In a time where we are told that bigger is better and more is the way to go, there is a minimalist movement in motion believing otherwise. I’ve been looking at tiny homes and especially modular housing for quite sometime. Tiny homes take simple living to the highest level and many look to having a smaller lifestyle for its financial bliss and stress free living. These homes are quick to build, budget friendly, and seriously green. Modular homes are built in a warehouse and have endless possibilities for custom designs.
Many minimalists look to tiny homes and modular houses as a way to own a home without a mortgage, have a smaller carbon footprint on the planet, and simplify life even further.
My dream house is completely eco-friendly, no smaller than two bedrooms, with enough extra space for two to do yoga and of course room to dance. I’ll never be interested in a home as small as 89 square feet although some minimalists have gone to that extreme. A simple tiny home with modern style did catch my eye because of its minimalist design. This home is called the Z-Glass by the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company and was designed by Jay Shafer.
The floor plan looks like this.
The Z-Glass Tumblweed is only 370 square feet, so a bit too small for my dream home with only one bedroom. The original design is only one level, yet can also have two more rooms added in a loft style for another option. The Z-Glass small home is an estimated $26,000 in building materials, yet would greatly increase in price with contractor assistance. There is also a similar design to the Z-Glass in a mobile home called the Popomo which is a small 117 square feet. Because the Popomo is a mobile home, the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company could build this home for you at about $45,000 with an added shipping rate for delivery. The Tumbleweed Tiny House Company even offers classes and workshops on building tiny homes as well as sells construction plans for them. In truth both of these homes would be extreme minimalist living, yet they still interests me.
Being completely free of debt by the end of this month is such a relief that I couldn’t imagine having a mortgage. Traveling is extremely important to me, so I’d rather not have anything to weigh me down. One of the major benefits of these tiny homes is the possibility to save up and purchase one practically mortgage free.
These tiny homes are also perfect for art studios, home offices, exercise rooms, and guest housing if downsizing to a truly minimalist lifestyle doesn’t appeal you.
You would think that being mortgage free as well as the small carbon footprint of living in a modest space or using a small space for business would be of interest. These simple homes range between 64-840 square feet.
Modular homes are a phenomenon to me that they are constructed in a warehouse and brought to the site where they are assembled if there is more than one modular structure involved. Modular homes can be tiny homes or mixed and matched with different layouts to create a large living space. Modular homes have unique versatility unlike any other home construction I’ve seen.
The Saturn weeHouse by Alchemy Architecture is a 12 foot wide modular studio home that was $65,000 in 2005.
The Johnson Creek weeHouse is not a tiny home yet this house gives a beautiful example of the versatility of modular homes. This home is a three bedroom three bathroom retreat house.
Here is another view of the Johnson Creek weeHouse.
My husband was most impressed with the modular homes. No doubt this minimalist journey is currently more of my own than something that we share. I must say that he has greatly benefited from my anti-consumerism. What I love most about these homes is the floor to ceiling windows and their sleek modern style with custom designs.
There are 23 small house builders listed on Small House Style.
Tiny Home Links:
What do you think about tiny homes?
(Images: 1. countryliving.com, 2. & 3. Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, 4. 5. & 6. weeHouses)
Holly Butler says
May 6, 2011 at 4:13 pmI love tiny homes! I think you would also love IdeaBox homes, it is my current obsession:) My family and I (3 people at the moment) live in a 620 sq. ft. home that suites us just fine. Our friends assume that when our family size grows, which it surely will, that means we must move to a bigger house. But we plan to stay put and let all of our kids share a room till they are teenagers at least. Then maybe we’ll think about moving. Most of the world lives in much smaller spaces, I think we are way outside the norm here in American and our perceived need for space. It’s much nicer to be close as a family, rather than everyone having their own separate spaces away from each other. Small children don’t want their own space anyway, they want to be where mom and dad are. Anyways, thanks for writing about tiny homes!
Dawn Michelle says
May 6, 2011 at 11:36 pmHi Holly! I’m looking forward to checking out IdeaBox homes. I love your perspective on children wanting to be closer to their family especially when they are younger. Also it is so true that most of the world does live in smaller places. Thanks for your comment 🙂
miftah says
December 4, 2012 at 2:13 pmI really like the box in a modern style. wood materials make homes warm and cozy
Dawn Michelle says
December 5, 2012 at 4:18 pmHi Miftah, Wood really does make homes warm and cozy. One of my family members lives in a home with wood walls. It has almost a cottage style cabin feel. It is really charming!
Shannon says
March 6, 2013 at 12:01 pmDawn Michelle,
I’ve been reading through many articles in your blog over the past few days. (I originally found you when I Googled “wash face with honey.” And for the record, I’ve been cleansing with honey in the morning and clay in the evening the last few days and my skin looks calmer than it has in years. No joke.)
I love this article about tiny spaces and I’m feeling very inspired! (My decorating is a weird mix of minimalist and Indiana Jones, or so I’ve been told.) I live in Orange County with my husband and our two little boys, and there’s such an emphasis on BIGGER and MORE. We’ve been searching for a house for quite a while, and when we tell realtors that we would really like to stay well under 1000 sq ft and that two bedrooms are more than enough, we’re continually met with skepticism and an attitude that we should be striving to be more “upwardly mobile,” or something like that. It’s crazy! And on a purely practical note, I always joke that the more space there is, the more time you spend keeping it clean.
I love that there are so many minimalists out there, and we can find one another on the Internet and share inspiration! Your blog has been super fun and informative. Thanks for doing what you do!
Dawn Michelle says
March 7, 2013 at 3:04 pmHi Shannon,
Thanks so much for your comment! The bigger is better concept isn’t true. The more space that you have the more that you do have to clean unless you hire someone else to help. The more things that you have, the more you have to clean around and clean out as well. I prefer to create abundant space in my home by having less things. It’s taken sometime for my husband to get on board, yet he truly enjoys the space that is created when we have less especially in our new place. I love that you are your family are keeping to your own personal values despite the influence of society. Best wishes with your new home!
Best,
Dawn Michelle
karen says
December 2, 2013 at 4:42 pmI love the idea of small homes. I lived in India for a few months and loved that I had very few possessions with me. Now I am trying to bring that back into my home and lifestyle. Some of my best childhood memories are sharing a room with my sister.
Dawn Michelle says
December 2, 2013 at 9:31 pmHi Karen,
I have yet to visit India and it is amazing that you were able to spend some time living there! I always gain so many new perspectives when I travel abroad. I love traveling! I’m not sure if you’ve already joined, but I started a decluttering project this month which may interest you. Thanks so much for your comment!