With housing loans becoming harder to obtain and financial burdens on homeowners growing
larger, many are turning to tiny houses to downsize their lives and budgets.
But while these compact castles are frequently fewer than 300 square feet, that doesn't mean
that they're all about sacrificing luxury.
You can still live large and enjoy life to the fullest while reducing your home's overall
footprint.
Check out these amazing tiny houses for some awesome examples of what can be accomplished
with hard work, a small budget, and a tiny space.
Minimal and mortgage-free
In 2011, architect Macy Miller began constructing her 196-square-foot tiny home near Boise,
Idaho.
With a flatbed trailer foundation and clad with recycled pallet wood siding, Macy's home
is a minimalist take on the tiny house movement, filled with tons of hidden storage space.
And its abundant natural light makes the interior seem spacious.
It provides plenty of room for the whole family.
In 2015, the couple renovated, enclosing the back porch in corrugated tin to provide an
attractive additional space.
In total, Macy's family spent just over $11,000 on their tiny house, which allows them to
live both rent and mortgage-free.
The Arado weehouse
Alchemy Architects designed and built this gorgeous modern cabin on the Minnesota prairie
for a violinist of the Minnesota Orchestra and her family.
Their tiny home clocks in at 336 square feet, and came with a modest price tag of $60,000.
The beautiful house features off-the-grid living, floor-to-ceiling windows, Douglas
fir interiors, along with built-in cabinetry and kitchen elements by IKEA.
The exterior is clad in painted fiber-cement siding, which provides a rustic look that
stands up to the elements, while also being extremely durable and fire-resistant.
A woodsy studio
This beautiful mid-century modern tiny house is located in the backwoods of Chappaqua,
New York.
At 300 square feet, this tiny home by Workshop/APD is intimate, but with unique storage spaces,
walnut interiors, and an inspired use of windows and decking.
It maximizes the impact of the great outdoors and gives a luxurious touch.
Exterior siding of Brazilian walnut continues the natural motif, which allows the home to
blend seamlessly into its surroundings, while offering a full package of beauty and durability.
Repurposed rental
Hidden among the trees in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, this former silo was
repurposed into a sculptor's studio before becoming a sought-after rental property.
The "Silo Studio" is surrounded by picturesque gardens, nearby ponds, and even a babbling
brook.
For $225 per night, you'll get a two-story cottage with a canopied bed upstairs and charming
living space downstairs.
You'll enjoy the peace and quiet of the secluded location, and hikers will love the nearby
access to the Appalachian Trail.
Rolling rural retreat
Built in just seven months on a budget of $30,000, web designer Alek Lisefski and his
girlfriend turned a serene outdoor space in rural California into their personal retreat.
Lisefski built his tiny house on an 8' by 20' trailer, which allows him to pick up and
move his home if he gets bored with the gorgeous scenery.
Lisefski's home features tons of windows to allow in natural light and visually expand
the interior, which only measures 160 square feet.
The couple also made their house sustainable, with the ability to live completely off-grid.
The natural unstained finishes, made of sustainably harvested Ponderosa pine, complete the rustic
and natural beauty of this tiny cottage on wheels.
I've been everywhere, man
In 2011, Guillaume Dutilh and Jenna Spesard were struggling with crippling debt when they
downsized their lives, quit their jobs, and built a tiny house on wheels with the goal
of traveling wherever the road took them.
Their simple yet elegant tiny home was based on plans provided by the Tumbleweed Tiny House
Company, which offers models of several different tiny houses on wheels.
While their home is only 135 square feet, it has racked up over 25,000 miles across
more than thirty states and five Canadian provinces.
Along the way, the couple blogged about their building process and travels, attracting thousands
of followers online and scoring hosting gigs with HGTV and other television networks.
A tiny "crib"
"The Crib at Strathmore" in West Virginia was designed by Broadhurst Architects in 2011.
The 250-square-foot home features moveable and convertible elements in order to allow
the homeowners to customize their space depending on their needs.
A sleeping loft, bathroom, and kitchen provide everything you need, while a beautiful deck
connects the home to the great outdoors.
Best of all, this tiny house was built completely of sustainable materials, and the entire home
can be dismantled, removed, and easily rebuilt on a different location.
It's no wonder that Broadhurst Architects won several architecture and design awards
for this project.
Our little secret
The homeowners of "Our Little Secret" combined traditional waterfront construction techniques
with a footprint of only 325 square feet.
Located on the gorgeous St. George Island in sunny Florida, this beach cottage features
hardy construction meant to withstand hurricane-force wind, while also taking complete advantage
of its surroundings.
Except for local water hookups, Our Little Secret is entirely off the grid.
Elevated pilings and cheery windows make full use of the ocean breezes coming in from the
shore, and a covered deck gives a perfect place to enjoy the nearly 250 days of sunshine
per year.
Tiny cabin, big landscape
Nestled among the cedar and fir trees on Orcas Island in Washington, this tiny cabin was
built to be enhanced by its surroundings.
Architect David Vandervort utilized a cross-shaped floor plan, which provides 400 square feet
of living space separated into areas for the kitchen, living room, bathroom, and dining
room.
A ladder-access loft offers a private sleeping area for the homeowners.
Solar power and sustainable materials paired with efficient windows and insulation make
this home a green option for anyone who wishes to build their own tiny cabin in the woods.
If you'd like to construct your own version of this particular tiny house, Vandervort
has even made building plans available for sale.
Treehouse fantasy
At $350 per night, this tiny treehouse in Atlanta, Georgia may seem fairly steep, but
it's been one of Airbnb's most desirable rentals in the world—and for good reason.
The Atlanta treehouse actually contains three separate "rooms," which are interconnected
between the treetops: a large bedroom that sleeps two, a living room furnished with antiques,
and a spacious deck that surrounds the "Old Man," a 150 year old Southern Short-Leaf Pine
tree.
We can't find any reason not to book a stay at this childhood fantasy come to life.
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