Jennifer Francis' tiny house/cabin (for rent) in Austin, TX

 Austin, Texas is pretty darn awesome.
     Its known by many as "The Live Music Capitol Of The World", but it certainly also deserves some credit for its forward and free-thinking citizens, and their love for unusual, and tiny, architecture. While down there to teach a two day tiny house building workshop for the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, I was able to stay in two different tiny rentals/dwellings ("When in Rome..."), AND see a third. That third tiny house was a guest cabin built and outfitted by Jennifer Francis- one you can rent on airbnb.com for under $60!

The airbnb listing link... https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/658102

Jennifer is beyond friendly, a great host, and her cabin, while not fully complete, already exudes character. With its large columned front porch, its very reminiscent of the pioneer cabins of old. Her backyard is also very fun, funky, and private (she's at the end of a dead end street).

Here are some photos I snapped, and you'll soon see more (alongside the other cabins I saw, AND the workshop) over at www.TumbleweedHouses.com. 

 The interior wall siding? Fence Boards....

 

 

There is no bathroom (guests use the one in her main (also small) home), but she's working on that. Also, the opposite side of the tiny rental also has a mini loft (it wasn't finished, so I didn't photograph it).

Again, since its so new, check out our new facebook page/group over at www.facebook.com/tinyhousehub
 
-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Salvaged Window Greenhouses, Cabins, n' Micro Structures...

Check out some of these great looking, and inventive structures, all which have utilized many discarded (recycled) windows in one way or another. We'll actually be doing a demo on re-glazing windows at our North Carolina (Wilmington) Tiny House Workshops as well- April 26th-28th.

          Above: I just LOVE how the builder kept the original paint and stain color on each window......

From re-store.org

Photo from Houzz.com

wordever.com

A greenhouse cabin I built with recycled windows (and some homemade) for a MA-based horror author

 If you're looking to recycle free windows into a tiny house, cabin, or greenhouse, here's a video I did a little ways back on the subject- something we cover in the workshops for The Tumbleweed Tiny House Company too....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Uh-oh! Deek's buyin' up lanterns n' funky art....NEW CABIN on the way?

Quick Announcements: Only TWO slots left at our Wilmington, NC HANDS-ON Tiny House Building Workshop- April 26th-28th..... Also, for those who missed the announcement, our NEW facebook page TINY HOUSE HUB is now up and running....www.facebook.com/tinyhousehub. Thanks! We have another AWESOME giveaway coming tonight or tomorrow too- so check back!

FUNKY ART in FUNKY SHACKS

Artwork by Keemo- probably soon to be seen in one of my NEW CABINS! 

   Yup, anytime I start hitting flea markets, yard sales, or buying funky art off local or underground artists, it usually means I'm starting to stock up on decor items for an impending new cabin project, and in this case, its beyond true, as I'm working on THREE cabin prototypes right now! 
     One is a collaborative effort, as I've previously mentioned, with DAVID STILES from NYC- his architectural work is FANTASTIC, as is his sketching (and books!), and I've designed a transforming A-frame Cabin (a damn affordable one) that he'll be drafting out full plans for. I can't wait to show you guys! The interior, and exterior will have a 60s/70s look to it, with a twist of bizarre-modern, so it'll certainly be unique! The design is inspired in a few ways, by the work of Lester Walker, and Jeff Milstein, if I had to pick two names in the tiny house and design field. 

Bear on a framed Birch Ply panel- high quality! by Keemo

 Thankfully, here in New England the snow is finally going away and its getting a little warmer so that I can get some work done, so soonish, you'll be seeing and reading more about these projects.

Anyway, in particular, I've REALLY been loving the artwork and paintings from this guy who goes by "Keemo"- his art is wildly fun and colorful, and damn reasonable too....

He's a cottage industry, diy guy, with a family to feed, so give him a look, or some support- www.KeemoGallery.com

I bought four REALLY cool pieces off him recently.....(the bear above is one of 'em)

Lantern above: This I found at a Barn/Weekend Flea Market in Douglas, MA- such a nice little New England town, and the flea market owners were VERY NICE!- all based in a GREAT looking, vaulted roof barn too- I'll be back! You can find more on them at...www.DouglasFleas.com (Bosma's Douglas Flea Market is the name). 

One of my in-the-works cabins- a reading/writing/napping art studio of sorts....video to come (when its done!)

Simple micro paintings on scrap wood that I recently did (in my home).

So UGLY that I LOVE it! A painting I picked up at a thrift shop a ways back....

Another cool/weird painting from KEEMO below....

FIVE fab pallet sheds, huts, forts, studios n' follies....

 LOVE this one- a mix of recycled stock lumber and pallet wood, and the multi-pane door just makes it! From Greendiary.com

photo from OrangeFarmHouse.nl

      NOT a tiny house, well, I suppose it kinda is, but I've been on a pallet kick lately and also liked this photo...I do run another blog called www.fortaday.com afterall.....pallet reconstruction, or repurposing, is also something we'll mess around with a little at our Wilmington, NC Three Day Tiny House Building Workshop....April 26th-28th- can't wait!
       Anyway, this is a GREAT example where a little creativity, thrift, and elbow grease (and not even much of it!) will beat out most store bought clubhouses and forts every time. What's best about this is that its made from FREE, recycled materials that were bound for the dump otherwise! You could ALSO EASILY cover this in planks, tin, corrugated poly roofing, or plywood, and make it a neat little shed for your yard as well.

And here are a FEW MORE.....some great ideas, and greater execution!

www.readersheds.co.uk

The bold trim really makes this simple structure stand out- from cabbagedon.com

A lil' sloppy and lopsided....or "slopsided", but fun! From growsouth.wordpress.com

If you like recycled material projects and want to read on a few other concepts using pallets and other assorted free items to build micro structures, do check out my "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" book....

                                                                    


-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Nantucket Tiny House in a Marsh Setting.....

While pricey, I LOVE Nantucket, MA and architecturally it has so much to see! Its also home to the Atlantic Cafe, which has one of THE BEST buffalo chicken sandwiches I've EVER had.....ahem....anyway, as I wipe my drool away, today I simply wanted to share with you this great photo of a small beach house- which is almost poster worthy.... (also below, a sketch from my book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" that I did while out in Nantucket....

 GOT AN EXCEPTIONAL TINY HOUSE, FORT, or TREE HOUSE that you've photographed or built??

We're looking for more photos and builders to showcase in the next book I'm working on, so if interested, send away! kidcedar at gmail.com

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Tiny House/Shelterpod Cabin DESTROYED BY LAVA!

 This lil' video is just painful to watch! Its such a cool little cabin/shelterpod (that could make for a great, modern, tiny home), and its destroyed so quickly by lava flow from a volcano. As they say, "Location Is Everything".

The write-up from the video:
This shelterpod was owned, designed and built by Mr. Paddy Daly who lives in Bellyacres Eco-village adjacent to Seaview Estates. Paddy was welcomed in to Bellyacres as family would be when the lava flows inundated the area in early 2008 and made it impractical (and illegal) for him to continue living in his private property.

The shelterpod was built on lava flows from the 80's or early 90's about 1000 feet from the coast. It was a unique design consisting of a small living pod resting on a large deck. It had an electrical system consisting of a solar panel, storage battery and an inverter to supply 120 volt AC current. Two large plastic tanks sat under the deck and were to be supplied with rain water from the roof through the gutters and downspouts which were in the process of being installed. Spectacular views from the deck and large windows could be seen in all directions.

Paddy was not only generous enough to allow visitors to rest in his pod while it was standing tall but also generous to share its dramatic end with the public. His generosity will continue into the future as he plans to leave Bellyacres in June, 2010, and begin a two year Peace Corps agricultural tour in sub Saharan Africa.

Good luck and mahalo to Paddy.

Recorded November 3, 2009
-----------------------
 And for those who missed our OFFICIAL EVENT POSTER....er...."posting"- here you go again! This workshop is filling up, so if you're interested, don't hesitate! Its gonna be FUN and very educational!

                    Joe from Tennessee Tiny Homes is now going to be part of this TOO!
and possibly Shelton Davis from RepurposedGoods.com as well....we'll have more on that soon!

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A Cartoonish, Funky Art Shed/Shack/Guest House

FIRST, there's a new tiny house related site that just came out, and I'll have much more on it tomorrow 

Its called www.TINYHOUSEGEAR.com

Sheesh, just when my productivity was coming back, out comes another addictive tiny housing site!

This cabin is serving as temporary storage for a few vintage heaters I'm working on restoring as well (in the right side of the photo)- A perfection kerosene heater (only to be used in a well ventilated room! And a old Sears model knock-off)

"THE A.D.D. Micro-Cabin of Bizarro Art, and Over-The-Top Color"

 From the land of misfit art....

Here's where I've been spending some time lately, working on ideas for my next book on tiny houses, forts, shacks, tree houses, cabins, n' playhouses.....it'll be quite a bit different from "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks"- with some team-ups with a few kick-butt architects in the field!

This little eight by eight prefabricated cabin/shed studio/office still has quite a ways to go, but I'm slowly getting there- all the while accumulating more weird and colorful art to display in it.....

Again, with the addition of a deck, a grill spot, some insulation and a little add-on bathroom, I've contemplated using this as a tiny, tiny house/cabin rental on airbnb.com. One for a micro artists or writers retreat perhaps- it'd even come pre-loaded with some art supplies, a library of ultra out-there books, and more...

Eventually, I think I'm going to give this cabin a tongue and groove floor- it'll cost me a little bit, but when coated with a few layers of polyurethane, it'll look GREAT!

Yeah, I've got a think for weird, voodoo-lookin' owl figures as of recent....no idea why....the other orange one you might see in some photos, was a recent gift from my brother, who is my "owl enabler", apparently.

The Shack, from out back....

Suffice to say, my kids love playing in this little place....

ALOT of PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT THE LANTERN HANGER- So, here's the video explaining....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen (all photos by...)

The Weird Paintings in My Tiny Cabins....who? why?

The Super Cool Art of Painter Karl Mullen....

(because this site has always been a little eclectic with art and diy crafts too- not just tiny houses)

Check out this cool little video, laden with vibrant, funky, and damn off-beat oil paintings from Massachusetts artist Karl Mullen- some of his work has been featured in my past "Tiny Yellow House" how-to/diy videos on the little shelters, greenhouses, and tiny cabins I've created. I've posted two of those videos below. 

I LOVE this type of art, because its so very different, but also fun, colorful, and often thought provoking.

Other artists I currently dig and check up on.... Gus Fink and Cathy Johnson (of the blog "SHED OF REALITY").....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

SAVE a FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS while building your tiny house....

This is a topic I'll be talking about at my Wilmington, NC Tiny House-Building Workshop on April 26th- 28th- HOW TO SAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS while building your tiny house, cabin, or travel trailer. We'll put some of these tips into action as we build a tiny guest house as well! There are a TON of tips I talk about, but let me drop one simple one on you by means of a question. First though, I want you to look at this photo....

Now ask yourself, "Did I notice that the floors are mere plywood?". Looks pretty darn decent doesn't it.
     By using plywood, and skipping a second layer of flooring (where applicable), you eliminate one step of work in the path towards your tiny house, the large chunk of time required to lay a tongue and groove floor is done away with (and the need for specialty tools), AND you're only buying plywood for the task.
     Now granted, you're going to have to buy better grade plywood than what you might have otherwise hid under a layer of fancy flooring, but you're saving a large wad of cash, time, and with a simple swabbin' of polyurethane, or some other protectant, these floors still look great! If you're worried about seeing seams, keep in mind that area rugs and furniture may be taking up half of the floor, visually, anyway.

I also love that the walls you see in this photo are structural, but with the addition of thick blocking, also become storage shelves- an age old trick.

Coming up, I'll also have alternate flooring techniques- ALSO money saving! A decent portion of these ideas are in the book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks", but I've come up with a few new ones since that book was printed.

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

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....

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

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

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