Comments on: Small Family Birdhouse http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/2010/07/28/small-family-birdhouse/ more attainable & sustainable Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:19:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael Janzen http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/2010/07/28/small-family-birdhouse/comment-page-1/#comment-6518 Michael Janzen Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:54:32 +0000 http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/?p=5193#comment-6518 Hi Heather, I don't think there is a 'right size' that can be calculated for a family because it depends so much on the family. A few of wrote about it a while back: http://smalllivingjournal.com/category/issue-7-living-people-small-spaces/ I personally think that thinking modularly (multiple tiny houses) is the way to go, but this probably doesn't with young kids since you want to be near them. I have a post or two in the works with some detailed idead for families, so stay tuned. -Michael Hi Heather,

I don’t think there is a ‘right size’ that can be calculated for a family because it depends so much on the family. A few of wrote about it a while back: http://smalllivingjournal.com/category/issue-7-living-people-small-spaces/

I personally think that thinking modularly (multiple tiny houses) is the way to go, but this probably doesn’t with young kids since you want to be near them.

I have a post or two in the works with some detailed idead for families, so stay tuned.

-Michael

]]> By: andrea http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/2010/07/28/small-family-birdhouse/comment-page-1/#comment-6510 andrea Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:56:29 +0000 http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/?p=5193#comment-6510 I think much of this depends on your philosophy of parenting and lifestyle. My son has always slept me didn't get his own room unit he was almost 7. We never had a change table, a swing etc, so the number of feet he took up was minimal. Now he is in school, and is getting to the age where he needs a computer at home to do research etc, and so we'll need to accommodate this. I really think it is about rationalizing rather making extreme attempts at minimization. His room is 6x6. It is small but it is his. I have spent a great deal of time contemplating how to ensure my son's emotional well being in all of this, and hence the reason he has been a huge part of the planning. There are things that are "cool" that he can show off to his friends. He takes pride in our tiny house, rather than feeling ashamed or isolated by it. It really is a fine balance when raising kids, and I am trying to give him the skills and insight that many kids don't get, while making sure he has the skills and insight that kids of his generation need in order to achieve their dreams. (hopefully in a much less consumer oriented world). I think much of this depends on your philosophy of parenting and lifestyle. My son has always slept me didn’t get his own room unit he was almost 7. We never had a change table, a swing etc, so the number of feet he took up was minimal. Now he is in school, and is getting to the age where he needs a computer at home to do research etc, and so we’ll need to accommodate this. I really think it is about rationalizing rather making extreme attempts at minimization. His room is 6×6. It is small but it is his. I have spent a great deal of time contemplating how to ensure my son’s emotional well being in all of this, and hence the reason he has been a huge part of the planning. There are things that are “cool” that he can show off to his friends. He takes pride in our tiny house, rather than feeling ashamed or isolated by it. It really is a fine balance when raising kids, and I am trying to give him the skills and insight that many kids don’t get, while making sure he has the skills and insight that kids of his generation need in order to achieve their dreams. (hopefully in a much less consumer oriented world).

]]> By: Heather Morgan http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/2010/07/28/small-family-birdhouse/comment-page-1/#comment-6502 Heather Morgan Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:43:09 +0000 http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/?p=5193#comment-6502 Hi there, I am quite new to this concept of tiny houses and extreme downsizing. My husband showed me the Tumbleweed Homes site about three weeks ago, and I can't get the idea off my mind. The trouble is, we are thinking of starting a family. So, I feel extra pressure to know what I'm getting into before there's a child involved. I know it's more about the concept of downsizing rather than just square footage, but at this point it would be really nice to wrap my mind around some numbers. Can anyone suggest a site that helps you calculate how much space you need for a family of 3-4, based on your interests and how you plan to use the space? I'd be so appreciative. Thanks! Hi there, I am quite new to this concept of tiny houses and extreme downsizing. My husband showed me the Tumbleweed Homes site about three weeks ago, and I can’t get the idea off my mind. The trouble is, we are thinking of starting a family. So, I feel extra pressure to know what I’m getting into before there’s a child involved. I know it’s more about the concept of downsizing rather than just square footage, but at this point it would be really nice to wrap my mind around some numbers. Can anyone suggest a site that helps you calculate how much space you need for a family of 3-4, based on your interests and how you plan to use the space? I’d be so appreciative. Thanks!

]]> By: alice http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/2010/07/28/small-family-birdhouse/comment-page-1/#comment-6453 alice Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:23:38 +0000 http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/?p=5193#comment-6453 Maybe there's some calculation that determines a small house, involving square foot per person, plus an incremental amount of free or common space depending on a variety of factors like home schooling, home business etc. I'm sort of joking, but there's probably a continuum based on similar input. If you had 10 kids all living at home your small house would not be the same as one for 2 kids, but not all 10 kid families would need the same amount of space because of the way you use the space. Maybe there’s some calculation that determines a small house, involving square foot per person, plus an incremental amount of free or common space depending on a variety of factors like home schooling, home business etc. I’m sort of joking, but there’s probably a continuum based on similar input. If you had 10 kids all living at home your small house would not be the same as one for 2 kids, but not all 10 kid families would need the same amount of space because of the way you use the space.

]]> By: Michael Janzen http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/2010/07/28/small-family-birdhouse/comment-page-1/#comment-6450 Michael Janzen Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:30:56 +0000 http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/?p=5193#comment-6450 Hi Natalee... two teenagers? Yep I bet that feels like a very small house :-) LOL... jk Hi Natalee… two teenagers? Yep I bet that feels like a very small house :-)

LOL… jk

]]> By: Natalee http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/2010/07/28/small-family-birdhouse/comment-page-1/#comment-6448 Natalee Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:28:00 +0000 http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/?p=5193#comment-6448 My family of four, including two teenagers, lives in 880 sq ft. Does that constitute a tiny home? My family of four, including two teenagers, lives in 880 sq ft. Does that constitute a tiny home?

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