Plan Picker - I want to
build:
(click the arrow to the right side of this list and a menu of plans will
drop down.)
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Little
House Plans (for backyard studio or starter home plans)
Complete building plans for three size buildings - 10'x 14',
12'x 18' and 14'x 24' (drawing). Customize your own layout. Two roof
styles - one with a walking roof deck and the other with a sleeping loft.
Easy to build no-concrete post and pier foundation and 2x4 wall construction.
Lowest cost structure.
Perfect for an owner-builder camping cabin, back yard guest cottage or that
starter house for the homestead.
Retreat
Cabin (A "how-to-build" example)
Step-by-step photos of a simple 10'x14' cabin my two
sons and I built for about $1400.
The hip roofed cottage at left is an example of modifications that
were done by one builder who sells these as backyard retreat and play houses. |
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Builder's Cottage Plans
For year round living or easy code approval upgrade the Little House plan
to an all-season 14'x24' cottage. Click the image for floorplans and more
information. This house has a concrete perimeter foundation and better
insulation. Highest quality construction at reasonable cost. Best plan for
year-round living. Very energy and space efficient design. Easy simple plan
for quick code approval.
This plan is part of the
Big Enchilada kit
below which includes many possible customizations and additional
options for additions and exansions.
For an example, see
Victoria's Cottage
Progress photos. Roll down almost to the end. The Builder's Cottage
is being built as the guest cottage. |
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The
Big Enchilada Plans Kit
Our most popular combination plans set for the owner-builder or owner-designer.
Allows unlimited expansion and customization of any cabin or cottage up to
14' wide and any length.
When you order the big Enchilada you get all this:
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The Builder's Cottage plans (See above.)
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The Little House Plans kit
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The Sunroom, Greenhouse and Skylight plans
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A special book of bonus details and building tips you use to customize
your plans.
Click
HERE
or on the image for more information. |
The Concept |
The Reality |
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Victoria's Cottage
Click the title or images to see the plan for a 16' wide little house
with 12' high sidewalls with an open interior and a full sized loft with
two rooms. Energy efficient R-30 roof, and 2x6, R-21 walls.
Click
Progress photos for shots of this house under construction. (It
also has a 14x24 Builder's Cottage out back). |
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Grandfather Cottage plans
A two bedroom cottage home with an easy-to-build truss framed roof. This
efficient plan uses an inexpensive but well-insulated slab-on-grade
foundation for heat storage from the south facing windows. R-21 walls
& R-38 roof.
Volks Cottage plans
An alternative floor plan for a one-story two bedroom cottage. Slightly larger
but still under 1000 sf. |
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20' wide Cottage Home plans
Three different versions of a basic 20' wide floor plan allow a simple cottage
to evolve into a full sized expandable farmhouse.
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Upgrade plans and tools for use with any house
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Sunroom, Greenhouse & Skylight Plans
An inexpensive technique for adding solar heat and light
to any project. Build your own sunrooms, skylights, and window walls using
standard wood working tools. The key is using tempered insulated glass from
sliding glass doors and a special hi-tech glazing tape. Click the drawing
or the title above for more information.
Also - an income opportunity for small home
builders. |

SUNKIT
(Sun Charting & Simple solar design kit.)
Downloadable PDF file - print and use today, or order the
booklet. |
Sunkit site evaluation and solar energy
optimizing tools. Use simple passive solar, sun tempering and other techniques
such as a sunroom to increase energy efficiency of a new home at little or
no additional construction cost. (This two story sunroom uses tempered
sliding glass door panels and the
Sunroom glazing plans
above. This is only one of the simple solar strategies explained in the
Sunkit.)
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Learn simple, low-cost solar heating and cooling strategies that work anywhere
in the U.S.
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Evaluate solar potential of any property (even before you buy!)
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How to evaluate your site and find the sunniest place to build or install
PV or other solar collectors.
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Adjust your plans and maximize window areas to best fit the local climate.
(This costs Nothing!)
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Building Resources
and Help |
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The Owner-Built
Gallery
Where owners show their work. Updated
Photos 1/12/04 (Nyikos barn).
Other direct links: Cleghorn
cabin,
Nash
cabin,
The Missouri House Journal ,
Carol's
"Little House In Bynum" - w/ conc. piers. |

BOOKS (on Land, Home design & Building) |
Our Best web links
to other sites and on-line building resources. |
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Books, software & resources
The best books on country home building with short reviews
of each. These are the ones you will want to own.
Best Web Links |

TALK
(Discussion group) |
TALK
Small home and alternative building discussion
group. Ask questions or look up answers using the search
feature. |