Tiny House Living
By Chris
Several friends requested I write about tiny house living. We've spent the month of July living in a tiny cottage in our host's back yard. At 18 x 10.5 feet (185 sq. feet), I'm not sure I'd even call it a tiny house - maybe a teeny house?
The cottage was originally purposed as a visiting mother-in-law suite and then converted to an AirBnB rental, so it wasn't built with a view toward long-term living. Most guests who stay are vacationing in Santa Barbara, not 'living' in the cottage. Still, we feel that with some slight modifications, we could live in this space.
Two particular features help the space not feel claustrophobic. First, the ceilings angle up to quite a high height. There are also small windows at the high points that let in a lot of natural light. Second, the cottage has a little patio outside that expands the seating and living area. This, of course, only works in a climate amenable to outdoor living. So, I don't think a teeny cottage would be livable in an environment with weather extremes.
As is typical in Santa Barbara, the cottage doesn't have air conditioning. It has a ceiling fan (a must) and a small electric baseboard heater, which we haven't had to use this time of year. The oven is gas, as is the tank-less water heater. It is outfitted with a water purifying system, so that's great!
The living space includes a full, albeit tiny, kitchen, queen size bed (very comfortable mattress), a television on adjustable stand, a small table and chairs and a standalone chair, the latter two items being extremely uncomfortable. In a tiny house, all items must be optimized for comfort and / or function for the precious space they utilize.
The kitchen is pretty functional for being small. Unfortunately, the hosts are Keurig fans, and they had a huge machine that took up one-third of the counter. We ended up purchasing a slim profile coffee-maker that we can take along with us. It can accommodate Keurig pods or regular coffee, which is my preference. The unit also did not have a toaster, but thanks to a comment by John's chef nephew Kyle, we realize we can make toast in a frying pan. I would also want a crockpot for this space. The cupboard space is minimal. As you can see from the photos, we have to store our pantry items in the headboard cubbies or in the bathroom.
At first we thought the small, dorm-style refrigerator would present a problem, but we've been able to work with it. It requires European-style shopping where you only buy what you need for a couple of days. Generally, I like this type of shopping, as it encourages consumption of more fresh foods. However, it's a bit of a challenge in the current pandemic situation, where you want to avoid public spaces. I've just been following all of the protocols and trying to shop at places that limit the number of customers, like local produce stores or Trader Joe's.
A short digression here, since I mentioned Trader Joe's. While I was standing in line outside waiting to be allowed in, I saw this sign about the Moreton Bay Fig Tree (they try to keep you entertained during your wait). 21,000 square feet of shade, enough for 16,000 people! The tree is over 140 years old.
We've been to the tree previously, but John and I popped over again to get some piccies. A wonder!
Back to the teeny cottage ... The bedroom / living area is what poses the most challenges. There's basically no comfortable place to sit and read a book, work on the laptop, or watch television in the evening. We feel this could be addressed by having a Murphy Bed with either a sofa or dining table attachment. If the latter, then two comfy chairs would fit in because the uncomfortable table would be gone.
The bathroom has good storage and a shower insert (preferred over tile for ease of keeping clean) with plenty of shelves for toiletries. However, at one-third the space of the entire cottage, it is space not well utilized. To live in this unit, there should be more built-in shelving or dressers (in the area where our suitcases are stored in the photo).
I hope you enjoyed the tour of the teeny cottage. If you decide you'd like to try a tiny house, here is my link for an AirBnB discount for first time users: https://www.airbnb.com/c/christinev381?referral_share_id=91d158c2-ca25-436f-bddd-c37c8a8ebbe2
In conclusion, we've learned that we can definitely do tiny living, given certain conditions!
When you said that you were staying in a small place you really meant it! Good old SB living! 💕
ReplyDeleteMy place will feel like a mansion, in comparison!! Wow! I prepped your room tonight, and the door is closed, awaiting your arrival. Safe travels!
ReplyDeleteI know! We'll be living in luxury. Thank you, looking forward to our visit!
DeleteWow, I wondered how living in a tiny house would be. You vagabonds are the most adventurous and adaptable folks that know. Now that's real living!
DeleteYou are sweet, as always, Martha. 🥰 If any times called for adaptability, it's now!
DeleteI totally second your friend M.C. Wallace's comment! Your review and photos are enlightening, and modifications right on! For the teeny space with uncomfortable sitting options, while a Murphy bed is great, it removes ... a couch opportunity (affording comfy seating) using... a pair of single beds that nest easily to create efficient space use for waking and sleeping.
ReplyDeleteWhen I wrote this one, I thought of the several times we shared videos and articles about efficient apartment spaces with items serving multiple purposes. Cleverness abounds!
Delete