The Tiny House Revolution has taken the world by storm as an uncluttered alternative to traditional living. More and more people are looking to make their lives more simple and to down-size from large to small. Enter the Tiny House. Without giving up anything in the way of comfort, lots of folks are finding tiny living a happy change from living in a big home.
The kitchen area of any home is usually the hub of activity, the place people hang out and chat and joke while food is being prepared. And so it is with the tiny house kitchen area. And here are some examples of the typical tiny house kitchen – both convenient and elegant.
(All images courtesy of Pinterest)
This beautiful tiny kitchen is the epitome of space efficiency, with everything a cook could possibly want or need to make a scrumptious meal. And you will notice the handy book shelves where favorite cookbooks could be kept. With stainless steel appliances, this is a kitchen whose maintenance is quick and easy.
This lovely, warm and rustic tiny house kitchen is inside a tiny house log cabin. Wood is such an inviting material, and this kitchen is a perfect example of cozy and efficient. And the experience in this tiny house kitchen is one of spaciousness as opposed to feeling cramped.
This tiny house kitchen is a wonderful example of the sleek, modern style with all the conveniences of a large kitchen. With a double sink, stainless steel fridge, and gas stove this is a design that is both elegant and efficient.
Butcher block counter tops are featured in this tiny house kitchen, and the effect is a wonderful combination of rustic and traditional. Not lacking any modern convenience, this kitchen shows you how much can be done in a tiny space.
Color and clean lines are what make this tiny house kitchen so inviting. Wooden counter tops add charm and texture.
This tiny house kitchen is another example of how a modern color palette and a sleek style does not have to dwarf an already small space. On the contrary, this kitchen gives the feeling of being spacious and open.
Every year, we are given the colors of the year for makeup and clothing. Now the world of home decorating is getting into the act by providing us with just as many trends as the beauty industry. You don’t need to redecorate your entire home to keep up with these trends; just a pillow, a set of curtains, or a throw rug, can bring you up to date on this year’s trends. We are no longer in a matchy-match world where stripes don’t get along with plaids and white and beige are the only neutrals. A lot of colors can complement one another and many different patterns can make things interesting. Below are a few home color trends that dominate the scene in 2017. Remember, you don’t need to buy a new sofa, but a few extra throw pillows can only make your home a bit more on trend this season.
Purple in the Dining Room
Dining room colors are becoming more vivid and bright, and purple is the perfect color to add a little pizzazz to your own dining room. If you want to go big, you can reupholster the chairs in a plush purple, but if you want to go small, purple flowers as a centerpiece is a great and economical idea. A nice throw rug underneath your table in purple is also another idea that will give you the benefit of the richness of purple without totally redecorating.
Deep Red
The color deep red adds a lovely spark to a living room. You can paint the back of a bookshelf, invest in a red coffee table or side tables. Even something as small as a red vase or red candles all around the room, will make your living space really jazzy. Posters and art prints with deep red in them also adds a nice touch to your space, and they are also economical choices to bring this trendy color into your home.
Turquoise in the Family Room or Den
Turquoise is a bold color and totally on trend this season. There are many ways to add turquoise to your home. The use of ottomans, throw pillows on the sofa, a multi-colored rug with turquoise in it, will also do the trick to add that bit of magic to a family room or den area. If you want to go all out, a turquoise armchair is a wonderful investment.
Plum in the Bedroom
The bedroom is a place where we not only sleep but for many people it becomes the oasis of the home. Plum is a beautiful color to add to your bedroom ambiance. A few plum throw pillows , curtains, or bedside lamp in plum, will change the look of your bedroom in minutes. Particularly if you have decorated in neutral colors, such as white, black, tan, beige, or gray especially complements the color plum.
Windsor Pink in a Guest Bedroom or Kid’s Room
Windsor pink is a soft muted pink that can really complement any room in the house. A child’s room or guest room are two great options. It is a color on trend because it is a shade of pink that can act as a neutral shade and go with just about any other color you have in your home. Windsor Pink is a bit nostalgic and reminds us of colors, and shades of this color, from decades ago.
No one needs to share the news that the tiny house has become extremely popular due to its level of creativity and economics. You can make a tiny house out of just about anything these days, and this is another reason why they have become so popular. There are a multitude of tiny houses built solely from salvaged materials. So it would make sense that there would soon be communities full of tiny houses. All over the world there are tiny house communities, some have a main house where everyone shares the kitchen and showers, and often the WiFi. Here we share tiny house communities where all the residents have decided to take advantage of this new trend, which is a trend that is not going anywhere.
From Washington, DC, America’s capital, to Portland, Oregon, there are tiny house communities where the residents act as a huge family by helping each other with food, cooking, communal showers and WiFi sharing. In these communities there are also people who are the DIY crew that assist in keeping everything working and also act as help when other tiny house dwellers want to add-on or change the construction of their house. For example, Some tiny homes in a community are not built as mobile homes and then choose to become mobile. And it also works the other way around. Some dwellers in a community begin their tiny house lives wanting the freedom to move around and then enter a community they love and decide to stay. Either way, tiny house communities are a great way to live because you always have the support of others who know exactly what the pros and cons are of tiny house dwellers.
Boneyard Studios in D.C. are proving that a tiny house community can exist in an urban environment. This community now acts as a model of what this type of community could be in an urban setting.
Community First, in Austin, Texas
Community First is a part of what is being called Tiny Austin. The people in Austin, Texas have embraced the tiny house lifestyle and they know how this type of living can assist us in becoming a green planet again. Community First is 27 aces of tiny houses, mobile homes, and RV living.
Quixote Village, Mt. Olympia, Washington
Mt. Olympia is a beautiful area of the States and a perfect place for a tiny house community. Quixote Village used to be a group of self-governed tiny house dwellers. Now it consists of 30 homes, a communal space with showers and a community garden.
Caravan Tiny House Hotel in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon, the “keep Portland Weird” town has fully embraced the tiny house community. Caravan Tiny House Hotel is a gorgeous community of rentals One purpose of this community of rentals is to show others what tiny house living could be like if they chose to live that way permanently.
Second Wind in Ithaca, NY
Second Wind is a growing tiny house village that was designed by Carmen Guidi. The motivation was to help the homeless. Volunteers built a group of six tiny homes and shortly afterwards, the residents moved in. This was in 2014. Second Wind is seeking to expand the village as they continue to receive funding.
Throughout Europe there are canals that have homes bordering the water or literally floating in the water. It’s a magical site to see and now you can find these floating home communities throughout the Western world as well. There are certain things you need to know before rushing off to buy a floating house, but once you figure out how to heat, cool, prepare for flooding and all those practical life issues, you too can live life on the water and have an instant view every time you look out the window. There is also the issue of pets. It wouldn’t be impossible to have a pet in a floating home but there would certainly need to be a set of regulations that one would need to think of and follow before doing so. But for now, let us forget all about the practical and focus on the beauty.
For those who who can see themselves living on the water, there are some great resources now that can help you get started. Many people have written blogs for those thinking about living this dream with all of its pros and cons, when just a decade ago, these blogs and other resource sites were a bit harder to find. Make sure that you do your research before selling your condo and buying your floating home and you shouldn’t have too many problems with this drastic life change. Most floating home communities are near independent food stores and quaint little markets where you can stop in and grab something for dinner or wine for when you are sitting out on your deck watching the moon glow in the water. It is certainly, no matter where you are, a dream lifestyle and here we bring to you in this list, the inspiration of some of the most beautiful floating homes and floating home communities.
Park Model Homes sells homes across the U.S. and are now also selling and renting floating homes that are used for vacation getaways, which is a great way to tell if this life is for you, but Park Model Homes is also selling floating homes to permanent residents. Here is an example of a Park Model Homes’ tiny homes on water. Park Model Homes are located throughout the country in just about every state in the U.S.
On Seattle’s historical Portage Bay there is a floating home that has the potential to also be a dream house. The home is a 2 bedroom, 3.75 baths home that is being sold for well under a million. You may think, hey that’s no bargain. Well, we said it was a dream home and to purchase a floating home or simply a home by the water in Seattle these days is very expensive. So when put into the right context, it is quite a bargain.
Norris Lake floating homes are sold quickly. It is a beautiful and scenic area of the state of Tennessee and highly sought after. You can also find great rentals at Norris Lake. As we stated above, a rental or vacation home is a wonderful way to get to know how life really works on the water.
Toronto, one of Canada’s most beautiful cities, also has one of its best kept secrets; floating homes. You can live a peaceful and quiet life because the sounds of the city are blocked by the bluffs. What a surreal experience to live this scenic lifestyle close enough to enjoy Toronto’s city life but far enough to live in a serene paradise.
Canoe Pass Village is one of Vancouver’s most popular floating home areas. The Veda Hanna real estate firm specializes in floating homes. They have different home plans so you can choose what type of floating home will suit your needs or be the easiest for you to maintain. There are many other realtors at vancouverfloatinghomes.com that can help you find just the right floating home situation. Canoe Pass Village is highly sought after as being one of the most convenient and organized floating home communities in that area.
Eco-friendly and Green homes are trending these days because people are caring more about the environment in which they live. In a lot of ways we have come full circle, many decades ago, homeowners tried to create a safe and healthy environment for themselves and their families, but as technology has expanded into areas of food planting and unsafe ways of growing something simple like grass and plants, life is not as healthy or economical as it could be. Now many people are getting back to basics with how they live and also with the homes they live in. Below we list 4 an popular trends and a few simple ways that you and your family can engage in to create a greener lifestyle.
Homes that are smaller use less resources. They are easier to heat and cool in the summertime. Using less natural resources like gas, electric, and water, is a simple and doable way to live a greener life.
2. Leed Certified Lighting and Energy Star
Better lighting is another key to living greener. There are certified forms of lighting for homes now that guarantee a lifetime of use and they use less electricity. Homeowners should look for LEED and Energy Star certified forms of lighting.
Bamboo is an eco-friendly material used more now for home flooring. What makes it a greener choice is that bamboo comes from a source which replaces itself. It is a renewable energy source. You can also use bamboo for cabinets in your bathrooms and kitchen areas.
By simply replacing a shower head in your bathrooms, you can conserve water and be a part of the solution on the planet instead of the cause. There is such a thing now called “gray water”, this is doing your dishes and then reusing that dishwater for plants, watering the grass, e
One of the most important ways to go green is to stop waste. If you have leftovers in the fridge, repurpose them into a new dish or use them as compost in a garden sending them back into the earth. Use your gray water for watering plants or if you don’t have a garden, simply pour the gray dish water into the earth. Another way to go green is to stop running your water while you are doing your dishes. Fill a large pan with water and do your dishes that way. This is one way to create and use gray water. You don’t lose it, you use it instead to help the earth. Going green can be as simple as not running water while you brush your teeth. Only run water in your home when it is necessary. Being green is simply being mindful, and in the long run if we all take on at least one of these practices, the earth can be replenished.
The tiny house experience is exploding around the globe and every day people are finding different uses for these gorgeous little, but fully equipped, tiny homes. Airbnb is an innovative company in its own rights to think of the idea of renting real homes and cabins as vacation spots. It works out great for the vacationer and the home owner. We are still in the midst of hot summer weather and many people are still wondering where to go as a nice luxurious getaway. We will show you 10 Airbnb homes on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, to inspire your fabulous summer getaway.
1. The Malibu Dream Airstream
Malibu, California has one of the most beautiful beaches and natural scenery in the world, and this Airstream tiny dwelling fits perfectly against this gorgeous backdrop. The Airstream camper comes equipped with all you need to enjoy a fabulous vacation. It even comes with a large deck for bbq beach parties or just for enjoying each other to watch the sunset.
2. Small Cottage in Norway
This charming small cottage house in Norway does not just come with a beautiful beach but instead comes with that and its own lovely green island. You will feel like a star during this getaway, taking in the quiet and peace of a Norwegian island, while enjoying all the amenities that comes with this quaint tiny home in Vesteroy, Ostfold, Norway.
3. A Bamboo Treehouse in Fern Forest, Hawaii
This tiny home fulfills two dreams, one is to visit the beautiful state of Hawaii, but to also do it by living in a treehouse tiny home. Hawaii is well-known for its beautiful waters and friendly open people and atmosphere. What a spectacular getaway, to stay in this tiny treehouse in one of America’s most beautiful states.
4. Tiny Home in the Philippine Islands
The Philippine Islands is known for its fantasy scenery and this lovely and quaint tiny home fits right in with the backdrop. You will feel as if you have left all your cares at home and are now experiencing, at least for a few days, a carefree and beautiful getaway.
5. Carolina Beach, NC
This cute tiny house brings us back to the States to North Carolina, one of the country’s friendliest states, with all of its natural southern hospitality. You can stay and enjoy Carolina Beach, the delicious food that is in the area, because most Carolinians love to cook and share. The home itself is wonderful for a quiet vacation weekend.
6. Bird Island, Placencia, Belize
Belize is becoming more popular these days as a vacation spot and also a place for expats to get away from the busy life. If you’re not ready to be an expat of the U.S. or the U.K. then a vacation should be enough to inspire and energize you. Do you see that water? It is remarkably clear and glistening. You will feel as if you are in paradise.
7. An Eco-lodge in Popa Island, Panama
This lovely community of eco-lodges on Popa Island, Panama, is a spectacular site. Not only do you get to enjoy the sparkling beaches but you may meet some great people along the way. These tiny homes sit right in the water and you will feel as if you’ve found an oasis of your every own.
8. Tiny Home in Cape May, NJ
Cape May brings back a lot of memories for those who grew up in this area. Now, more people are discovering its beauty as a vacation getaway for themselves and their families. If you want to be reminded of childhood walks on the beach and locals gathering for bbqs and picnics, then Cape May is your place. This lovely home is reminiscent of an old log cabin.
9. Mt. Martha, Victoria, Australia
Equipped with your own outdoor bar area, this tiny home in Victoria, Australia is the perfect vacation area for those who love clean and brilliant sandy beaches and a bit of that Aussie hospitality. The home is equipped with the right amenities and most importantly, sits near the beach where you can get your tan while having some peace and quiet as well.
10. Balmain, New South Wales, Australia
We end this list with another beautiful place in Australia, but this time it is in Balmain, located in New South Wales. This tucked-away tiny house is glorious. It makes you feel as if you are in an old classic film. And again, Australian beaches are hard to compare. They are still not overcrowded and the water is as pristine as ever. Enjoy any of these tiny home beach getaways if you can. It is a wonderful and rare experience.
CBS national show, Money Watch News, has shared an article on using the tiny house revolution to help solve the homeless crisis in America. America’s homeless number is at an epic high. The amount of homeless women and children continue to rise in the country. There are many organizations trying to come up with a solution to this devastating problem and so far nothing has made a huge impact. In the city of Chicago, tiny houses that range in size from 100 to 400 sq. feet may just be what a big city like Chicago needs to get the homeless off the street. CBS Chicago reported that there are approximately 6000 homeless individuals in the city presently.
A local homeless advocacy group called the Pride Action Tank, took CBS Chicago staff on a tour of a tiny home. The home was the size of a studio apartment in the city with everything a dweller would need to live a comfortable life. The house had a kitchen area, a small bedroom area, full bath, and storage. There are homes this size in big cities that many working people cannot afford. Eithne McMenamin, spokesperson for the Pride Action Tank, stated that the tiny house revolution can help the homeless find affordable housing, though it’s not a complete panacea for the issue. However, McMenamin does feel that this would be another option on the list of options, of which many are not working.
The Tiny House Summit was held in Chicago and it was shown and proven that a tiny house that is filled with every necessity and a few extra amenities, can be built for under $30,000. The Summit wanted to prove that maybe in the future it could be a realistic idea to build a section of tiny homes for the homeless in the city. There are a few issues that the tiny house movement cannot fix. There is a different story from every homeless person that is on the street and many of them do not want the interference. There is mental illness, alcoholism, and rebellion against the current society, that keeps many homeless in the streets and shelters. So we are talking about a small group of homeless people and families that would qualify for this solution.
McMenamin says he just wants to add to the menu of choices and solutions. He does not expect one idea to solve the country’s homeless problem, but it could be one of the choices that will suit some of the homeless population who are homeless due to loss of income, lack of education, and a lack of family support. Utilizing the tiny house movement in this way is a great start. In Philadelphia, there was a project to rid the city of all of its public housing, most of which was not safe, and build simple attractive homes on the same land and offer these homes to those who were willing to look for work. These homes were only made available to people making less than $40,000 per year. The project so far has been a success.
Not everyone is looking for a sprawling condo in Florida once they retire. More and more as the tiny house revolution is spreading across the globe, many retirees are seeking to downsize their lives to something much more manageable, and the tiny home is on their list of options. Another reason the tiny home is becoming a popular idea for retirees is that you don’t have to leave the state unless you choose to, because there are many ways to have a tiny home built somewhere near where you already are. Often, if you are a land owner, your tiny house can be built in your backyard. These are issues that need to be discussed with your county and all of its rules and regulations.
Here are 6 reasons you may want to think about retiring to a tiny home:
1. You Get Rid of Your Mortgage
Getting rid of their mortgage is normally the number one perk when it comes to downsizing to a tiny home. You can sell whatever property you have and use those funds to build your tiny home or to buy one that is already built. Most likely you will have money leftover from this process.
2. You Can Travel the Country
If you want to build your tiny house on wheels or turn a camper into a tiny house, you can use it to travel and never really leave home. For many this is a plus, to be able to see the country, enjoy freedom of travel and still be able to live in your own comfortable surroundings. You will also save money on hotels, so gas will be your most important expense, but you can sleep in your own leisurely and familiar space.
3. Less Stuff, Less to Clean
The practical reason to downsize to a small home, is that if have less things, there is less to clean and care for. Living a minimalist life doesn’t need to be boring. You can always add a lot of color to your tiny home instead of a lot of furniture. As retirees, it would seem like a great idea to lessen the amount of chores and work that a regular sized house would require.
4. Lower Utility Bills
Lower utility bills is another great practical reason to retire into a tiny home. Lower utility bills is another perk that will help you save you money and the more money you save, the more you can travel with ease, should that be your desire. If you’re not into travel and are simply looking for comfort, lower bills are still one of the best reasons to downsize.
5. You Can Retire Early or Work Part-time
Having lower bills and no mortgage, frees you up to either retire early or work only part-time. The pressure to make a certain amount of money a month will change drastically. You will feel more freedom in your life especially if you ran your own business. You can cut your hours down to the minimum, if you choose.
6. Create a Super Fun Retirement Project
You can also create your own tiny house plans and begin a project together building your own home. You can design it just the way you want to and create a home that is specifically catered to your needs and wants. It can also be a lot of fun watching your tiny house come together, particularly if you are a natural DIYer. There are endless reasons why retiring to a tiny house is a great idea for retirees, but what is most important is that you enjoy the process.
The log cabins of yesteryear are a long reach from the modern, but still quaint, cabins of today. Some grow up in this wonderfully rich and peaceful experience while others take to this life later on during retirement or simply at a time when they are ready for a quieter existence. There are many reasons why singles, couples, and families choose the log cabin life, and we’ll explore some of those reasons during the sharing of this list, as to why you should move into the log cabin lifestyle.
Here are just 7 reasons why you should pack your bags and move into a log cabin immediately:
1. You love peace and quiet
Most log cabins are built among nature and far away from neighbors and the busy urban lifestyle. If you find yourself craving more peace and quiet, maybe it’s time to begin looking into moving into a log cabin where peace and quiet are usually the norm. For some it will be a nostalgic experience, for others the experience will be welcomed and brand new.
2. You enjoy the log cabin aesthetic
If you are already trying to turn your current home into a log cabin by dressing it like one, maybe it’s time to think about a move to the real thing. If you currently enjoy the decorations and wildlife experience, this sign may be telling you that it’s time for your move into a log cabin. Think about it this way, you already have the furniture and all the right aesthetics so you won’t have to get rid of anything, just take it with you to your new log cabin home.
3. If you love a good picturesque Winter Wonderland
For those of us who have lived in the city, we know just how messy and dirty snow can be. Between the trampling of feet and the cars, snow is not like what we see in a Rockwell painting. However, if you move into a traditional log cabin outside the city limits, you will get your own Winter Wonderland and more. There are no strangers racing for the train or cars blowing exhaust onto the snow and turning it black. You will get that dream Christmas you’ve always wanted when you lived in that city condo.
4. You’re a natural DIYer
If you are a person that feels as if most of your furniture should be made of recycled wood and you want to build it all yourself, you sound perfect for a log cabin dweller. Being a DIYer should be a lot of satisfying fun when you have a home that calls for handmade furniture and a log cabin is just the right place calling for an owner like yourself. If you’re willing to put in the work, you can live in a beautiful and special home that was created by your own thoughts and creativity.
5. You love trees and branches
If you have a love for trees, living in a wooded area would be just perfect for you. Are you a city dweller who decorates their home with tree branches you picked up from your local park? If so, you will be in tree heaven by living much more rural in a gorgeous log cabin. Tree limbs fall all the time in areas where traditional log cabins are built, so you wont have to try and fit one in your tote bag. You can simply go foraging for any already loose or broken branches to decorate your cabin.
6. You’re a natural minimalist
Natural minimalists are perfect for the log cabin life. Living in rural wooded areas can be quite a change for those from the city who are used to having everything nearby. Normally, rural living causes you to stay home more unless you really need something. There is most likely no mall down the road in which you can spend unnecessary money on items you don’t need. Also, you may have to deal with some lack of technology. WiFi signals aren’t always that strong in wooded areas, so you’ll need to adjust to not being on your laptops and tablets all day and night. Of course, this also means more rest, another great reason to move to a log cabin.
We live in times where everything is planned and deadlines are more crucial than ever. This time-conscious society is no different when it comes to building homes and offices. People want things done right away and that’s the market for these self-deploying buildings that pop-up in 8 minutes flat. It sounds unbelievable but this is the new building innovation these days. Many decades ago, it would take, sometimes, years, for a home or small office to be built from the ground up, now you can see the results in minutes. So who does this serve? Families that want to choose a home and move in right away or for those who move around for new work or a new career, and don’t want to continue to spend their money on renting flats and houses.
There are a few choices of this self-deploying building model, so you’re not just stuck with limited ideas. There is the Tree House which sits up off of the ground a few feet. The Moot Hall is well-suited for those who love a very modern look and style of home. Its design will remind you of futuristic architecture. Then there is the Mobile Home Unfolding House which will surely be popular for those who are downsizing so that they can have freedom to travel or simply move whenever they feel the urge. This is creative innovation at its best and sure to be popular in a very short span of time.
The idea of living on a houseboat year-round sounds like being on a permanent vacation, but if you’ve never done it, there will be things that will come up that can be quite costly. But is it necessarily expensive to live year-round on a houseboat. Let’s explore what it takes to live this dream and […]
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One of the major reasons why so many people are downsizing and trying out a lifestyle with a smaller carbon footprint on our planet is because of the lower cost of the tiny home. You can basically have all that you need in a tiny home and many things you actually desire as well, with […]
We live in times where everything is planned and deadlines are more crucial than ever. This time-conscious society is no different when it comes to building homes and offices. People want things done right away and that’s the market for these self-deploying buildings that pop-up in 8 minutes flat. It sounds unbelievable but this is […]
