This 14 by 30 foot Amish-built shed resembles a small log cabin and arrives ready for interior finishing. The two-story structure includes a full staircase to the upper loft, single-hung residential windows, and 2×6 stud walls ready for insulation. The sharp roof pitch provides standing headroom in the upstairs bedroom area.
Structure Details
- Size: 14 x 30 feet
- Stories: Two (main floor plus loft)
- Builder: Amish construction
- Type: Pre-built shed/cabin shell
- Access: Full interior staircase to loft
- Windows: Single-hung residential style
- Framing: 2 x 6 studs
- Finish Options: Insulation, tongue and groove pine, or drywall
Log Cabin Shed Exterior
Images via YouTube/TheeAmishMarket
[continue reading…]
{ }
Composting toilets transform human waste into usable soil through natural decomposition, eliminating the need for plumbing connections and saving significant water. This guide explains the complete process from collection to finished humanure, including urine separation, odor control with sawdust, and the one-year composting timeline that kills pathogens and produces garden-ready material.
System Components
- Toilet Unit: DIY or commercial composting toilet
- Urine Separator: Optional diverter for separate liquid collection
- Cover Material: Sawdust or wood shavings for odor control
- Collection Container: Removable bucket or bin
- Composting Bins: Outdoor containers for 1-year processing
- Access Door: External opening for easy bucket removal
DIY Composting Toilet Design
Video via Laura Allen/Greywater Guerillas and Kirsten Dirksen/Faircompanies
[continue reading…]
{ }
Tiny houses serve practical business purposes beyond personal housing, including guest accommodations for retreat centers, attention-generating marketing displays, and income-producing rental units. The Milarepa Center Buddhist retreat in Vermont built a tiny house for teacher and student housing, demonstrating how organizations use small structures cost-effectively.
Business Applications
- Guest Housing: Accommodations for teachers, students, or clients
- Retreat Cabins: Private spaces for meditation or wellness centers
- Marketing Attraction: Portable display units that draw attention to events
- Rental Income: Short or long-term rental units on existing property
- Employee Housing: On-site accommodations for staff
Milarepa Center Tiny House
Milarepa Center, Barnet, Vermont
[continue reading…]
{ }
This motorized hideaway bed transforms from a bookcase wall unit into a complete sleeping area in 35 seconds via remote control. Unlike traditional murphy beds that require manual folding, this system uses electric motors to slide the bed out from behind the shelving unit. The mechanism keeps the bed horizontal throughout deployment.
System Features
- Operation: Remote control activation
- Deployment Time: 35 seconds
- Mechanism: Motorized slide-out (not fold-down)
- Hidden Storage: Concealed behind functional bookcase
- Bed Position: Remains horizontal during deployment
- Manufacturer: The Concealed Bed Company
Bookcase Mode – Bed Hidden
[continue reading…]
{ }
Dustin Diedricksen and his wife Dawn live in an 850 square foot small house that demonstrates how couples and growing families can thrive in compact spaces. The home features an upstairs sleeping loft and delivers significant benefits: lower rent or mortgage payments, reduced utilities, faster payoff potential, and simplified maintenance.
House Details
- Size: 850 square feet
- Occupants: Couple (growing family)
- Features: Upstairs sleeping loft
- Benefits: Lower expenses, reduced utilities, simple lifestyle
- Connection: Brother of Derek “Deek” Diedricksen (RelaxShax)
Upstairs Sleeping Loft
[continue reading…]
{ }
Moving to a smaller house or apartment can save thousands of dollars annually in housing costs. Reducing monthly rent or mortgage payments from $1,473 to $550 creates over $11,000 in yearly savings. Even modest downsizing from $900 to $650 monthly yields $3,000 annually. These savings can fund retirement, business ventures, debt payoff, or family goals.
Downsizing Financial Impact
- Aggressive Downsizing: $1,473 to $550/month = $11,076 annual savings
- Moderate Downsizing: $900 to $650/month = $3,000 annual savings
- Additional Savings: Lower utilities, less maintenance, reduced insurance
- Potential Uses: Retirement savings, business capital, debt reduction, education funds
Small House Example
[continue reading…]
{ }
This curated collection showcases five distinct small house designs, each under 500 square feet, demonstrating the variety possible in compact living. From budget builds to garage conversions to transformer apartments, these homes offer ideas for interior design, space optimization, and downsizing inspiration.
Featured Small Houses
- 400 SF Budget House: Affordable small house construction
- Mushroom Dome Cabin: Unique geodesic design in wooded setting
- 320 SF Garage Conversion: Modern minimalist studio transformation
- Tiny Apartment Houses: Small urban dwelling interiors
- Multifunctional Apartment: Transformer-style convertible spaces
400 SF Budget House
View the 400 SF Budget House
[continue reading…]
{ }
