Friday, December 10, 2010

Tiny house movement sprouts


GRATON, CALIF. - As Americans downsize in the aftermath of a colossal real estate bust, at least one tiny corner of the housing market appears to be thriving.To save money or simplify their lives, a small but growing number of people are buying or building homes that could fit inside many living rooms, according to entrepreneurs in the small-house industry.

Some put these wheeled homes in their back yards to use as offices, studios or extra bedrooms. Others use them as mobile vacation homes they can park in the woods. But the most intrepid of the tiny-house owners live in them full time, paring down their possessions and often living off the grid.

"It's very un-American in the sense that living small means consuming less," said Jay Shafer, 46, co-founder of the Small House Society, sitting on the porch of his wooden cabin in California wine country. "Living in a small house like this really entails knowing what you need to be happy and getting rid of everything else."

Shafer, author of "The Small House Book," built the 89-square-foot house himself a decade ago and lived in it full time until his son was born last year. Inside a space the size of an ice cream truck, he has a kitchen with gas stove and sink, bathroom with shower, two-seater porch, bedroom loft and a "great room" where he can work and entertain - as long as he doesn't invite more than a couple guests.

1 comment:

  1. Home is a basic need of all people how is born in world.Home is place where peoples are living.In a home, all family members are living together.

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