My name is Andrew Campbell. I live in Plain WA, and was staying in my new gypsy wagon in Port Townsend last week when I ran across a copy of your book Tiny Homes on the Move. Lo and behold on the cover was a picture of Steve and Katy’s bus. Steve works with me here in Plain in my wood shop. Anyway he said I ought to send you some pics of my gypsy wagons. The red one I built two years ago and the blue one I built for my oldest son to live in when he goes to college in a couple years. We will camp out in it in the meantime and use it for guests to stay in. Will send more pictures and info, if you are interested. I have no website. Just finished the blue one so no great pictures yet, but that can be arranged any time if you are interested in more.
Love your books, love what people are doing with small spaces. Started my woodworking career building boat interiors, so I love fitting out small spaces.
“Imagine living in a place with your possessions, all within a 232-square-foot house. For one thing, you’ll probably need a lot fewer possessions. But Denise Ryals, who builds tiny homes with her husband, Tommy, said a buyer can pack their possessions — and the house itself — and drive it anywhere…”
“All models of the Portable Cedar Cabins are custom-built. We will work with your budget to build the cabin of your dreams. All models have a beautiful pine interior with a rich cedar siding. The models are from 144 to 400 square feet. Up to 400 square feet, the cabins are considered a park model or an RV. All Portable Cedar Cabins are inspected and certified like an RV and you will be given a vin number. If you want a custom-made unit beyond 400 square feet, it is no longer considered an RV. Please refer to the Workhouse Model if you want a larger, custom-built cedar cabin. Dave can also build cedar cabins on skids…”
“It only cost the Morrisons $22,000 to build their dream home. They now live mortgage-free, which has improved the quality of their life and the closeness of their marriage. Thanks to a brilliant design, this 207 sq. ft. space feels much bigger on the inside. The Morrisons have everything they need. There’s a spacious kitchen, with an oven, fridge, and sink. Definitely no lack of counter and shelf space here! They also included a reading area and an office desk that doubles as a dining table. Under the stairs to the loft is a big ‘closet.’ Not a single inch is wasted.”
Stefan’s home measures just 215 square feet and his main aim when building it was to create a comfortable home while keeping the building costs down. While the home is sustainable, Stefan does not consider himself a dedicated greenie or tree hugger. He simply did what he had to given the circumstances. Repurposing materials to create a home is at the heart of any sustainable living endeavor. The tiny home recently built by Stefan Cook of A Biggish Tiny House is a prime example of repurposing and salvaging building materials done right. He’s a resident of Christchurch, New Zealand, which experienced devastating earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. Stefan salvaged the materials left behind by the devastation to build his own tiny home and recently gave a tour of it at Living Big in a Tiny House. Read More …
The prolific Jay Nelson has just completed a new vehicle. Jay’s nomadic creations are in both Tiny Homes and Tiny Homes on the Move. Here’s how he describes his latest:
Golden Gate 2, named after the last electric camper I built, Golden Gate 1. It’s a car camper made with salvaged wood and bike parts. It has a 90″ × 42″ footprint. Sink, water tank, stove, cooler. The entire inside is a bed.
Peter and Donna Thomas were featured in our book Tiny Homes on the Move with their gypsy wagon. They recently sent us this photo and caption of their vintage streetcar:
Tiny home campsite made with our 1926 converted Melbourne W-2 streetcar as living room.
Jake and Kiva have produced a YouTube series of construction videos documenting a tiny home build on Vancouver Island. The videos follow their tiny house project, from early design to completion and beyond showing materials, tools, and construction techniques. A 3D Google Sketchup plan is also available as a free download.
Check out their videos below:
In this episode, we introduce ourselves and catch you up on what we’ve done so far.
In this episode, we talk about the trailer that we have acquired for the project, why we chose it, and the process we went through to get it.
Here’s your chance to own a one-of-a-kind SunRay Kelley custom Gypsy Wagon! The canted walls and curved ceilings make this cedar-sided caravan feel very roomy. Read More …
Here is an extremely well-documented build with plans of a beautiful vardo.
“This is my home-built trailer using classic and modern building techniques and style. Based on traveler’s and “gypsy” wagons from Britain and France as well as sheep wagons from the western U.S., I am keeping this to the absolute minimum in size and weight. I don’t plan to live in it full-time so it can be thought of a base camp. I have mulled it over for a very long time and was torn between this style and a teardrop design. Each have advantages but this just seems to suit me better…”
The Fortune Cookie was featured in Tiny Homes on the Move. Here are more examples of Abel Zimmerman’s wonderful work:
First: Wood creates its own pathways. I am only following as best I can.
Second: My work is about people. Every time I collaborate with somebody on a little house, some new “flowers” seem to bloom in the world. Despite the newness, I more often intend to build things that feel “magnetic” and familiar. If people appreciate it 50 years later, then I/we have done the right thing. Read More …
“I put on the furring strips with the help of my friend Steven. These furring strips will allow for a ½″ gap behind the siding that will allow airflow to dry out any moisture. Rain screens, in my opinion, are the best way to side in the Northwest. Take advantage of airflow, whenever possible…”
Check out Travis Skinner’s website here; it’s rich in art, craft, and building. He lives in Olympia, Washington.
In 1973 we published Shelter, which turned out to be station central for people interested in creating their own homes. Now, in the 21st century, we continue this dialog here online on shelter, carpentry, homesteading, gardening, and the home arts with this blog. We hope you will join us and contribute.
