Tiny Houses Question

[MamaBearTeacher]

All the tiny houses I have seen have the bed upstairs up a ladder.  This isn't great if you have to use the washroom in the middle of the night and it's really not great as a person ages or if they get an injury to their leg or foot.  It seems that most tiny houses are being built by young couples but they  would be ideal for the elderly too if there was just one floor. Don't you think?

[foxbridgeacademy]

We're expecting to live in a tiny house after all our chicks fly the coop, youngest is 13 and expects to live at home while getting BA and MS, it's going to be awhile.  

 

I've seen several online or on HGTV's Tiny House Hunters that have the bed space as either a separate main floor space or it's a convertible living/sleeping space.  There's still options for a loft for storage or guest space.  I think to get that sleeping space on the main level you'll need to go at least 20 feet long. 

[Carol in Cal.]

I've seen some that have a bed at the same level as the rest, often in a couch/bed configuration similar to a futon.

I agree that the ladder makes for an unrealistic elderly unit, to a large extent.  OTOH for those who age in place, it might actually help keep them in shape.

[Ali in OR]

One of the coolest solutions for this problem that I saw on HGTV was a couple who made a queen sized mattress platform that slid under a raised-floor kitchen. You would have to keep the floor space in front clear to pull it out every night.

[trulycrabby]

I have seen Murphy beds and convertible sofas in the main living area used by seniors who cannot climb steps or ladders.

[Guest]

I can't imagine living in less than 600 sf until I am 80 or so.

[MinivanMom]

My great-grandmother lived in a tiny home back before it was hip and cool. It was all on 1 level so there was no issue with ladders. She lived independently until she died at 95.

[Guest]

I totally want one level. But as long as I can see and entertain and do photography, a tiny house is too small. But at 80--I'm in.

[Arcadia]

My one bedroom condo is 865sqft which includes a 66 sqft patio that we seldom use. When my in laws come over to stay for weeks, it becomes 4 adults and 2 kids in that space. We just use sofa bed and floor mattresses.

Our rental apartment was 695sqft for four of us.

[Scarlett]

I don't mind the tiny size. But I need it to be non mobile. Maybe it is because I have lived in tornado ally my entire life, but I just can't have my home on wheels.

 

Also, tiny is relative. My husband is 6'3.....we can't go too tiny. And we can't sleep in a loft. But we might build a small house and be very happy....probably not 600 SF though. Maybe 1000. I could even have grandkids to visit in that space.

[Guest]

I've lived in 500 sf before. And I was happy. But now I have 30 years of life and it's enjoyments and detritusbto deal with. I am romantically attracted to tiny houses but realistically attracted to 1000sf.

 

When I was 24, I could put all my belongings on a 1976 Honda Civic. It was a footloose time. But now I'm tied to other people and to 40 years more interests and experience. It will take awhile to pare down. And I hope I don't HAVE to...but I also hope that if I do have to, I can be open-handed and free.

[maize]

Here's a version designed with the elderly in mind (I think these are meant to be rented but no reason you couldn't build your own):

https://www.davidwolfe.com/backyard-granny-pods-nursing-homes/

[TranquilMind]

All the tiny houses I have seen have the bed upstairs up a ladder.  This isn't great if you have to use the washroom in the middle of the night and it's really not great as a person ages or if they get an injury to their leg or foot.  It seems that most tiny houses are being built by young couples but they  would be ideal for the elderly too if there was just one floor. Don't you think?

Yes, you need to be about 25 or under to live in one of those "ladder to the loft" tiny houses.

 

I totally agree!

[candicane]

I actually watched one episode over on HGTV of Tiny House Hunters and they had 3 children (2 under 3 or 4) and a baby that they would have up in the loft which only had one ladder to go between the two loft areas. So they said they were each sleeping with the kids in the separate areas. I just couldn't bring myself to do that, I wouldn't be able to sleep.

[Twolittleboys]

Not specific to tiny houses but I have been sleeping on a pull-out couch for over 15 years and that works just fine. I think the extra loft area is mostly necessary if you want more of a separation/have more people. For a single (older) person or a couple it really wouldn't be necessary (as long as you can make the space to unfold the couch etc. on the main floor).

[Desert Strawberry]

I don't mind the tiny size. But I need it to be non mobile. Maybe it is because I have lived in tornado ally my entire life, but I just can't have my home on wheels.

 

Also, tiny is relative. My husband is 6'3.....we can't go too tiny. And we can't sleep in a loft. But we might build a small house and be very happy....probably not 600 SF though. Maybe 1000. I could even have grandkids to visit in that space.

We have 7 people and two small dogs in 1000 sqft. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, five closets. 

I think two people could manage just fine.

[foxbridgeacademy]

My sister just built a 16x24 with a barn style roof with extra clearance upstairs. She put it on a basement with rough finish including door outside and front windows. So in the basement she'll have dry storage, extra freezer and her laundry. on the main floor she'll have living room kitchen with breakfast bar, bathroom and either a tiny bedroom or big closet (like 6x6). There is a set of narrow stairs going to the finished upstairs.  on each end there are two "bedrooms" 8x16, that can have a 1/2 wall in between so the kids have some privacy (2 boys and 2 girls) with a open area in between with enough space for a futon and TV or a play area.  Technically there's over 1000 sq ft under roof.  She had the concrete poured (but she and mom/step dad, did the cinder block for basement themselves) and the shell built onsite (in less than a week- regular house style construction, no pre-fab) for around $12,000. It's on a couple acres about 1/4 mile from my mom (Mom is the one who paid for it all, guess who's taking care of her in her old age?).  

 

 

[G5052]

I could completely see moving to something around 1000 square feet, but not a tiny house. To me having a full-functioning kitchen and a separate home office is a priority.

 

I have visions of buying a small house and a motorhome down the road. I'd teach during the school year as I do now, and then travel in the summer.

 

[Carol in Cal.]

See, I look at those tiny houses and they look like little retreat centers to me.

Elegant, functional, meditative, lovely.

But not livable.

Eminently visitable, but not liveable.

 

I tend to picture them with a large barn in the back forty, for storage.

 

But then, undoubtedly influenced by my reading of far too many old books, I have always wanted a big rambling house.  Also, in my adult life I have developed big hobbies, and big hobbies require big space.

 

If I won the lottery, I would get a big rambling house, but I would also have a little retreat somewhere in the wilds, or close to the wilds, for a peaceful escape.  THAT would be my tiny house.  But I wouldn't live there.

[StaceyinLA]

We have a home on our property that we built for my mother. It's not really "tiny" as it's around 650 square feet, but I am hoping I can convince one of my adult kids to buy our home in a couple years (for a very reduced amount), and then let dh and I live part time in the little house (we will be buying a place in Destin, FL as well). It's 1 bedroom, 1 bath, a small kitchen, small dining area, small den and screened front porch). I LOVE it. I also know if anything happened to DH, I would be able to stay there (if one of my kids were in the big house), and still really enjoy living out here on our property.

 

I LOVE a lot of the tiny homes, and would use may of the ideas, but am definitely fond of having my house attached to the ground!

[Katy]

My sister just built a 16x24 with a barn style roof with extra clearance upstairs. She put it on a basement with rough finish including door outside and front windows. So in the basement she'll have dry storage, extra freezer and her laundry. on the main floor she'll have living room kitchen with breakfast bar, bathroom and either a tiny bedroom or big closet (like 6x6). There is a set of narrow stairs going to the finished upstairs.  on each end there are two "bedrooms" 8x16, that can have a 1/2 wall in between so the kids have some privacy (2 boys and 2 girls) with a open area in between with enough space for a futon and TV or a play area.  Technically there's over 1000 sq ft under roof.  She had the concrete poured (but she and mom/step dad, did the cinder block for basement themselves) and the shell built onsite (in less than a week- regular house style construction, no pre-fab) for around $12,000. It's on a couple acres about 1/4 mile from my mom (Mom is the one who paid for it all, guess who's taking care of her in her old age?).  

 

Wow.  If they used a commercial floor plan, can you link it?  I have a friend with two kids who's interested in a tiny house, and this sort of thing sounds perfect for them.

[foxbridgeacademy]

Wow.  If they used a commercial floor plan, can you link it?  I have a friend with two kids who's interested in a tiny house, and this sort of thing sounds perfect for them.

 

No, not commercial like that.  It's just a guy and his crew.  You send him a drawing of what you want, they come down with all the stuff (pre-cut in their shop) and in less than a week put up a shell with windows and a door (roof yes, siding no) for around $10,000. She had to do the foundation, siding, insulation, interior herself. 

[prairiewindmomma]

Check out granny flat designs. I can totally see my dh and I designing a granny flat for our retirement years.  

[Garga]

My house is currently 1300 square feet.  However, if the kids were gone, we could easily not use 3 of the rooms we currently use: the extra bathroom, the boys' bedroom, the schoolroom.  

 

I like to daydream of the kinds of houses I could live in, and I could live in a small house or apartment (well under 1000 sq ft), but not a tiny house.  I need to feel like I don't have to walk sideways through the rooms.

[Wheres Toto]

We have 750 square feet with no basement, attic, dry storage (garage is detached and not tight), or closets.  If the space was arranged differently, it wouldn't be too bad.  As it is, it stinks.  I wouldn't go any smaller unless it was just dh and I.  

 

I always wonder about the lofts in those tiny houses.  They seem scary for young children, and dh and I both have knee and ankle problems.  I couldn't imagine having to go to the bathroom in the dark/middle of the night.

 

I do dream about getting a large camper or converted bus and traveling around the country full time.  

[Seasider]

See, I look at those tiny houses and they look like little retreat centers to me.

Elegant, functional, meditative, lovely.

But not livable.

Eminently visitable, but not liveable.

 

I tend to picture them with a large barn in the back forty, for storage.

 

But then, undoubtedly influenced by my reading of far too many old books, I have always wanted a big rambling house. Also, in my adult life I have developed big hobbies, and big hobbies require big space.

 

If I won the lottery, I would get a big rambling house, but I would also have a little retreat somewhere in the wilds, or close to the wilds, for a peaceful escape. THAT would be my tiny house. But I wouldn't live there.

I am kind of with you, Carol, the more I think about it. I definitely DO NOT want a lot of stuff! However, mentally, I need the feel of more space than a tiny house would provide. I'd be very happy for that space to be made up of indoor and screened/outdoor spaces, but I need some airiness so I don't feel confined. But still, I don't want a lot of stuff, or huge storage areas to hide stuff I'd be better off not holding on to.

[Code Lyoko]

Some of those tiny houses are less than 100 sq. ft., with a ladder nailed to the wall and a tiny loft above a tiny living/"kitchen" space.  I couldn't do that, even as a single person.  I would rather live in my van.

[LMD]

We have 6 people in a <600sq ft home and it's great. Our bed isn't a loft, although 2 of the kids' are.

[Arcadia]

I have always been a city dweller and my aunt managed to have my grandpa, her single sister, four kids and her husband under one roof in the 76 sqm (approx 818sqft) floor plan linked below. They had two twin bunk beds in a L configuration, a twin sofa bed, a floor mattress and a queen size bed. Washing machine and drying racks are in the utility area. Bathroom and WC are separate and the wash basin is also outside and near the bathroom and WC. So after breakfast someone could use the WC, someone could bath and someone could brush their teeth.

http://www.teoalida.com/singapore/HDB-1966-1970-3I-point-block-76sqm.png

 

The floor plan makes a difference. Staying in a city with easy access to food supplies make having a small fridge adequate. Our neighbors own mom & pop provisions stores and would deliver sacks of rice and other bulky goods to us without delivery fee（no minimum purchase required).

Edited November 15, 2016 by Arcadia

[Scarlett]

We have 6 people in a <600sq ft home and it's great. Our bed isn't a loft, although 2 of the kids' are.

I would love to see your floor plan. 3 bedrooms?

[LMD]

I would love to see your floor plan. 3 bedrooms?

I don't really have a floor plan, we renovated a 40ft shipping container. At one end is the master bedroom, about 7ft, at the other end is the kids bedroom which is basically 4 built in bunks and a wardrobe area.

In the middle is the kitchen with a wood fire oven and solar fridge/freezer, and the 'lounge room' - area with couch/shelf/piano, and an extra section we added on (which can be retracted if we need to move the container) for the bathroom. We make good use of the height for storing things like clothes and linen and the tv shelf lol.

We have a second container that we use half of for a school room and the other half is dh's shed.

Outside, we have 20 acres, so we don't feel claustrophobic at all!

 

This is actually our interim house, we break ground on the real house next year, this set up will become an awesome cabin/granny flat. But we are really comfortable here, we love it. The house will be very modest and completely off grid too.

[Scarlett]

I don't really have a floor plan, we renovated a 40ft shipping container. At one end is the master bedroom, about 7ft, at the other end is the kids bedroom which is basically 4 built in bunks and a wardrobe area.

In the middle is the kitchen with a wood fire oven and solar fridge/freezer, and the 'lounge room' - area with couch/shelf/piano, and an extra section we added on (which can be retracted if we need to move the container) for the bathroom. We make good use of the height for storing things like clothes and linen and the tv shelf lol.

We have a second container that we use half of for a school room and the other half is dh's shed.

Outside, we have 20 acres, so we don't feel claustrophobic at all!

 

This is actually our interim house, we break ground on the real house next year, this set up will become an awesome cabin/granny flat. But we are really comfortable here, we love it. The house will be very modest and completely off grid too.

That sounds so interesting! I would love to see pics if you ever have time or interest in posting them.

[LMD]

That sounds so interesting! I would love to see pics if you ever have time or interest in posting them.

Or if it's ever clean enough! ;)

I'll try!