Earlier this year, a production company contacted me to ask if I could spread the word that they were looking for tiny houses to feature in the second season of an AOL online channel. After I posted to a few tiny house groups, on a whim I decided to submit our house. Eventually, they contacted me and asked when they could send their camera man.

That was around the time I told Bill about the whole thing. How I convinced him to go on camera I still don't know. But he did. And for months I've been cringing, thinking about how awkward I felt in front of the camera and dreading the day the show came online. But guess what? The cameraman took incredible shots, and the editors worked their magic cutting our most awkward moments. 

Why put ourselves through this trauma? For the same reason I forced myself to accept an invitation to be interviewed on a tiny house podcast and the same reason we talk at tiny house conferences. It sounds a little evangelical, but we have a message: You can live better with less. If you're happy with a big house and lots of things, I'm happy for you! But, if like us, you find yourself working a job you don't like and spending all your money on your big house and its big bills when you'd rather be off on an adventure, then maybe you, too, will want to Dream Big, Live Small.

All photos and video courtesy of Dream Big, Live Small / AOL.com

​Four years ago, we were thinking about building a tiny house. What got us from "thinking" to "doing"? The Tiny House House Conference.
 
Recently, I wrote a post for The Tiny Life, the blog of conference founder Ryan Mitchell. In my post, I share the story of how attending the conference clinched our resolve to design and build our own house.
 
Two years after that first conference, with our house built, Ryan invited us to speak about our experience. This year marks our third year as speakers at The Tiny House Conference. We'll be talking about off-grid living and tiny house budget and finance. Other speakers will cover design and layout, building techniques, finding land and more. And, just as importantly, you'll get to tour a variety of small dwellings.
 
If you're looking for that nudge to get started on your tiny house, I hope you'll join us in Charlotte, NC, this March 17th and 18th.

The images below are from the 2017 Tiny House Conference in Portland, OR.

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Bill and I have had the pleasure of being fellow speakers with Ethan Waldman at the last two Tiny House Conferences, and both our homes were featured in a Fiscal Times article in 2016. Ethan began building his tiny house in rural Vermont in 2012. He started a blog when the house was still just an idea and, today, that blog has thousands of readers. Ethan's two eBooks, Tiny House Decisions and Tiny House Parking, have been praised by readers for their practical tips and extensive research. His latest project, Tiny House Engage, is an online support group for people researching or building tiny houses. 
 
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Simply Enough: Can you tell us a little about what inspired you to go tiny?
Ethan Waldman: For me, it was mostly a financial decision, but wound up being a lifestyle decision. I was working a corporate job that wasn’t making me very happy, and I really wanted to have my own business. But I just couldn’t imagine supporting myself through starting a new business with the monthly expenses I had at the time. I looked at everything and realized that rent was my biggest monthly expense. When I saw Tammy Strobel’s blog (rowdykittens.com) and was introduced to the tiny house on wheels concept, I knew it was the answer to my problem. 

Your house is beautiful. I think you worked with someone on your design. How did you decide to go that route and how did that collaboration work?
I worked with Milford Cushman (cushmandesigngroup.com). I initially purchased a set of plans and was all set to build them. Milford is a family friend who knew about my intentions to build a tiny house. Over dinner at my parents house, I showed him the plans and he offered to work with me on designing something for me. I brought him and his team photos of many different tiny houses I loved and they started sketching from there. 
 
Your plans are available for sale on you site. Have you seen any houses built with your plans? 
 I just started selling the plans in mid 2016, so I haven’t seen any completed houses yet. I can’t wait, though!

You built your house yourself. Did you have help for any of the build? What surprised you about the building process?
I did hire a local carpenter to help, which turned out to be a really smart decision. I worked the first three months alone and barely made any progress. Once Jason and I started working together I had someone who could teach me as we went a long. I still did a lot of work on my own but having someone to call and consult with was a huge confidence builder. I was shocked by just how much work it is. Even though the house is small, there are points along the way where the tasks just feel like endless chores. And then, all of a sudden, you’re done. 

What do you like the most about your house after living in it for some time now? What's something you would do differently if you were starting over?
I love all the windows. Even though they make the house slightly harder to heat, all of the natural light inside the house is amazing. If I was starting over, I’d consider a shed roof to maximize head room in my loft. 

One of your tag lines is "Build your tiny house smarter and faster!" Can you give us one "build smarter" tip and one "build faster" tip?
You can build faster by building smarter. All by planning your build in advance! Know what appliances you’re using, what colors you're painting, and what cabinets you’re using before you start. Make your tiny house decisions before you start so you can focus on getting the job done.

Please tell us a little about your latest project, Tiny House Engage?
It’s been an adventure! The idea is to create a community of people who can help each other along their tiny house journeys. Plus, we do a live call each week (sometimes Q&A, sometimes with guests!) and those calls get recorded and put into the growing video training library. We have a group of about 50 people and I’d estimate that at least 10 of them are currently building tiny houses. It’s fun to connect with people who are in the thick of things with their projects. People can learn more and find out when registration opens next at http://thetinyhouse.net/tiny-house-engage. 

I've had a few people contact me recently, asking my advice on their tiny house aspirations. I love talking tiny and sharing what I know; that's why we have this blog. I want to illuminate the path to more sustainable living any way I can. But I also find myself writing the same message again and again, sending the same links to online resources, mentioning the same workshops, conferences and books, recommending the same newsletters and magazines.

So here's the start on a list of resources I turned to when we were getting started. It's not going to be exhaustive—just what I think of first. I'll post again on other helpful resources, but today's resource is tiny house blogs. Find free plans, read "lessons learned," get ideas for space savers, learn the ropes of composting, read the pros and cons of lofted beds and so on and on and on.

• Tiny House Build: Andrew and Gabriella Morrison designed and built their own fabulous tiny house. Recent blogs feature floor plan design, composting toilets and tiny house insurance. On the site, you can also get a free e-course, buy their house plans and sign up for one of their workshops. The Morrisons also post on the work they're doing to try to get building codes a little more tiny-friendly.

 

• The Tiny Life: Ryan Mitchell not only built the tiny house he lives in, he's built a tiny empire! He's written books/eBooks on tiny house electrical and zoning, retirement and reclaimed materials, as well as founding and running the annual Tiny House Conference. His blogs cover nuts and bolts (toilets, storage), lifestyle, resources and more. I like the variety—everything from specs on hot water heaters to big thoughts on how we spend our time.

 

• Tiny House, Giant Journey: Jenna Spesard and her partner made traveling the country towing a tiny house look like a breeze—so, if you're planning on moving around with your tiny, you won't find a better resource than some of her older blogs. These days, Jenna's house is parked, and she writes about tiny living and adventure travel. Some of the blogs that helped me in my tiny journey: her detailed materials/cost list and posts on biodegradable products.

 

• The Tiny House: Ethan Waldman's tiny house is beautiful. You'll want to look at pictures of it, but you'll also find a compendium of resources, building and product details, preparing a house for winter, and on and on. Ethan's also the author of Tiny House Decisions, which can take you through the process of going tiny step by step.

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• The Tiny Project: Alek Lisefski reviews everything from toilets to trailers on his blog. Plus, you'll find building tips, finance ideas, two free e-books to get you started and an amazing list of tiny house resources. Alex is part of the Tiny House Collaborative, which offers workshops, and he sells complete plans for his mighty fine little house.

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Before we built our house with boards and nails, we built it over and over again in our dreams. I would literally go to sleep wondering about where to put the sink and wake up the next morning with a new idea for the kitchen layout. So when I met tiny house builder Robin Hayes and she gave me one of her construction pencils, I loved—and identified with—the words printed on it: "Dream big, build tiny."

That's Robin Hayes' motto. With more than 30 years of construction experience she can build the tiny house of your dreams...but what she enjoys more is teaching people to construct their own tiny dream houses. I've written before about Robin's workshops. She's holding the next one October 7-9, 2016, in Berryville, Virginia. Participants work on at least two tiny houses in different phases of construction, learning about framing, roofing, wiring, plumbing and more. Construction novices can arrive a day early for a Beginner's Tool Workshop. I don't know of a better way to learn the ropes.

We'll be stopping by the workshop to talk about our build and life in a tiny house. Get more information about the workshop at Build Tiny. And even if you can't make it to the workshop, keep dreaming big.

Photos by Thom Stanton, courtesy of Build Tiny.

For a dozen years, small-space dwellers have had a daily dose of inspiration–Apartment Therapy. The website lists its mission (helping people make their homes more "beautiful, organized and healthy") and its goal (improving homes while reducing "reliance on stuff"), plus a "What We Believe" section, where the website lists four tenants to which I'll add my humble belief vote:

• A calm, healthy, beautiful home is a necessary foundation for happiness and success in the world.
• Creating this home doesn't require large amounts of money or space. It requires inspiration, connection to resources and motivation to do something about it.
• The basic elements of good home design can be learned and achieved by all.
• Simplicity and luxury are not mutually exclusive.

Since my daughter introduced me to the site, I've been hooked. Apartment Therapy advocates nothing more passionately than intentional living. What makes you feel good? What suits the way you want to live in the world? I love the pieces on color, the tips for organizing, the DIY features and, naturally, the small space highlights. And did I mention the photography? Wide-angle, light-splashed, perfectly framed images of a thousand places I'd happily live. 

After countless hours of drifting and clicking my way through the site over the past year, one day I noticed the "submit a story" link on the site. So, maybe, just maybe, if I could interest Apartment Therapy in our tiny house, they'd send a photographer out to our wee abode to take "real" pictures of the space. Late one night, I jotted down a few thoughts, attached a few pictures and submitted my "story."

I didn't hear anything for a couple weeks. Then I got an email that our story would be published a few days later. What? I couldn't remember what I'd written. I didn't know what pictures I'd attached. That Saturday a piece came out, and I was relieved to follow the link to see that what I'd written made sense and the pictures I'd sent did justice to the house. The piece was headlined "A Small, Solar-Powered House in the Blue Ridge Mountains." (That made me wish I'd included a picture of our solar panels!)

I'd still love to have an Apartment Therapy photographer show up on our doorstep to take professional shots of our little place. That hasn't happened, but I have enjoyed communicating with the people who have asked questions in the comment section. They've helped me think about our tiny house with new perspective. (I try not to focus on the double responses that show up from me; when my first responses didn't load for a few days, I wrote a second round of replies—only to have both rounds of comments post the next day!)

So, thanks, Apartment Therapy, for all the inspiration...and for including us in your intentional-living discussion.

Robin Hayes of Build Tiny doesn't just build tiny homes; she teaches people how to build their own. And everything in between. 

Hayes has been in the construction business for more than 30 years, building big and small structures. She's a Green-Advantage Certified General Contractor, Master Plumber and Master Gas Pipe Fitter. Just outside Berryville, Va., on her Two Filly Farm, she rents construction sites where people can build their own tiny homes, paying for as much help and consultation from Hayes as they want.

At semi-annual workshops, she leads attendees through the process of building tiny. Not just how-to lectures, these are hands-on affairs with instruction on everything from tool safety to design to construction principles. The next workshop's just around the corner: June 24-26, 2016.

At the workshop, participants will work on at least two tiny homes in progress. One, a 26' gooseneck-trailer model, has its framing in place; so, it's an opportunity to see the bare bones of a house and learn about  wiring, plumbing, roofing and siding a tiny house. Another house, further along in the construction process, will get a bathroom installed during the workshop. Time permitting, participants may help with construction of a subfloor on a third project.

We've had the pleasure of touring Robin's build space and talking to the participants at one of her workshops to answer questions about our own build. I can't think of a better way to learn the ropes of tiny house construction than at one of Robin's workshops. Get more information at the Build Tiny website.

Pictures courtesy of Build Tiny.

Ours has been a gradual downsize. From a house, to an apartment, to a studio. When we decided last year to build our own right-sized home, we toured a couple tiny houses, read articles, searched the Web and doodled countless designs on graph paper—but what really got us started was attending the 2014 Tiny House Conference in Charlotte, NC.

Ryan Mitchell of The Tiny Life has put on an annual conference for several years now. Last year's conference was in Portland, Oregon; this year's is in Asheville, NC. At his conferences, attendees can tour tiny houses, learn from experienced builders and glean invaluable information on products and techniques. We ordered our trailer from one of the conference presenters. We saw an alcohol-burning stove in action—and came home and ordered the same one. We learned framing options and talked about sustainability. Etc., etc., etc. We came home with the ideas and inspiration we needed to put our plan into action.

I'm happy to report that we'll be speakers at this year's Tiny House Conference. If you're thinking about making the move to a tiny house, I hope you'll join us in Asheville April 2-3. Bill and I will be discussing how to budget for and finance a tiny house as well as addressing the not-so-glamorous-but-very-necessary topic of composting toilets.

I've posted a few pictures from the 2014 conference below. If you have any questions about this year's conference, please send us a comment. Registration is open now; hope to see you in Asheville. 

I just learned about a sustainability blog, Made, that's kept me here in front of the computer for hours this morning. 

CustomMade, a web-based company, connects artisans with customers looking for unique, hand-crafted furniture, jewelry and other items. I spent some time clicking through project requests and "maker" profiles, but the real draw for me is the company-sponsored blog. Well-written articles with great graphics cover many of the topics we've been pondering as we build our tiny house—from rainwater collection to up-cycling and chicken raising to renewable energy. I've bookmarked the Made site for regular reading.

Here's one example: an article by Ken Gagnon that offers insight on why one would live in a yurt, along with how-to details that have broader application. 

Around the time Bill and I decided to build a tiny house, we heard about The Tiny House Conference being held in Charlotte, NC. We signed on as volunteers and drove down to meet Ryan Mitchell, organizer of the conference as well as creator of The Tiny Life blog, author of several tiny house tomes and, most recently, cohost of the Tiny House Chat podcast. 

We toured our first tiny houses at the conference, took pages of notes on all sorts of practical considerations we hadn't even been aware of, and got excited alongside other tiny house wannabes. By the time we returned to Virginia, we felt ready to get started. I can't thank Ryan enough for being a big part of that process. Check out some of his tiny house resources below.

An interview with Ryan Mitchell:
What was your introduction to the tiny house movement? One day in 2008, I found myself standing on a curb with my co-workers, holding a box with all the things from my desk and reeling from the sudden announcement our company was closing. Luckily, I was able to find a job quickly, but that feeling of being exposed and vulnerable never really left me. I started looking at my budget and realized housing costs were about half my expenditures every month. I asked myself a crazy question: How could I shrink that? I did some research and discovered tiny houses. After four years of saving money, I began building my own tiny house.

How has your own tiny house build gone? It's been going great, I've moved into my tiny house a while ago and have been enjoying the tiny life!  It of course took longer than I thought to build it and it ended up costing a little more than expected, but all in all I'm very happy with it.  

What's something you'd do differently? I might have considered purchasing a shell, rather than building from scratch, and I think I would have chosen casement windows over awning windows.  

You're hosting your second tiny house conference in Portland this April. What can a prospect tiny houser expect to glean from it? I think people will gain real understanding of the process of building a tiny house.  Two big benefits of attending are connecting with others and getting to ask your questions. Not to mention that you get to see a lot of tiny houses of different styles in one place.  Nothing beats standing in a tiny house.

Any other new ventures you'd like to mention? I recently launched a podcast called Tiny House Chat. We've gotten a lot of positive feedback, and it's been a lot of fun.  

Resources from Ryan Mitchell
The Tiny Life: Features Q&A from Ryan, guest columnists, tiny house ideas and inspirations, practical building advice and more
Books by Ryan: Shockingly Simple Electrical, The New Retirement, Cracking the Code (building codes),  Tiny House Floor Plans
Tiny House Conference: April 18-19, 2015, Portland, OR
Ask the Tiny Life: New Q&A video