY, but here's one simple hot house/green house (or even a playhouse) idea from Lucy Marr. Thanks for the great idea/photo to share!

I love the sporadic and chaotic look of this, and its something I've long wanted to do in tree house form- I certainly have the stock of free windows!  Think about it...deep in the woods, in the shade of trees, but with windowed views in all directions. Sure, privacy might be an issue elsewhere, but again, far off in woods.....far off in the woods....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

ONE of the "nuttier", more offbeat, tiny house books....

I don't post too many book reviews on this blog, but I felt that this one was worth the attention/mention....

When it comes to books, I rarely like to spend over $15 or so, UNLESS I do a little research or peeking first. Well, NO ONE I knew had the book "The $50 and Up Underground House" by Mike "The Moleman" Oehler, and it being priced at $20 or so made me hesitate to pick it up a few times in the past.

Well, ladies and gents, I was an IDIOT not to, and in terms of being just out there(!), while making perfect sense, and being loaded with some GREAT building information, not to mention illustrations and photos that make Oehler's approach very clear, I ordered, devoured, and LOVED this book.

Again, its a bizarre book, and Oehler loves a good occasional rant, but, the information is great and after reading this book, I'm pretty damn inspired to go on and try building an underground dwelling at some point. I actually have always wanted to do this, but this book has given me a good, needed, kick in the pants.

To sum it up, if you're fascinated by underground dwellings, do check this one out.

OTHER INSANE Tiny House and DIY/Thrift Living BOOKS I LOVE (and some say my own book is insane (thank you!))

"Radical Simplicity" by Dan Price- a funky, journal-style entry on one man's streak of tinkering with tiny, homemade, dwellings. 

"The Art And Science of Dumpster Diving" by John Hoffman- humorous, informative, and down n' dirty- literally. This guy has done it all!

Here's a video of one of Oehler's Underground homes- almost THIRTY YEARS later! Still holdin' up!

A Secret Door in A Small Seattle House!

While sifting through, oh, a few hundred photos I hadn't posted yet, I now have the urge to incorporate a hidden passageway into the cabin we're all collectively building in North Carolina at our 3-day Tiny House Workshop- seriously, we just may have to do it! The workshop is April 26th-28th....CLICK HERE for more info....

 I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE secret passageways. Perhaps it was infused in me from movies like "The Goonies" when I was a kid, or the TV show "Webster" (if anyone remembers that), but I just can't resist clicking on links, videos, articles, and tours of homes with secret passages.....

SO.....I was thrilled to come across one face to face while filming episode of my show "Tiny Yellow House" out in Seattle earlier this year (with Christopher Smith, one of the two (with Merete Mueller) behind the much anticipated "Tiny: The Movie").
     You might have seen my video tour of Hal Colombo's 68 square foot tiny guest house (complete with a mechanical, garage-door murphy bed!) this past summer, but Hal's main house itself was actually twice as wild! Sadly, we didn't have time to film it, but I hope to return at some point- it was just TOO good of a time. The old video is below- and check out this secret Scooby-Doo-like bathroom door. This bookcase is SOLID, and hung on massive hinges, yet it swings with ease!

The big ole hinges are the giveaway, but its really well designed, and the door gives way to an under-the-staircase bathroom.

Hal's home, overall, is about 600 or so square feet, from what I remember him telling me. As for the guest house, YES,  you can rent it by the night- over on airbnb.com. Hal also plays in a really cool surf/garage rock band called "The Vacant Stairs".

Funky Junk! I love it! You could spend a few hours in his living room looking around and never unearth, or ask about, all that you wanted to know and see. 

Filming the show, at like 6am (after that hellish flight), BEFORE heading off to speak at the Tumbleweed Tiny House Workshop.

IF YOU MISSED THE VIDEO TOUR....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

"The Darrington Cabin" Mock Ups- A Tiny Guest House/Office....

Here's another stab at the cabin design we might be tinkering with (well, ACTUALLY BUILDING!) at our April 26th-28th Tiny House Building Workshop in Wilmington, NC. THREE DAYS of building, designing, networking, guest speakers, demos, and MORE! CLICK HERE if you might want to sign up....while we still have space. Its limited to 25 people total. The list of guest speakers is GREAT too- with MORE to come!
Steven Harrell of Tinyhouselistings.com, Kent Griswold of Tinyhouseblog.com, Alex Pino of Tinyhousetalk.com, Laura LaVoie of 120squarefeet.com, AND MORE- they'll all be there as speakers!

I've never really messed around with Google Sketch-up before, just because I haven't had the chance, so with a little block of time today I decided to mess around a bit, with some off-shoot ideas (and there will be many other to come) for a micro-cabin I'll eventually be building, that I've named "The Darrington" (a combination of "Deek" and "Harrington" (a nod to Kevin Harrington of www.COZYHOMEPLANS.com, who has been so helpful with my videos, and blog.

The cabin is 8' by 12', and 10' tall at its highest point, and what you see here is a mere rough draft.

Not shown is the work desk, toilet, ladder (or steps) to the loft, gutters (by the entrance), and support legs for the flip-up wall/canopy (IF we decide to incorporate it into the build at all).

Again, these sketch-ups are pretty darn rough, as, well, I've used the program for about a total of 2 hours and that's it. I DO see how people can get addicted though, and heck, its a free program! No complaints here.

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A Micro Office Makeover- FLOOR STORAGE ("FLOORAGE") for your tiny house

UNDER FLOOR STORAGE IN YOUR TINY HOME OR OFFICE:

Well, with 1000 projects going on, a 3 Day NC Tiny House-Building Workshop coming up (April 26th-28th), two kids, two bands, a hosting gig for the DIY Network, another book contract signed/in the works, and well, all the other things that come with life, my micro closet office, or "Cloffice", had gotten a little messy as of lately.....SO I figured a lil' makeover was in order. (Note: The rest of the room to the left is clean....)

BEFORE

AFTER

"No, you can't have my vintage vhs copy of 'Tremors'!"

In the photo above, the closet makeover is not 100% complete, but its getting there. The new space acts as a little reading/play nook for my kids, which they love- its very fort-like, and if I have to do any computer work while at home, they're inches behind me, so that I can keep an eye on them.

HOW? TACTICS....

Basically, I utilized the under-stair shelving I had installed (on stairs I also had built a few years ago, the office too...) for storage of books, magazines, and future giveaway items for the blog, AND.....I built what I call "FLOORAGE". Floorage is the building of a thin, boxed, floor section, ON TOP of an existing floor. Its almost like building a stage, but one that is hollow, and opens up for access and storage within. Mine was made of a few 2by6's and some left over tongue and groove cedar I had. Slap an Ikea rug and a pillow or two on top of that, and Whammo!- a simple under-stair-office makeover!

TOTAL BUDGET- $45.00

Naturally, some of the items I parted with, or moved elsewhere, but believe it or not, most everything fit in here, AND there's a little room to spare... The edge of the storage/floorage box also has a nice stained/trim edge now, which isn't shown in this photo.

I talk about this a lil' bit in my book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks", but will expand on more of these style ideas in the next book I've been working on....
-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Clever Salvage Siding for Sheds, Outhouses, n' Cabins....

Suzanne St. Pierre and Scott's Paint Can Lid Outhouse Siding.....

Pretty simple.... a la flattened metal-juice can siding, which I've tried- it works well!

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Check Out Details on our HANDS-ON, TINY HOUSE BUILDING WORKSHOP in WILMINGTON, NC= April 26th-28th, 2013= CLICK HERE- build a tiny house, guest speakers, demos....

Super cool ICE FISHING SHACK/Shanty/Cabin Video!

Wow! Check out this one- its FOLDABLE!  Pretty darn clever....

AND this one!!!! 

Aside from Ice Fishing, these might be great for the homeless....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

In Search of UGLINESS for my in-the-works TINY CABIN

Found this the other day- a bright, lime-green elephant statue- about 10" tall, and I just couldn't pass it up. Why? Well, its so ugly n' bizarre, that I find it interesting.... I believe "Fugly" could also be the term used (you figure it out...). Anyhow, this thing will be amongst the decorative mess of weirdness that I've slowly been arranging in my little cabin "The All Eights"- and just you wait to see some of the other things I've found curbside, at yard sales, and at occasional thrift shops.

Here's the lo-fi D.I.Y. rustic lantern video I shot in this tiny house/shed a ways back too, for those who have zero I as to what I'm talking about! As you can see, this place is far from done, and you can even see some uncut trim in the thumbnail shot of this structure.

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Inspiration for a Shipping Container Tiny House/Cabin

Upcoming- more guests will be announced for our Tiny House-Building Workshop in Wilmington, NC- April 26th-28th (2013)! THREE DAYS of Building a Tiny House Together! This will be limited to 25 attendees.....

As for these photos....I took these while out in Chicago when I was teaching another tiny house building workshop for the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company. The workshop was a ton of fun, great people all around, great feedback, and it also gave me a chance to wander around one of my favorite cities! I first visited Chicago in 1996 while touring the U.S. with a punk band, and I fell in love with that town instantly. The art, architecture, and food- its all amazing! This workshop was my 4th visit there, and I'd love to go back.
     Shown here, is a sculpture near the Navy Pier, that, to me, sets up a very simple and clever arrangement for the building of a tiny shipping container, or "conex box", home. These homes are becoming more and more popular, and entire books have even been devoted to their existence. While these were mere 4' by 8' models made out of routed plywood, their arrangement provides for a connected second story, AND a shaded car port, or deck area, beneath. I like how they are stacked at an angle too- I feel it makes the set-up less boxy, and less predictable.

These might also make for a great screened-in tree house/fort in the woods! Imagine how great they would look while lit up at night! Like a giant ornamental candle!

All photos by Derek "Deek" Diedricksen