Any of you folks live or know someone who lives in a Tiny House?

Darby_Crenshaw

Seriously. You need someone to do an actual rendering so that they can visualize it. A screenshot from sketchup won't cut it

source: architect for twenty years. Architectural illustrator for ten 

hand waving, descriptions, elevations, plans. They mean nothing to the neighbors and abuttors

 but a well considered image that shows your intent and which proves you are willing to commit to something even if it costs a bit more, well. That's what gets things built

after thirty years in the biz i can tell you: anyone can design a building. It's getting them financed and approved that's the trick

i helped get about 1.15 billion worth of new construction get approved this year. 

Find a local and talented illustrator to make some non-photreal sketches (semiformal or better) of the project. And the neighbors will see that it can be contextural and fit in and that it is an improvement.

people say: "gee, won't that cost me a little extra?" and the answer is, "well, not much more than you will spend on someone hooking up your toilet and your kitchen sink, but if it doesn't get approved to begin with, you aren't really saving any money, are ya?"

these are from a while ago, but a similar situation.  guy had some property in the intercoastal, and the neighbors didn't understand that sketch-up model shots.  four days later and they "go it", they understood what he meant.  modern, sure, but it fit in.

these are pencil and digital.  but you can find someone local to bang something out i'm sure.  where are you? i might know someone.

throw some friggin palms and banyans around it and anything looks good

bgebrent

@McStew, brother Crenshaw throws out some serious info.  Reach out to him and you won't regret it.

McStew

@Darby_Crenshaw thanks it's the whole container thing that gets in the way of people 

gdenby

I have a friend who is a carpenter/cabinet maker/restorer and sometimes house builder. He built a house for a friend that was 1 room, a large octagon. The bathroom was an enclosed stall off one side, the bedroom was on a balcony. An added plus was the whole house was built of cedar. Every window was taken from old homes he had remodelled and was a different size. The house was on a hillside, the windows might be near floor level to look down the hill, or up around the cieiling to look up.

I've not seen it, but he worked up a 1 room place in Montana for his sister, a former park ranger, and her husband.

Also knew a guy who was a wildlife photographer back in the 70s. He set up a van, probably a VW, as a rolling home, and could spend 4 months in it.

JohnInCarolina

McStew said:

@Darby_Crenshaw thanks it's the whole container thing that gets in the way of people 

This is one of the cooler things I've seen on this forum in awhile.  

Mickey

Please keep posting as you go

Davec433

I love about 45 minutes outside of DC and we've found with most our friends they want to live a certain lifestyle. If you love be in/near DC you probably pay just as much as people who live in the burbs but you'll live in a townhome vs a big house with a yard. What gets me is friends we have who will live in these town homes with like 5 kids just so they can enjoy happy hour and be closer to work. But then on the other side I know people who commute 2 or 3 hours each way to work. To each their own.

Darby_Crenshaw

i'm always in favor of getting the abuttors to sign off, but unless you are in an area with historical or other design requirements, it should only be a code or zoning issue. 

granted, the inspector may have no clue about containers tho, and end up d!cking you around. But the neighbors? Unless there's zoning relief, their opinion rarely enters into it. 

Sorry to hear you are getting the run around. 

I spent a lot of time in the design field, and though most stuff around here ends up trditional, ultimately I would prefer something modern, cleaner. 

If that's a rendering of your place it's well done. Much better than the vast majority of socalled photoreal that's heing done (and which is my competition). Good stuff. Hopefully they didn't have it done in China tho. Hahaha

Lit

I don't think I could ever do it. Our old house was 1500' with just 2 of us and we ran out of space quick. Our new house is 2100' and it's just big enough to get by. Once we pay this off next house will be 3 car garage and 4 bedrooms.

texaswig

I live in a 1800sq ft house. We just bought it in March. Only gave 83k for it. It's on 1 acre in town. Less then a hour from Dallas. mortgage, taxes and insurance is less than most people's car or truck payment. We were approved for a whole lot more. Just could not do it. I like the thought that I could work anywhere and still make the payment. 

DoubleEgger

I've got too many eggcessories and the wife has too many shoes to live in a tiny house. 

blind99

@McStew that is a really sharp looking house. 

YukonRon

DoubleEgger said:

I've got too many eggcessories and the wife has too many shoes to live in a tiny house. 

+1000 on wife's shoes. I swear to all that is holy, she will come home with a couple of new pairs per week. I think her spirit animal is Imelda Marcos.

Botch

YEMTrey said:

It's all about perspective and desires.  I was never a McMansion kind of guy.  Bought less house than I could afford.  Now I sleep well at night with a couple of Eggs on the patio, brother Duane Allman on the stereo, a beautiful wife and kids by my side, and freedom.  Never forget my friends, Cash is King!

I did the same.  Made my last house payment five years ago and still have a couple years to go til retirement.  Debt-free is a good thing.  

BYS1981

I don't live in a house like that, but I have seen 2 in my work area and a house mage from shipping containers like McStew.

DaveRichardson

Looks very Frank Lloyd Wright style. I like it, SWMBO rolls her eyes.....  I lose!