Tiny House Style

Tiny House Style

Adult non fiction
Over much of my life span houses have been growing like the
proverbial weeds. My preteen years were spent in a modest spread:
parents' and children's bedrooms linked by a large closet, living
room, kitchen, playroom, and single bathroom. A lot of people lived
that way and thought nothing of it. But over the years just about
anyone who could afford to do so acquired bigger and bigger digs,
culminating in the coveted and despised McMansion. Some huge edifices
in Veazie are inhabited by a couple. Even Human Services won't place
a kid unless he/she is guaranteed a solo bedroom. There are even
places that require houses to have large square footages.
What the bloody Hell?
These outsize abodes take a toll on the enviromnent. They also
take a toll on many families. One day a friend from a better
neighborhood told me a secret. The struggle to live beyond their
housing means left many "better off" families as economically perilous
as the trailer park crowd. And there are the many who work around the
clock to keep families they are nearly strangers to in homes they
aren't enough in to relax and enjoy.
I am delighted with a new back to basic housing trend that has
people requestioning priorities and replacing conspicuous consumption
with mindful simplicity. First considered an oddity, the new
buildings are going mainstream. Anyone contemplating making such a
lifestyle change would do well to study Steve Weissmann and Jenna
Spesard's Tiny House Style: Ideas To Design And Decorate Your Tiny
House.
This fine book is living proof that a picture is worth a
thousand words. Whether you're looking at adorable exteriors, sun
filled sleeping lofts, or unique, colorful details, the photographs
steal the show. The text supplements the visuals and answers just
about any question one might have about tiny house planning and
living. Will the kitchen meet my needs? Is there enough room to
sleep? How much storage is enough?
My only caveat: if Tiny House Style seems overly evangelistic,
there's a reason. The authors manufacture tiny houses. Have they got
a place for you!
Tiny houses are not for everyone. I have no plans for going
below trailer size even though the kids have moved out. The open plan
with sleeping loft would be a nightmare in my household. I need my
studio to get far enough from the television to write and think and
not be bombarded by artificial noise and to store my writing works in
progress and the whimsical treasures that inspire me.
I would especially advise prospective tiny house dwellers to do
this extreme downsizing during periods of lifestyle stability rather
than in tandem with other changes. Retirement is the one that comes
to mind. Make sure the two of your are comfortable spending extended
periods of time together before you compress the space in which you do
so.
Seriously.
One very positive aspect to tiny houses is that they can give
the chronically homeless housing stability. For a family living out
of a car one would be a palace. Some towns are finding that it's
cheaper to house the homeless than increase municipal services. And
for many long term street and shelter residents that permanent address
may be that tipping stability point enabling them to face and conquer
the other challenges life throws their way.
On a personal note, we had flower communion last Sunday at Universal
Fellowship. It was such a lovely experience. There were scads of
beautiful flowers and we got to bring flowers home. I also got to
bring a birthday bouquet to Amber which she really likes.
A great big shout out goes out to my Universal Fellwship family who
seem not in the least perturbed that I will be joining June 4.
jules hathaway


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