Launched just last October, Driftwood Homes USA has already garnered attention for their sharp design and beautiful finishes. Simply Enough was fortunate enough to tour two Driftwood models at the 2016 Tiny House Conference in Asheville, NC. We loved their builds and knew we wanted to stay in touch. We asked Susan Gunyou, head of sales and marketing for Driftwood, to tell us a little more about their work.
Why build tiny?
There are so many reasons for people to consider building tiny from the economics to the freedom it allows. People are looking for ways that they can make their lives less complicated so that they have more time to enjoy life.
How many tiny homes have you built at this point?
We are in the process of building our third tiny home with several more in the design phase. Driftwood is a relatively new tiny home company since we just started building last October. Our parent company, Brighton Builders, is a custom home building company and serves as an inspiration for some of our tiny home ideas.
Who's buying your builds? Couples? Families?
Our primary interest has been from couples, followed by singles and then small families. The age range has varied from early 20s up to 70s.
Have your clients asked for any particularly challenging custom design elements?
We haven't run in to too much that's exceptionally challenging yet. There is a plan we are working on that will have a rooftop porch accessible from the loft and the exterior. On our Indigo plan, we needed to work in the wheel well in the bathroom. It worked out great, though, because we ended up putting a shelf in the ceramic tile shower.
What are some space savers you've worked into your homes?
Some of the ways we have maximized the space have been to add recessed wall niches for storage, drop leaf tables, stair storage and a murphy bed that converts to a desk. Utilization of pocket doors and barn doors has also been helpful in conserving space.
Are there things you're doing differently now that you've built more tiny homes?
We learn something new with each plan that we build and design to make it more functional and efficient. One area that we are adjusting is maximizing the best use of headroom for the loft and the area underneath. We also continue to look for ways to take full advantage of any ways to provide extra storage.
You can learn more about Driftwood Homes on their website, or by following them on Facebook. On the fence about going tiny? Ask for their free guide, "10 Reasons to Go Tiny."
Why build tiny?
There are so many reasons for people to consider building tiny from the economics to the freedom it allows. People are looking for ways that they can make their lives less complicated so that they have more time to enjoy life.
How many tiny homes have you built at this point?
We are in the process of building our third tiny home with several more in the design phase. Driftwood is a relatively new tiny home company since we just started building last October. Our parent company, Brighton Builders, is a custom home building company and serves as an inspiration for some of our tiny home ideas.
Who's buying your builds? Couples? Families?
Our primary interest has been from couples, followed by singles and then small families. The age range has varied from early 20s up to 70s.
Have your clients asked for any particularly challenging custom design elements?
We haven't run in to too much that's exceptionally challenging yet. There is a plan we are working on that will have a rooftop porch accessible from the loft and the exterior. On our Indigo plan, we needed to work in the wheel well in the bathroom. It worked out great, though, because we ended up putting a shelf in the ceramic tile shower.
What are some space savers you've worked into your homes?
Some of the ways we have maximized the space have been to add recessed wall niches for storage, drop leaf tables, stair storage and a murphy bed that converts to a desk. Utilization of pocket doors and barn doors has also been helpful in conserving space.
Are there things you're doing differently now that you've built more tiny homes?
We learn something new with each plan that we build and design to make it more functional and efficient. One area that we are adjusting is maximizing the best use of headroom for the loft and the area underneath. We also continue to look for ways to take full advantage of any ways to provide extra storage.
You can learn more about Driftwood Homes on their website, or by following them on Facebook. On the fence about going tiny? Ask for their free guide, "10 Reasons to Go Tiny."