I expect that there are many answers to this question: What is the smallest home that functions well as a full time residence for one or two people?
In my mind, this includes:
At least one closet (missing in many small home designs), but probably two;
A full size or 3/4 size kitchen that you can make Christmas cookies in (not just microwave meals);
Separate spaces for sleeping, lounging and dining (not necessarily separated by walls); and
A utility "room" for a washer/dryer and a heating source (it's cold where I live).
Imagine that you had to live in this space for 10, 20, 30 years or more. Really a home.
I have viewed many small house designs and have come to suspect that you need, minimally, at least 250 sq feet per person for a fully functional, full-time home to live in permanently. I also suspect that a garage would greatly enhance your ability to really live comfortably in the home.
I like the 20x30 single floor design on this website. I looks like a very liveable space. I also like the Tiny House designs by Shafer, but he admitedly "doesn't cook" and apparently doesn't come home from work with a stack of mail in one hand, a bag of groceries in the other and fall exhausted onto his couch. I'd like to see more small home designs aimed at real people, with real lives who want to live more simply, but still live comfortably.
What do you think?
Our main living area - studio apartment area of the underground complex is about 17x 28 - and although we have a lot more space here it would be suitable if we were limited to it, I think.
The one we are building is just a tad under 400 sf for 2 people and has all the things you mentioned. http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=3419.0 (http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=3419.0) I'm planning to do a seperate garage later.
Scott, your beautiful cabin took my breath away. It's really gorgeous. Very well done.
I like the size and the unique floor plan. A ship's ladder and sleeping loft wouldn't work well for me (my knees are too unforgiving at this late stage), but otherwise it looks very liveable.
I love the roofline and the little covered porch area. Really, it's just stunning.
wow, that is a beautiful cabin
for us, husband, one 6 year old, and a part time teenager (she lives with her father)
its hard in the RV
thank god for the slide-out, some friend have an older one with no pop-out, andi dont
know how they do it
we're looking at the 1 1/2 story and we're gonna add the entire length porch along the long side
maby go 8' out, so that it really feels like a "room"
we're in south/east texas, so we expect it to be a three season type livable "room"
maby adding a porch would extend your living space if even for a season, it might help
you feel like your in a bigger space
honestly, tho, in such a small space as the RV, its hard to have an argument
i've got no place to go if i need to "get away"
but on the plus side, since being in the RV, we're really come to realize how much stuff we
don't need
i don't buy nearly the crap i used to buy living in a big house
i think its been good for our shopping habits, not having all that space to fill up with stuff
tesa
I went for a bigger plan because of a home office and the need for guest and yoga/taichi space, but I'm sure that 400 to 600 square feet would accommodate a compatible couple. I like an "away" place myself, but with lofts, movable dividers, etc., you can create that.
There's also the challenge of storage versus windows and visual space. Skylights and one great big window can help here. Is underfloor storage a possibility here (root cellar)? I'm with you on the big kitchen, especially if there are two cooks.
Custom furniture can stretch your space. One of our friends built a couch surrounded by shelves and cabinets on three sides. It worked great and replaced a whole room full of furniture. He put it in the middle of the room.
If you're building somewhere that requires permits, there are some issues with minimum room size.
Look at some of the early bungalow designs with disappearing beds and other clever ways to make a small home livable. Henry L. Wilson, "California Bungalows of the Twenties," page 61, actually has a bedroomless plan with two large walk in closets and a living room/dining room, separated by pocket doors, that both access the outdoors, connect to the bathroom, and convert into bedrooms. It's about 600 square feet. I posted the picture and plans back when, but can't find it.