Micro living 40 innovative tiny houses equipped for full-time living, in 400 square feet or less

The tiny-house movement is a social and architectural philosophy that advocates living in very small freestanding houses (as opposed to multiunit dwellings) with goals including simple living, eco-consciousness, and self-sufficiency. Although the definition varies, this book asserts that to be a tiny house, it must be a small space designed for full-time use and must include a bathroom, comfortable sleeping space, kitchen, and heating/cooling (as required by the local climate). Three size categories are addressed: big tinies (more than 250 square feet), small tinies (150 to 250 square feet), and teeny tinies (under 150 square feet). Each category features profiles of several actual homes, with color photos, floor plans, key statistics, and brief interviews with owners. A handful of essays from tiny-house enthusiasts are scattered throughout, offering advice and a glimpse of their experience. The theme of choosing simplicity and fewer material possessions carries through the book. It is impossible not to notice the privileged position this comes from, as everyone here has the option of choosing and the means with which to build a bespoke home.--Anne Heidemann Copyright 2018 Booklist

This book by tiny house builder and enthusiast Diedricksen (Microshelters) possesses many of the same qualities as the dwellings he loves: it's efficient, functional, and full of fun surprises. Because tucking away the essentials is essential in a small space, he showcases storage underneath stairs, roll-away benches and folding tables, and tucked-away stairs and televisions. The homes themselves aren't the usual builds on trailers, but include treehouses, a houseboat, an Airstream, a bus, a box truck, and a deer stand. Small- and big-house dwellers alike will find ideas for making idiosyncratic connections between the indoors and outdoors via clever decks and porches, expansive window walls, or even a clear floor. The houses also feature the artful use of salvage items-a Gothic church window placed at the back of a cabin; 7,500 bottles used as bricks. The book's guest contributors, such as Ryan Nicodemus, who recounts his path to minimalism, and Michelle Boyle, who shares rules for small kitchens, offer additional insights. Diedricksen, who writes passionately about his life's "obsession" and stayed in many of the homes he presents, has a great sense for the kinds of inventive designs that might inspire others to commit to scaling back. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.