Gypsy wagons have a romantic appeal that most tiny dwellings can only aspire to. There’s something about the curved rooflines, the compact self-contained interiors, and the connection to a centuries-old nomadic tradition that makes them feel less like a house and more like a story you can sleep inside.
Wooly Wagons, based in Russiaville, Indiana, has been building custom gypsy wagons, sheep wagons, tiny houses, and mobile dwellings since 2008. Founded by Steve Auth — a craftsman with over 40 years of building experience and a background as a horse owner and rancher — the company specializes in lightweight, towable structures built with welded aluminum framing and spray foam insulation.
The wagon featured here is one of Wooly Wagons’ signature builds: a sheepherder-style gypsy wagon that packs a surprising amount of functionality into a footprint just 14 feet long and 8 feet wide.
Photos Courtesy of Wooly Wagons
[continue reading…]
{ }
If you could point to a single structure that ignited the modern tiny house movement, this would be a strong contender. Jay Shafer’s original Tumbleweed tiny house — built between 1997 and 1999 — was a radical experiment: could a person live comfortably and with dignity in just 89 square feet?
The answer, as Shafer proved by living in the house himself, was yes. That proof of concept didn’t just change his life. It launched a company (Tumbleweed Tiny House Company), inspired a generation of builders, and helped create the cultural framework we now call the tiny house movement.
In this video tour, Derek “Deek” Diedricksen — author of Humble Homes, Simple Shacks, host of HGTV’s Tiny Yellow House, and one of the tiny house community’s most recognizable voices — walks through the original Tumbleweed and gives us an inside look at where it all began.
Photo Courtesy of Derek Diedricksen via YouTube
[continue reading…]
{ }
The tiny house movement didn’t emerge from a single moment — it grew from a network of passionate individuals who were building, documenting, and sharing their experiences long before tiny living hit the mainstream. This collection highlights three of those early voices, each of whom played a distinct role in shaping the movement as we know it today.
From Derek “Deek” Diedricksen’s wildly creative micro shelters built for as little as $200, to Dee Williams’ seven-year journey living in her own tiny house, to the documentary filmmakers who set out to capture it all on film — these stories represent the grassroots energy that made tiny house living a cultural phenomenon.
Photo by Alex Pino
[continue reading…]
{ }
A radio interview with Dee Williams, author of Go House Go, was just published how she has been living in a tiny house for 7 years.
She was interviewed on Earth Beat by Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Dee has gone from 1,500 square feet to a tiny house on a trailer that consists of just 84 square feet.
Dee Williams has been Living in a Tiny House for Seven Years
In the interview, Dee explains how her only living expense is a $7 per month propane bill. Her water comes from the tap from her neighbor, who’s backyard she’s parked in. In exchange, Dee barters her time.
Thanks to her low living expenses she only has to work part-time which frees her up to do what she loves and help the people around her. According to the interview, Dee owns about 305 things, if you count everything.
Seven Years in a Tiny House
Listen in to the interview so you can hear someone’s direct experiences on living in a tiny house for seven years, including…
- Reasons why she loves living tiny
- Why she could go even smaller
- Her biggest surprises since downsizing
Photo Courtesy of Dee Williams
[continue reading…]
{ }
Doing laundry in a tiny house doesn’t have to mean trips to the laundromat. Today’s washer-dryer combos and compact laundry solutions are better than ever, with 120V plug-in options, ventless drying technology, and sizes that fit in even the smallest spaces.
Whether you live in a tiny house on wheels, a container home, a van conversion, or a small apartment, there’s a laundry solution that fits your space and budget. We’ve researched the best options available and organized them from full-featured combos down to ultra-portable hand-powered alternatives.
Don’t miss other useful tiny house resources like this one – join our FREE Tiny House Newsletter!
Best Washer-Dryer Combos for Tiny Houses
These all-in-one machines wash AND dry in a single unit, saving you the most space. No need for two separate appliances.
1. LG WM3555HVA – Best Compact Combo for Tiny Houses
Image courtesy of LG
[continue reading…]
{ }
What happens when a couple sets out to build a teardrop trailer and lets their creativity take over? You get the Love Shack — a king-sized bed disguised as a tiny house on a trailer, built in just 2.5 weeks as a rolling art project.
Built by a couple from British Columbia, the Love Shack started as a joke: “Wouldn’t it be cool if our teardrop looked like a little shack?” Two and a half weeks later, they had a fully insulated, road-ready tiny shelter and hit the road for an open-ended adventure.
Don’t miss other interesting tiny homes like this one – join our FREE Tiny House Newsletter for more!
A King-Sized Bed on a Trailer
Images courtesy of Napalm Dragon
[continue reading…]
{ }
TINY: A Story About Living Small is a documentary that followed Christopher Smith as he built a tiny house from scratch in the mountains of Colorado — with no prior building experience. The film also explored the lives of other families across America who had downsized into homes under 400 square feet, asking the question: “What really makes a house feel like a home?”
Created by filmmakers Christopher Smith and Merete Mueller, TINY became one of the early catalysts of the tiny house movement, showing audiences that building your own small home was not only possible but deeply rewarding. The documentary resonated with people who were rethinking what “home” really means.
Don’t miss other interesting tiny homes like this one – join our FREE Tiny House Newsletter for more!
Christopher’s DIY Tiny House in Colorado
Photos courtesy of Merete Mueller
[continue reading…]
{ }
Epcot’s World Showcase at Walt Disney World is home to some of the most architecturally diverse small structures you’ll find anywhere. From Scandinavian-style tiny houses to Viking-inspired buildings and Asian-influenced designs, the pavilions offer a world tour of compact architecture — and plenty of inspiration for anyone dreaming of building small.
These photos capture dozens of tiny houses, small shops, and unique design details found throughout Epcot’s World Showcase. Whether you’re looking for exterior design ideas, door inspiration, or creative approaches to small-scale building, there’s something here for everyone.
Don’t miss other interesting tiny homes like this one – join our FREE Tiny House Newsletter for more!
Scandinavian-Style Tiny House
[continue reading…]
{ }
I was excited to have an email from Victor Summers from Simple Shelter Texas about one of his latest small rustic cabins.
He calls it an eco-retreat because it sits on 40 acres off the grid in the San Luis Valley in south-central Colorado.
So yes, there are amazing views of the Sangre de Cristro Mountains from the cabin.
Small Rustic Cabin on 40 Acres with Mountain Views for Sale
Victor asked me to let you know that the cabin, along with the property, is up for sale for $275,000.
But if you tell him you saw this post he’ll reduce the price to $225,000. So tell him Alex, from TinyHouseTalk.com sent you if you happen to be interested.
Photos Courtesy of Victor Summers
The 650-square-foot cabin is miles away from the electrical grid and sits at about 8500′ elevation in the southern part of Colorado.
[continue reading…]
{ }
