Customer Reviews

Tiny Book of Tiny Houses

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Don't expect a tiny book to be more than its cover suggests. Lester Walker is the author of the large and comprehensive book "American Shelter". He has also penned several small books that speak to his own heart including "The Tiny Book of Tiny Houses" (reviewed here) and "Tiny, Tiny Houses." Don't confuse the two, they are each QUITE unique, though both focus on Walker's true love: small dwellings. His architecture business specializes in the design of wee homes. He is a winner of House Beautiful's annual award for design for "Best Small House." I share Walker's bias for little dwellings units, having studied the subject in some detail for my "Minicabin Website" (www.minicabin.com).

The Tiny Book of Tiny Houses is 6 1/2" by 5 1/2", and has just ninety-five pages with big print. There are many photographs (a lot of these by the author), and many of the line drawings that Walker does so well. This book is NOT a plan book or a "how to "book. It is intended to inspire readers to build their own tiny dwellings, and to show (by example) how other people have gone about this rewarding task. Mr. Walker makes the point, and rightly so, that building a tiny house is easy enough that most people can do it.

Many of Walker's ddrawings show the furniture arrangements of the little houses. I found this feature of special interest. With tiny houses (or "Minicabins") thrifty use of space, through arrangement of what is IN that space, can make a large difference in comfort.

Walker presents seventeen mini marvels, ranging in size from 124 square feet (the "Frontier Cabin") to 26 square feet ("Poetry House", a converted privey!). Each tiny house is illustrated with photograph(s) and line drawings along with text and arrows pointing to unique features of construction. Although there is not enough detail given to exactly duplicate any of the houses, most anyone with a little knowledge of basic building techniques could build a tiny house pretty close to any illustrated.

Of special interest to many readers will be Walker's presentation of Henry Thoreau's famous cabin. Unlike most modern carpenters who start by a trip to the lumberyard, Thoreau started by borrowing tools and heading for the woods! The framing studs and rafters were hewn from young pine trees cut in the woods. In his "simple living" fashion Thoreau flattened or squared ONLY as much of a tree as was necessary, even leaving the bark on the tree for the unworked part! Thoreau made his own shingles for covering the outside walls and roof. At a cost of $28.12 1/2 the cabin was a bargain even in 1845. Using the same building/recycling techniques as Thoreau used, the same house could be built in our present day for just about the same cost! Brief framing details as well as furniture placement are illustrated by Mr. Walker.

A number of the houses featured are two-story, or have sleeping lofts. It is interesting to see how various builders have dealt with the problem of access to, and use of, this "high space". Some of the little monoliths were obviously designed and built with great planning and care to be both utilitarian and aesthetically pleasing, such as the adorable studio built by architect and amateur shipwright David Minch. Othere are strictly utilitarian, like the "ice fishing shanty."

If you have an interest in building a small house, guesthouse, or even a children't playhouse, you will find this book helpful. It also makes a nice "coffee table book". Rather than the usual oversized encyclopedia-wanna-be, that takes away space you need for the cinnamon rolls, try this tiny treat on your guests. They will be fascinated, and won't have to put "Tiny" down as they sip their latte' and munch their Danish!

Lester's books are very nice, but he has one set of houses which he recycles in each book -- right down to the detail pictures. If you already have one of his books you've already seen everything he has to offer in this one.

This book is a great visual treat. It shows you how people can live in very small places. It got me to build a 10' x 14' "teenager's cottage" with my two sons. We had a great time, spent about $1400 and now have a get-a-way in the woods.

I was hoping to see some houses maybe from 200 to 800 square feet. It seems like these are more like "Tiny Shacks" ...closer to 100 square feet, mostly without plumbing. Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm thinking this is a disapointment.

When I was growing up, we had a similar hideway called a shack and my dad dragged it from house to house for us as we moved around. Club houses and the like have always been special to us. This little book not only revisits the nostalgia, but instills creativity and provides a means of happiness in an otherwise monotanous world. I've already built one tiny house and plan on building/designing more. You'll enjoy this little book!

Since I have bought a number of books on small abodes this was one that appealed to me. However it isn't really a book that someone who is serious about getting design and simply living ideas may find of interest.

We live in a small home (900 sq. ft 1800's cottage) by California standards and are designing an equally small newer home geared for us as we age.

But it is charming and charming books belong in my life.

I recently bought a very small house, approx. 600 sq ft including the cellar. I'm inspired by the tiny living spaces in which many people have lived throughout the century. This book definitely gave me some creative ideas on how to utilize the space that I have. Small houses are practicle, efficient, and economical.

I do not recommend this book, I prefer the authors full sized book, "A Little House of My Own: 47 Grand Designs for 47 Tiny Houses." This book lacks the details present in the larger text and is less practical. The book is also quite small, as the title states.

I purchased this book as a gift just because it was so cute. But it is more than cute, it has many floor plans and functional data as well.
It is a great "idea" book to give anyone looking to build a place to have a space of their own.

Be prepared for a quick read. Pictures and a brief history of each house is all you get.
The histories are interesting.