Calling all Tiny House Enthusiasts- We need your support!

Christopher and I have been given the chance to showcase our house with this years Small Cool 2013 contest put on by Apartment Therapy. How awesome would it be to make a Tiny House the winner! We need your help in making this happen! It's really simple and quick to do. Simply create an account and click on the little Heart Shape for Favorite.  Everyone in the Tiny House Community, we need your support!

Let's make a Tiny House a winner and help showcase everything good about living tiny! Any money received will go to the Tiny House community, and help support others in their dreams!

Thank you everyone!

-Chris and Malissa Tack

The Tiny Tack House

Portland Alternative Dwellings

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Christopher and myself had the lovely pleasure of participating in the PAD Workshop this past weekend. Dee Williams and Joan Grimm did a fantastic job of heading up the workshop with amazing support from Lina Menard of Niche Tiny Houses, 
(www.nichetinyhouses.com) with her talk on Regulations, Codes and a hint of potty talk as she discussed the do's and don'ts of compost toilets. Derin Williams of Urbanest NW,  (www.urbanestnw.com) gave a fantastic presentation on his closed system and how to properly frame and insulate your tiny house to be as efficient as possible.

Lina doing a little potty talk as she educates on how to properly work with your composting toilet system.

Dee Williams talks about designing your house to be strong. The house will need to handle hurricane strong winds, so design is key.

The first day of the workshop was spent chatting about trailers, framing and how to connect your house to the trailer for extra security. Tiny House Structural Engineering, Codes, Insurance, Pulling & Parking, as well as Moisture Control & Ventilation. Lots of great input and chatter in the class with people from as far as Texas and Boston that showed up for the PAD Workshop. 

Day two gave a great overview of a simple Electrical and Gas system that would work for your tiny house, as well as a proper water and wastewater system. The tail end of the workshop took us over to POD49 where everyone had the chance to hang out inside Gina's Tiny House. Questions, ideas and designs were flying through everyone's minds as they contemplate what is important to have in their own tiny house.

The workshop continued outside at POD49.

Everyone getting inspired with everything they had learned at the workshop.

Really an awesome group of individuals! 

Lina telling us some of her personal stories about living tiny.

Joan sharing, with the group, a photo of aTiny House Community up in Shoreline WA that she hopes to achieve one day.

Was a great workshop, everyone did a fantastic job... and we are excited to be part of future events through PAD! The knowledge you gain with these workshops are priceless... This is the 3rd workshop I have been to, and I learn something new every time! 

Thanks to PAD for involving The Tiny Tack House in their workshops! For more info, please make your way to their website and check out all the resources they have to share, as well as future workshops.

PAD WORKSHOP April 27th & 28th 2013

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Portland Alternative Dwellings will be putting on another workshop at the end of this month. Here is a little info on what's happening over at The PAD Workshop.

Our TIny House Design Workshops focus on the unique design and building principles that apply to a house on wheels. We'll address:

*How to properly anchor a stick-built structure to a trailer.

*Moisture controls and ventilation.

*Electrical, gas and water systems.

*Cultivation a place called "home" and finding a place to park.

*Navigating codes, insurance and other regulatory and financial issues.

The workshop includes one full day and one half day of classroom-style learning, followed by a half day Tiny House Tour where the topics we've discussed are brought to life. The instructors are Dee Williams & Joan Grimm of PAD, along with experts in energy efficiency and tiny house living.

This workshop will leave you confident and empowered, holding the three things you need most to start you out on your path towards tiny:

*A sound technical foundation on tiny house building and systems

*An understanding of where to get more help, who to call, and where to find local materials

*A connection to other like-minded tiny house enthusiasts, proving once and for all YOU ARE NOT ALONE!   :D

You will also receive a printed copy of Go House Go and many, many other resources you need to build your tiny house to fit you like a glove. Build it right the first time, and learn from a community of other tiny house enthusiasts.  

You can go to just one or both of the days offered for the workshop, price of full workshop is $325.

For more information, please stop by PAD's website.

Chris here...

 

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Hey there, Chris here. In an attempt to be a larger part of The Tiny Tack House website, I am going to attempt to begin writing blog posts occasionally :0 To this point, Malissa has almost solely run the website on her own & I have only done one blog post :| So, beginning this week, I am going to attempt to create at least one post per month:)

As you all know, there are many great resources out there for our tiny home “accessories”. By accessories, I am talking about just about everything from medicine cabinets all the way to LED lighting and everything in between. One resource I have come across is HomeClick. They have a useful “Community” section on their website where you can find DIY Guides on topics such as “How to construct Built-In Storage” & “Energy Efficient Lighting Basics”. There is also a videos section that has things such as “How to Replace a Doorknob and Lockset” & “How to Prevent Pipes from Freezing”. Both useful topics when building your tiny house:)

We would love to hear about any additional resources you may have come across for home accessories or useful how-to guides that help teach us how to properly install new “fixtures” in your home. Feel free to share your comments below. If you have not done so already, please head over to our Facebook page & “Like” us.

In my next post, I plan to speak a bit more about our solar setup & discuss the pros & cons of going with solar for your tiny house. If there are any specific topics you would like to see for a future blog post, or any large gaps of information on our site, please let us know. We are very open to hearing your feedback & ensuring our web presence is a useful resource for you all!

See you next month!

ps. If you have never checked out my photography, please take a moment to head over to http://tackphoto.com. I would love to year your feedback on my work!

A different kind of wood-based composite panel

 

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Tafisa Canada isn't a new particleboard manufacture, it took them 10 years to get their factory off the ground and is making waves with their wood-based composite panels that are made from recycled wood, collected from recycling centers. These boards are designed to be lightweight and versatile for interior design and furniture production.

They are very proud of their product, and should be, Tafisa composite panels are made of 100% recycled wood. The company runs their factory with the environment in mind, holding up to stringent emission control systems to aid against harmful air emissions.

This is definitely a product to consider for creating clean, green and sustainable designs for the future. For more information on Tafisa, Click Here

Some designs using the wood-based composite panels.

PAD WORKSHOP (Design it Tiny Workshop)

 

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It was early morning in Portland OR, as Christopher and I made our way into the Historic Kenton Firehouse. We were greeted by many smiles and enthusiasum for the day's excitement, as everyone started setting up for the workshop. On the first day's agenda there was talk of basics in structural design, moisture control and how to properly ventilate and heat your tiny house. Covered topics like electrical systems and how to be the most efficient in your space. The biggest questions popped up under the discussion of codes, and Lina Menard of Niche Consulting did a fantastic job speaking to the topic and help answer questions. Everyone at the workshop received a booklet, loaded with so much informations and resources. Everything was so well prepared and thought through. Dee Williams and Joan Grimm did an incredible workshop, not only was it informative, but equally entertaining. The people at the workshop were an absolute pleasure to talk to and an inspiration to hang out with. Everyone had a stellar time and ideas were bouncing off the walls! As the workshop comes to a close, the crew of PAD invited everyone out for food and drinks. We walked a few blocks to a local restaurant where the Tiny House chatter continued. We all spent some time telling our stories and connecting with the others at the workshop.

Lina Menard talks about Codes in the Tiny House Community.

-Photo by Christopher Tack

 

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The second day of the workshop was focused on subjects that included gas systems & appliances...fresh water & hot water systems. They also talked about gray water set ups and the oh so giggly topic of POO! We even had the pleasure of listening to Brittany Yunker of Bayside Bungalow give her "download" on the subject. She gave info on the do's and don'ts on the subject and impressed us with her knowledge. The list of experts at the workshop was impressive, full of individuals that have a passion for this and are excited to share with others. This workshop was a perfect mix of people and knowledge.

It's all about the poo at the PAD Workshop, everything you didn't realize you wanted to know!

-Photo by Christopher Tack

Dee presenting at the PAD WORKSHOP

-Photo by Christopher Tack

 

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At the end of the day we all headed over to POD49 where we got the opportunity to check out Gina's Tiny House. Christopher and I spent some time hanging out with everyone, answering questions and talking tiny! Here are some amazing photos Christopher took while we were at POD49.

Gina's Tiny House at POD49

-Photo by Christopher Tack

Inside Gina's Tiny House

-Photo by Christopher Tack

Inside Gina's Tiny House

-Photo by Christopher Tack

Inside Gina's Tiny House

-Photo by Christopher Tack

Inside Gina's Tiny House

-Photo by Christopher Tack

 

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If you weren't able to check out the workshop last month, it's not too late. Registration is now open for the April workshop for the 27th & 28th. You can sign up for Saturday or Sunday... or both. If you are going for it, go all in! The info is worth it and the connections you walk away with, are priceless. Can't wait to see you at the next one! 

For more info on the workshop please visit padtinyhouses.com.

Tiny House Inforgraphic – Survey Follow Up

 

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About a week and a half ago I did a post along with many other of the tiny house bloggers where we conducted a survey of tiny house people.  It asked things like income, savings, etc. so we could get a better idea of what a tiny house person is like and how they compare to the typical American.

We had a TON of responses and with such a great response it prompted me to want to do something extra special for you all.  So I have put together a kick starter campaign to raise the money to fund the creation of a tiny house infographic.

Infographics are a visual way to share data about an interesting topic.  Instead of boring graphs and spreadsheets, we are working with a graphic designer to tell the story with color and vivid graphics.  You can see an example of this in my first post of the series that talked about what the average American looks like.  You can see how the bottom really long graphic tells the store with data, but is really interesting.

So please check out the kick starter, we hope you will support us in tell the story of tiny house people.

-The Tiny Life

http://www.thetinylife.com

Be sure to check out the [ KICKSTARTER PAGE ]

 

PAD hosting the Tiny House Design Workshop in Portland OR

 

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All right everyone... let's gear up for the upcoming PAD Tiny House Design Workshop February 23rd and 24th in Portland Oregon. This workshop will be covering the nuts and bolts of tiny house construction, codes, moisture control and energy efficiency and systems (meaning poop, showering, turning on the lights and cooking up a meal... not necessarily in that order). Our classroom discussions will be anchored by a half-day tour and discussion at POD 49, a pocket community that includes a tiny house and two big houses. Folks can sign up for one day (Saturday or Sunday), or both!

If you have any other questions, please head over to www.padtinyhouses.com for more info.

Can't wait to see you there!

The Average Tiny House Dweller from The Tiny Life

Be sure to check out http://www.thetinylife.com for more information.

Tropical Tiny House Plan has arrived!

 

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Christopher and I absolutely fell in love with this design, so we hope you love it just as much as we do! It has been a project in the making for a few months now, and we are excited to have it available for download. Just head over to the House Plans page to get an idea of what the Tropical Tiny House is all about.

 

Yan's Tiny House Open House (27th-28th)

 

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Open House:

Hi, I like to open my beautiful tiny house for viewing. This is a modified Tumbleweed Fencl, designed for the look and comfort of a regular house. It has running water, electricity, shower, toilet to septic tank, gas cooktop and wood stove for heat. Stairs to a sleeping loft and a skylight window that opens. It has a guest bedroom, pull down movie screen, deck, lots storage place, and a matching tiny chicken coop on wheels! I built it with some help from others, and I have been living it more than a year, along with my kitty (and two chickens in the coop). I will post the address next week, but for now, please plan your trip to Monroe / Sultan 98272 area. I am working on my website to share more photos and how things were built.

Movie: If you can stay for the movie that starts at 6pm, "Looper" is the movie I am thinking about showing unless you suggest or bring something else. Space for five people.

Sleep over: My location is somewhat out off area. If you don't feel like driving home at night, you are definitely welcome to stay over night. My tiny house can accommodate 2 people inside, I can pitch a tent on deck for 2 more people. Or Camp anywhere on these 10 acres, I say... throw your sleeping bag in car incase you want to stay :-) You can bring something to eat or I will be happy make some my signature noodle soup with tomato egg.

Whether you are stopping by for few or hang around. I am looking forward to meeting you.

Email me if you have questions: handing@me.com

Photos by Christopher Tack http://tackphoto.com

The Tropical Tiny House Plans - Coming Soon

 

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Originally posted Friday, January 4, 2013 

Chris and I very excited for our next baby to make an appearance very soon. There has always been a demand for more design options, so we have been working hard to create a new house with a whole new look!

"What if money was no object?"

 

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Originally posted Monday, December 10, 2012 

Consider this for a moment... what if money had no value in our lives... what’s stopping you from doing what you want to do? I know this is cliché but, what if you lived in a world where if you think it and it can happen... where your dreams come true. News flash, we do! This world runs on energy, and you mind creates its own energy. If you dream it, you make it a reality. What if money was no object... then what?

I challenge you to find a hidden thought, a forgotten dream and bring it to life... doesn’t matter the time it takes... put forth to the world what you want to see happen, and see what happens!

Give your positive thoughts a life!

Here is a great 3 minute video, a lecture from the late Alan Watts, to help get you going.

Tiny Tack House Holiday Decorations

 

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Originally posted Thursday, December 6, 2012 

I’ve been getting into the holiday season a lot lately, as many others have been too I would imagine. I’m not a fan of traditional holiday decorations because of all the plastics used, as well as the need to store your decorations after the holiday season has past. So, I decided to make my own decorations out of things I already had on hand. The first creation was cutting some leaf and feather designs out of cardboard that was waiting to be recycled. Had some leftover cardboard inserts, so it wasn’t to thick to cut, or to heavy to hang. Used some thread that I had around the house to string up. Topped it off with a thumb tack at each end to hold everything up into place.

 Also cut some trees for the leftover cardboard and scrap paper I found to manufacture some evergreens. Even had enough for a forrest friend to make an appearance. I didn’t us any glue or tape to secure my creations... just pushed them behind the window trim, where they fit perfectly! Adds that holiday feel I’m looking for and didn’t cost me a cent. And the good news about using recycled materials is... you recycle them when done... no need to store them away for next year. This allows us to change up the design of the holiday season every year... great for when we have a little tack of our own... will make for a fun family tradition!!

Holiday decorations 2012... SethCat Approved!

Bayside Bungalow

 

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Originally posted Tuesday, November 6, 2012 

Brittany Yunker, owner and builder of the Bayside Bungalow, is offering her Tiny House for a Full-Time Renter for the winter months. If you’re interested in staying in the Bayside Bungalow, located in Olympia, WA... feel free to contact Brittany about available dates. Right now, she is looking to fill January - April, but can be flexible on the actual dates. This is a great chance to live in a tiny house and get a great test drive of this life altering experience.

Bayside Bungalow - Website

Small House Design

 

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NEWS 2012 Build Small Live Large Housing Summit in Portland OR

 

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Originally posted Monday, October 15, 2012 

Hello,

A couple years ago Jordan Palmeri of Portland, Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality conducted a study that showed that building small is the single best building strategy for energy- and resource-efficiency. Over the past year a group of us has been working to create a forum to share information about the benefits, strategies, and challenges of building small.

I’d like to cordially invite you to the upcoming Build Small | Live Large Housing Summit on October 26th in Portland. Additional

information is available here: http://living-future.org/cascadia/buildsmall. I will be presenting in the Biggie Smalls: The Notorious Tiny House session with Dee Williams of Portland Alternative Dwellings and Derin Williams of Urban Nest NW. We would love to see familiar faces in the crowd!

The 2012 Build Small | Live Large Housing Summit will gather leaders in the development, real estate, building and design sector from across the bioregion for an intensive day of inspiration, project case studies and peer-to-peer learning. Industry professionals will see innovative designs and learn about the financial success stories emerging across our area.

-Lina Menard

This Is the Little Life

www.thisisthelittlelife.com

A message from Tiny r[E]volution

 

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Originally posted Thursday, October 11, 2012 

The Tiny r(E)volution podcast is growing more and more each week. The message of small living is expanding by nearly 30 new listeners each week. With a show on Tuesdays and a show on Thursdays it is a great labor of love to bring quality content to all who will listen. We have been especially honored to have interview guests such as Deek Diedriksen, Laura LaVoie, Macy Miller, Tammy Strobel, and so many others. 

Right now we have guests lined up until the Christmas holidays and by new years we will be hosting a new format, new schedule, and new quality of recording. 

But right now I want to share with you the upcoming schedule as it veers from our "standard." 

Tuesday, Oct. 16 - NO SHOW

Wednesday, Oct. 17 - guest: Celina Dill at 12pm EST

Thursday Oct. 18 - Normal broadcasting at 2:30pm EST

Tuesday, Oct. 23 - NO SHOW

Thursday, Oct. 25 - NO SHOW

Tuesday, Oct. 30 - NO SHOW

Thursday, Nov. 1 - Normal broadcasting at 2:30pm EST

Monday, Nov. 5 - guest: Ryan Mitchell at 11am EST

In the meantime though (and in preparation for our facelift) we are posting ALL archive shows as blog posts on www.tinyrevolution.us.

You can also subscribe to us on iTunes at http://bit.ly/UT7Juk .

Thank you for being part of such a dynamic community and please, sit back, and enjoy the show!

-Andrew Odom

The NEW PAD

 

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Originally posted Monday, October 8, 2012 

In the past couple of months, my company Portland Alternative Dwellings (PAD) has been working on a new look and focus. We recently reorganized, and now will offer more workshops and consulting services.

Our first ‘Build it Tiny’ workshop is coming up this November 10th. We’ll focus on practical solutions for some of the more challenging little house conundrums:  where to place/park your tiny house, code enforcement, insurance, electrical hook-ups, wastewater and (drum roll please…) toilets!  The workshop will provide detailed information from local experts, and a great opportunity to meet others in the tiny house community. It will be an awesome opportunity to further flesh out the details for your little house, and to sort through some of the

hard-knuckle decisions associated with a tiny house.  And in the spring, folks can join us for another workshop:  a hands-on, tool wielding weekend workshop focused on building a little house!

Our new website: www.padtinyhouses.com offers more information about PAD and the up-coming workshops.

-Dee

NEW Tiny House Magazine

 

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Originally posted Monday, October 8, 2012 

We are excited to see the creation of the Tiny House Magazine, from the man who brought you Tiny House Blog. He has been inspiring us for years with his Tiny House features and we have watched him grow into a valuable Tiny House resource. 

Let’s hear a little of what is, Tiny House Magazine.

Hi All,

I am excited to introduce Tiny House Magazine and its Preview Issue hot off the (virtual) presses and available in the NewsStand for the Apple iPad. The goal with the magazine is to reach a new audience via this new media. At this time the Tiny House Magazine is only available for the iPad but I am hoping to be able to migrate it to the Android and Kindle in the not to distant future. I may also offer a pdf version though it will not have all the interactivity built in. The Tiny House Magazine is an unique experience that takes advantage of the iPad’s interactive capabilities. Because it is connected to the internet it can take advantage of videos and other interactive web related formats. By simply clicking a play button you can view a video right within the magazine. It’s a whole new reading experience has the the ability to link to other websites and blogs! I would like to offer a chance for you to share this with your blog or website readers and give them a discount as well. No pressure on my part if you choose not to participate. Here is the offer: Use the Coupon Code THM6 and you will receive six months of the magazine free. You then will have the option to subscribe for future issues if you so choose. Please share the code with your friends and families – with anyone who has an iPad and is not familiar with what is going on in the Tiny House Movement. This magazine issue is designed to give an overview of the tiny house movement and includes FAQs, a movie, and much more to show the world what it is all about.

Here is how to input the Coupon Code:

1. Click on Yellow Subscribe Button

2. Popup comes up

3. Click on Current Subscribers

4. Enter Code THM6

This special offer is only good until October 31, 2012 so go and download it and now before you forget. Click on the following link: http://bit.ly/TinyHouseMagazine and be sure share the link with your friends and family. Also be sure to check out the Tiny House Blog