I live in a 400 sq ft tiny house and love it and my garden. I have no stairs (a ramp into the side door), a screened in front porch, and an open side deck. The house is in a cul-de-sac with other tiny homes and RV spaces. My art surrounds me in the house and I am grateful for how much I like living small.
I love the fantasy of leaving all my pelf and living small, but then I think, On whose back acre? Emerson’s? Living on road-worthy tires instead of a foundation is definitely temporary. But, oh, they make great magazine photos - like those long country tables set for picnics with laughing families. Even the children are laughing. No child shouts as the camera snaps, “Quit it, Danny! That’s *mine*! Mooommm!!”
Ouch! I just tripped over one kid’s boot, another kid’s laundry pile, my own stack of papers and the cat, all while typing this. I might need a bigger house. 🙄
PS - Gorgeous Leaf House! Congrats on the award. Wonderful essay. I read the whole thing. :-)
Awww! Thanks, Tara! It *is* more fantasy than practical reality, isn’t it? Maybe that’s why they’ve taken off as AirBnbs. I’d love to stay in one sometime. My friend and her husband stayed in one in New Zealand that had so much glass, even the top surface was all glass. Great for star-gazing.
Ooo, nice! I imagine they could quadruple the price when solar flares are active, but they might have to issue refunds in the event of overcast nights. Tough business. I'll stick with professoring.
Great essay, Julie. So much to consider when it comes to housing solutions. As much as I do love a tiny house, I really appreciate this nuanced point of view.
And that prize winning house, gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.
A tiny house could not accommodate our dog, our art and our books (my husband’s genealogy gazeteers need their own shelves). And what about his-and-hers bathrooms, the real secret of marital happiness? But what a fascinating trend and backlash. Thank you for this deeply thoughtful essay, and congratulations on your beautiful, prizewinning LEAF house.
Thanks for spending time with it and I’m glad you enjoyed it. At this point in life, I think a tiny house might make a good writing studio and that’s about it.
I’m guess I can’t post a pic here of my tiny office house in VT with solar panels… we built it in 2001 as the Twin Towers were coming down .. ahead of our time. I guess I’ll post to notes and link to you. Love this piece. I write in my tiny office about my parents and it’s packed with their art etc (https://twohouses.substack.com)
Ooooo!! Second paragraph! “They remind me of Margaret Thatcher's idea of there being no such thing as community, only individuals, but in a built form. Small and separate.” 💯 THIS!!
As per usual, I have over thought this. I’ve started over with nothing but a pair of boxer shorts, once with nothing but my clothes and a 1971 Ford F 100.
The only thing I miss is the stereo.
The lesson? It’s just stuff. You can always get more stuff ….
I have realized, my efforts are a transparent false narrative, trying to kid myself. At least I developed a valuable skill. I build wonderful bookshelves now🤣🙈🤷♂️
I live in a 400 sq ft tiny house and love it and my garden. I have no stairs (a ramp into the side door), a screened in front porch, and an open side deck. The house is in a cul-de-sac with other tiny homes and RV spaces. My art surrounds me in the house and I am grateful for how much I like living small.
Wonderful testimonial! Are you in a place with a benign climate that you can enjoy being outdoors a good bit?
I love the fantasy of leaving all my pelf and living small, but then I think, On whose back acre? Emerson’s? Living on road-worthy tires instead of a foundation is definitely temporary. But, oh, they make great magazine photos - like those long country tables set for picnics with laughing families. Even the children are laughing. No child shouts as the camera snaps, “Quit it, Danny! That’s *mine*! Mooommm!!”
Ouch! I just tripped over one kid’s boot, another kid’s laundry pile, my own stack of papers and the cat, all while typing this. I might need a bigger house. 🙄
PS - Gorgeous Leaf House! Congrats on the award. Wonderful essay. I read the whole thing. :-)
Awww! Thanks, Tara! It *is* more fantasy than practical reality, isn’t it? Maybe that’s why they’ve taken off as AirBnbs. I’d love to stay in one sometime. My friend and her husband stayed in one in New Zealand that had so much glass, even the top surface was all glass. Great for star-gazing.
Ooo, nice! I imagine they could quadruple the price when solar flares are active, but they might have to issue refunds in the event of overcast nights. Tough business. I'll stick with professoring.
Same
Great essay, Julie. So much to consider when it comes to housing solutions. As much as I do love a tiny house, I really appreciate this nuanced point of view.
And that prize winning house, gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for reading, Holly. I’ve cooled towards them, too. But I wouldn’t say no to a writing studio.
Oh, a tiny writing studio. I love imagining it.
A tiny house could not accommodate our dog, our art and our books (my husband’s genealogy gazeteers need their own shelves). And what about his-and-hers bathrooms, the real secret of marital happiness? But what a fascinating trend and backlash. Thank you for this deeply thoughtful essay, and congratulations on your beautiful, prizewinning LEAF house.
Thanks for spending time with it and I’m glad you enjoyed it. At this point in life, I think a tiny house might make a good writing studio and that’s about it.
Two tiny houses. A sheshed and mancave. 😉
Bathrooms!!! You are so right.
I’m guess I can’t post a pic here of my tiny office house in VT with solar panels… we built it in 2001 as the Twin Towers were coming down .. ahead of our time. I guess I’ll post to notes and link to you. Love this piece. I write in my tiny office about my parents and it’s packed with their art etc (https://twohouses.substack.com)
Yes, when WILL Substack enable photo posting in comments. At least we have Notes. You must love writing in that adorable tiny house. 💚
Yes to photos in comments. Facebook makes it possible. Why not Substack?
Maybe they want us to use Notes more. 🤷🏼♀️
Vacation home as a tiny house makes a lot of sense!
Hi Julie,
Thanks for this interesting post!
Here's one back at ya, and I'm not an architect, so this might not even be doable.
But here you go anyways: https://ideasbigandwild.substack.com/p/a-new-dream-of-home
Ooooo!! Second paragraph! “They remind me of Margaret Thatcher's idea of there being no such thing as community, only individuals, but in a built form. Small and separate.” 💯 THIS!!
And, to be fair, a lot of tiny houses cluster in communities, at least in my experience.
Thanks for checking my post out, Julie. It's my dream home.
So enjoyed this nuanced discussion on tiny homes. Thank you, Julie!
Thanks for reading, Annette. Glad you enjoyed it.
As per usual, I have over thought this. I’ve started over with nothing but a pair of boxer shorts, once with nothing but my clothes and a 1971 Ford F 100.
The only thing I miss is the stereo.
The lesson? It’s just stuff. You can always get more stuff ….
I'd love to have a tiny home just for my writing. But an everyday home... not humanly possible. But I love the idea and applaud anyone that can do it.
Same! It would make the ideal writing studio.
Both sides now: ell-done, Julie!
Thanks so much for the shout out, Julie!
I could never in good conscience write about tiny houses without a nod to the ultimate fictional one!
Thank you! One day when I sell the movie rights, I’ll commission you to design the real Houze!
I love that idea. Just throwin' that in here. ;-)
You’re on!
Me too! Especially books.
I’ve decided to stop doing books. 14 pallets later….🤷♂️🙈
Exactly. I’ve given boxes and boxes away and it hasn’t seemed to make a dent.
I have realized, my efforts are a transparent false narrative, trying to kid myself. At least I developed a valuable skill. I build wonderful bookshelves now🤣🙈🤷♂️