Another great small house: Eco-friendly and 704 sq.ft

[catherine]

Love the thinking that went into this house:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/23/garden/freedom-in-704-square-feet.html

One of the next-door neighbor's comments was that she couldn't share a closet with her husband. ?? Is that unusual these days? I've shared my closet with my husband my entire married life (which is 37 years, today!)

Then you look at the picture of the closet in this little home and it's awesome--spacious and functional, with a W/D right inside! I don't get the neighbor's complaint at all.

Anyhoo, all of you small home enthusiasts, what do you think about this one?

[redfox]

Happy anniversary! I love this house, and yup, we share a closet too...

[herbgeek]

I sorta share a closet. I have a rack in hubby's closet (our big walk in closet in our bedroom) for ironed clothes for work. The closet in the other bedroom has the rest of my clothes.

[nswef]

That is a wonderful space. I think I would need a bit more room somewhere to close the door! But sharing a closet- 40 years of it, no difficulty. Congratulations on your anniversary Catherine.

[ToomuchStuff]

I was reading about a home this morning, that while it isn't small, goes a different direction. http://www.monolithic.org/stories/yumadome-a-multigenerational-monolithic-dome-home

I think one reason closet organizers have shot up in the media, is how wardrobes and times have changed. I think people could do more then they do, if they looked at a closet as a blank wall and started laying things out, rather then trying to just cram it all in.

[catherine]

I was reading about a home this morning, that while it isn't small, goes a different direction. http://www.monolithic.org/stories/yumadome-a-multigenerational-monolithic-dome-home



OMG I LOVE it! DH is not a happy empty nester. He lived in a multi-generational home when he was young--his grandparents lived with them his whole life. I see the benefits of multi-generational living, as long as it's done right. My MIL was not entirely happy with her lifelong decision to live with her parents--it had its downsides for sure. But everything was shared, which lightened the burdens of finances, upkeep, etc.

For my part, I really think there's a LOT of value in MG living, but I really need my solitude. I've often thought, maybe we could buy land, and then put a bunch of little cabins on it and have a central yurt as a common living area. This dome really does fit the bill, though. I'm going to bookmark it.

[new2oregon]

Catherine thanks for the interesting links I like the dome house with the shared living. The small house is nice and Portland has a lot of eco friendly ideas but when I see what these people are paying for what they have its not my lifestyle. For the jobs they have I'm sure it fits their needs. Happy Anniversary 37 years is a lot to be proud of.
I like your idea of the land with the little cabins and the central living space. Have you ever looked at yurts? I also like Earth ships where they are made out of recycled material and are self sufficent. What you say about multi-generational living I agree with because I think families should take care of each other. Everyone needs there own space but when they work together it is a lot easier.

[razz]

Congratulations on your anniversary! Portland Oregon seems to have some fresh ideas. I could live in this space with great ease. Most homes are too big.

[redfox]

Congratulations on your anniversary! Portland Oregon seems to have some fresh ideas. I could live in this space with great ease. Most homes are too big.

Absolutely! And big homes= way too much time cleaning, IMO.

[Teacher Terry]

What a cool house! I have always shared a closet except for when I was single. That would be a little too small for me. My hubby & I did live in a 869 sq ft condo but it really was too small because no garage, etc. Now we have a 1400 sq ft house with a 1 car garage and shed & it is just right. W/O hubby I lived comfortably in that condo but after acquiring him it was just too small :~).

[Yarrow]

Love it! I live in a house/cottage about this size with my SO and 2 cats. It works out fine, although being that it is an old house it certainly isn't as functional as this new contemporary styled house. I have 2 small closets and we share them quite easily. Fall/winter clothes in one and spring/summer clothes in the other. I must say that I have enjoyed living here much more than the huge mcmansion I used to live in with my ex DH. The upkeep has been so much easier on me, and I love the coziness of it. I have a container veggie garden right outside my back door on the little patio and it has been very bountiful the past 2 summers. Really enjoying every aspect of living smaller, including so much less money spent on utilities....

[ToomuchStuff]

OMG I LOVE it! DH is not a happy empty nester. He lived in a multi-generational home when he was young--his grandparents lived with them his whole life. I see the benefits of multi-generational living, as long as it's done right. My MIL was not entirely happy with her lifelong decision to live with her parents--it had its downsides for sure. But everything was shared, which lightened the burdens of finances, upkeep, etc.

For my part, I really think there's a LOT of value in MG living, but I really need my solitude. I've often thought, maybe we could buy land, and then put a bunch of little cabins on it and have a central yurt as a common living area. This dome really does fit the bill, though. I'm going to bookmark it.
I could go either way I think. I would certainly want it soundproofed between the families (walked in on my parents once). But I think there is benefit to having family around and once your used to them (and not a kid, aka stop touching me/I am not touching you, etc), you have learned how to ignore them (when needed/wanted). Also grew up helping take care of a relative that had Polio as a kid, so I know everybody is eventually going to have some issue).


Catherine thanks for the interesting links I like the dome house with the shared living. The small house is nice and Portland has a lot of eco friendly ideas but when I see what these people are paying for what they have its not my lifestyle. For the jobs they have I'm sure it fits their needs. Happy Anniversary 37 years is a lot to be proud of.
I like your idea of the land with the little cabins and the central living space. Have you ever looked at yurts? I also like Earth ships where they are made out of recycled material and are self sufficent. What you say about multi-generational living I agree with because I think families should take care of each other. Everyone needs there own space but when they work together it is a lot easier.

Earthships were what I wanted for YEARS. They eventually led me to the dome, because I have wondered about the outgassing of the tires. Monolithic does have some similar stuff the the little cabins on a shared space on their site. If I ever found a winning powerball ticket on the ground (since I don't play, kinda the only way), I would like to build a dome, and earthship, a straw bale home, and a good sized garage/barn/shop all on one land, for long term study.

[ApatheticNoMore]

The house seems about the size of my apartment (only layout is different so hard to tell). But with a yard and storage sheds .... so yes of course I'd live there, no brainer, and an upgrade.

I could go either way on the family thing too. The economic advantage to living mufti-generationally is obvious, so that's glaring, and simply HUGE. But over time the major *emotional* advantage to being out of the family home, becomes hard to deny (and obviously I've been out awhile). I'd honestly rather do the pod thing as a form of co-housing with like minded PEERS than family. As long as I have some privacy I like cohousing. Though I sometimes wish I saw my family a bit more also.

[iris lilies]

I don't love it, I am annoyed at tearing down an old tiny house to build a new tiny house.

[jp1]

If living there with SO I would need the bedroom walled off, or at least perhaps with a folding wall or french doors so that we had a choice. We don't always follow the same sleep schedules, especially weekends when I take naps instead of drinking coffee. The rest of it, though, would work well for us, especially with the 2 nice sheds and the big yard.

[Squirrel]

DH and I share a closet and always have. But now that we are moving into a smaller condo we will have this big linear closet separated into 2 sections but we have so few clothes that we might end up sharing 1 and using the 2nd one as storage space.

I wonder how the neighbor who can't stand to share a closet with her husband would react if for economical reasons they had to downsize and ended up in a 1 bedroom apartment. Would their marriage fall apart? Sometimes I wonder how strong of a relationship someone has with her/his spouse.

[TxZen]

I love this house and I even showed it to hubby and he liked it. The only change we would make is making the office space a bedroom for our son.

As we downsize, I enjoy sharing my space, with both my husband and my young son. I am finding it brings us together.

[CathyA]

Cool! But I would definitely get rid of all that bamboo. VERY invasive.