Supersize me.
Go big or go home.
Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.
Less is more.
Which philosophy best defines you? I confess I can go both ways. The idea of shedding all of the stuff that weighs us down is very appealing. But then again, our prized possessions can define our lives and tell our story. So, could you imagine living in a house that is 393 square feet? You might…if it looked like this one.
Millennials on HGTV are making “tiny houses” out of items like old shipping containers in order to spend their money on travel and experience. Some have no desire to “acquire” things to maintain. (My hunch is you would not be reading this blog if you were one of those folks). After my own well documented experience in an RV years ago, I can state for a fact that I need some space. At my age, the hair product alone takes up a fair amount of room. But last weekend I saw this model home at the Cashiers Designer Showhouse and it really intrigued me.
Wait. Did I tell you it’s a manufactured home? While it has been an accepted trend nation wide for quite some time, in the south it certainly conjures up images of alien abductions and tornado targets. But add one of my favorite architects (Jeffrey Dungan from Alabama) and a beautifully designed and well appointed tiny home, and you’ve got a whole new concept in living. Or for me, maybe just “weekend getaway” living.
Small spaces, when designed well, can look deceptively simple. But as the architect states, at this scale (much like yacht design) you design by the square inch and not the square foot. When a space is small, everything matters. And while done with quality materials, the budget is equally small. You may have this design, or four other options, delivered and installed on the property of your choice for $100,000.
Maybe Mies van der Rohe was right. Less can be more.