What does "scaling down" mean to you? Fewer lattes? At-home hair coloring? Spending a little more time in the kitchen and a little less time in the car? A resident of Sebastopol, California, Jay Shafer, takes "scaling down" to the most literal extent with his Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.
Inspired by economic trends, environmental issues, and the general philosophy of Less is More, Shafer designs tiny homes and has even begun his own blog about living on less. His fully-designed small-scale homes, all on wheels and amenable to any RV plug-in facility, are all stylishly created with interior wood paneling, built-ins, bookcases, and stainless steel mini kitchens... all laid out in a space the size of some people's walk-in closet! What's more, the utility expenses on a tiny house average $15 per month.
Tumbleweed plans are priced under $1000 and range in size from "tiny house" designs of 65 square feet up to a "small house" designed three-bedroom home of 774 square feet and most cost in the range of $36K-$46K to build. The small houses are all designed to international building code, while the tiny houses are all built on wheels, thus considered travel trailers and do not require building permits. They can be purchased ready-made or you can build them yourself.
The website offers photographs of all plans and designs, as well as tours, suggested book titles and workshops on building and designing. Additionally, a portfolio of small houses is available for purchase right on the website. User comments and feedback are posted as well, so you can really get the gist of what people are doing and saying about this alternative lifestyle. A very complete FAQ section addresses questions ranging from the practical to the not-so-frequently asked.
The tiny house is clearly not for everyone, but is certainly a fun concept to read about. It seems there is no end to the ingenuity of creative people when confronted with hurdles and puzzles. The people who are converting to this mini-home lifestyle are able to survive comfortably on annual salaries of $15,000 and enjoy a life of minimalism through and through. To read more about tiny houses and their designs, please visit the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company's website at: http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com.