Why we didn't put up a Christmas Tree.... Part 2

Where was I? Oh. Yes. We had a trailer! Now it was time to make a house.

Just a few days after our trailer was set in place, it was time to get cracking on building a house. We had the foresight to order our building materials the week before we left, so (after a few last minute changes) those were already on their way. Being the Type A perfectionist that I am, I developed a 3D model with each piece of lumber labeled, then translated that into an Excel spreadsheet that listed every length of lumber needed. 

Our lumber was delivered in the nick of time (three separate deliveries. Oy vey), and I got to work cutting, labeling, and piling. Three days later, we were ready to assemble!

Since we were starting a month later than planned, our building days started off cold and clear. We had a fantastic turnout!! The DFW Tiny House Enthusiasts group is one of the most active in the country, and sooo many people turned out to donate their time and labor. 

Days 1 & 2: We built the subfloor system, attached it to the trailer, and filled it with 2 inches of rigid foam insulation, followed by blown-in cellulose insulation. All told, our floor is insulated to R-40 - well above the recommended level. 

Days 3 & 4: Walls! Walls! Walls! We assembled all four walls and with a lot of grunts and groans lifted them into place. Those bitches were HEAVY! 

We had one small rain shower during construction. Luckily, we had taped the seams on our sub-floor, so no water made its way into our floor. The final days were a giant push to get the roof and walls sheathed, and the windows installed. We managed to get our French door in late on the last night, right as it started to rain. 

And it rained...

And rained...

And rained.

It even rained inside! 

Okay. That part wasn't so great. The good news is our roof was perfectly sealed and didn't have a single leak. The bad news is our windows that were so hastily put into place hadn't been flashed yet (neither had the wheel wells), causing the rain to pour in. After a (very) long day putting up some emergency flashing around the windows and wheel wells, the house was pretty well shored up. 

After over a week of hard work, we had a house! Two windows had yet to be installed, but our home was dry and secure. Just in time for Christmas :-) 

Why we didn't put up a Christmas tree... Part 1

You see, the thing is, we were a LITTLE busy in December...

It all started December 6th, when I returned from vacation in California only to leave the very next day on the GREAT TINY HOUSE ROAD TRIP to pick up our trailer in Alabama. Rather than pay a freight company to haul our trailer the 700-odd miles to us, I cajoled our dear friend into offering the services of her truck in exchange for an all-expenses paid road trip into the deep South. Adventures were had, tears were shed, and voices were lost, but suffice it to say we rolled into Dallas during rush hour three days later with a 27 foot-long trailer in tow. 

It was SO COLD! Whose idea was it to pick up their trailer in December? Mine? Oh. Well.

After a quick stop by the inspection station, we pulled into our build site with just enough daylight left to get the trailer in place. A 9 foot wide gate that we had to squeeze our 8 1/2 foot wide trailer through? No problem! None at all. 

Okay. Maybe a little problem. But there's no accounting for good ol' midwestern stubbornness... times TWO! Besides, I'm sure those marks will come off the barn with a little old-fashioned elbow grease. (Sorry Javed!)

But. Eventually. We made it. Even though I wanted to give up, Susan nudged and pulled and pushed and wouldn't give the #%&$ up until our house was in exactly the perfect spot. We even managed to snap a photo with our remaining 45 seconds of daylight!

Forget leveling. We were OUTTA there!

It was a hell of an adventure, and our December to Remember was just getting started. 

Some words of advice: 

• Give yourself an extra day to drive back when you're hauling a trailer.
• Make sure all driveways/areas you drive into with your trailer HAVE AN EXIT!
• Inspect your trailer as soon as you get home, before dropping it off. It was super easy!
• It's amazing how much good a luxurioius AirBnB and a fancy dinner out can do after a long day on the road. 

Morton Manor is here!

Congratulations Shandra! The weather-proofed shell for Morton Manor arrived just a few weeks ago. Since then we have installed windows, then it will be on to trim, siding, and roofing before beginning work on the interior. More updates to come as we make further progress.

Some of the services we provided for this project:

• 3D design
• Client-builder communication with Volstrukt steel framing to ensure the completed shell (trailer, framing and sheathing) was built to exact specifications
• Custom storage staircase design and building plans
• Custom-designed IKEA kitchen, with in-person ordering assistance. 
• In-person assistance with window ordering - all window openings were perfectly-sized, allowing all 14 windows to be installed in only 4 hours!
• Continued support finding products and materials designed to work well and save money 

We've been busy!

2016 was truly an incredible year! Four Tiny Modern Homes designs are currently under construction, with a fifth scheduled to start later this year. I am also getting ready to start construction on our own house, Tiny Øresund, this fall. Needless to say, we've been busy! If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and you would like to see some of our amazing designs, please stop by Fair Park next weekend, April 21-23, 2017. Fiero, by Small Dwelling Company is complete and ready for purchase. At 30 feet long, Fiero is designed for effortless living, and maximum flexibility. You can also see another truly unique tiny house in progress being built by Susan Pahnke, who will use it as her full-time home. Susan's house will feature two folding decks, a walk-in closet, and an Ofuro Japanese soaking tub, all in 170 square feet. Be sure to check back often - I will post in-progess photos as soon as they are available!

Cory

Using IKEA Cabinets in a Tiny House: An In-Depth Review

Anyone who knows me knows I am a huge fan of IKEA. Their vast variety of storage solutions, lighting, furniture, etc makes them ideal for any modernist on a budget. 

One of IKEA’s most ubiquitous offerings is their line of modular kitchen cabinets. IKEA cabinets have been featured in multi-million dollar architect-designed homes (they were gorgeous, and I even got to meet the architect!), a renovated Airstream trailer, and just about everywhere in between. I recently built and installed an IKEAkitchen in a 160q ft Tiny House on wheels (THOW), and I’d like to share some of the things I learned so that you can decide if IKEA cabinets are the right choice for your Tiny House.

NOTE: Tiny houses come in all shapes and sizes, but for this review, I am focusing on Tiny Houses on Wheels (THOWs). THOW’s have unique restrictions in terms of weight and width that require some extra care when choosing things like kitchen cabinets.

Modular

IKEA’s latest line of kitchen cabinets is built on a basic 5” modular system. Drawers are either 5, 10 or 15 inches high; doors come in sizes ranging from 15 - 60 inches high. Cabinet frames start at 12 inches wide, and continue up to 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, and 36 inches wide. What does this mean for you? Well, if you need a cabinet that is exactly 32 inches wide…. fuggedaboudit!! However, with a little creativity and flexibility, you can nearly always find a configuration that will work in your space. 

One common trick many THOWs use to maximize space is to use base cabinets that are only 18 or 21” deep (instead of the standard 24”). If that is your plan, you better be handy with a table saw - IKEA cabinets come in two depths: 15 inches and 24 inches for both base AND wall cabinets. That’s it. This can be a little limiting, especially for the wall cabinets, which are traditionally only 11-12 inches deep. IKEA cabinets allow you to store more, but at 15” deep they are literally in your face. 

Every THOW I have seen that uses IKEA cabinets has eschewed the upper cabinets in favor of open shelving. One benefit of the 15 inch-depth cabinets: you can use them as shallower base cabinets on one side of your kitchen to open up more floor space. Check out Cody and Randi’s tiny house - they did just that!

There are two things about IKEA’s modular system that make IKEA cabinets ideal for tiny houses: 

1. 15” Depth (front to back) drawers - Many wheel wells intrude about 9” into a THOW’s interior space (every house is different - please measure yours). Using a 15” depth drawer on the bottom of the cabinet instead of a 24” deep drawer means we were able to allocate the perfect amount of space taken up by the wheel well and still have a usable drawer. Coincidence? I think not.
2. Shallower utensil drawers - Go measure the front of a utensil drawer in your regular kitchen. It’s okay, I’ll wait….. Chances are it’s about 6” high. Deep drawers for pots and pans (if you’re lucky enough to have them) are typically 12”-14” high. Since IKEA’s drawers are built on a 5” scale, you can fit an EXTRA utensil drawer, and still have two 10” deep drawers for pots and pans. It’s a small feature that makes a BIG difference! 

TIP: Before you start designing your kitchen, stop by IKEA and pick up a copy of their Buying Guide - cabinets, fronts, organizers, knobs and handles. It provides EVERY available cabinet, door, drawer, etc. and is essential for planning your tiny kitchen.

Style

IKEA offers a fairly limited range of door and drawer styles. (watch the prices - they vary widely based on style!) While many people can find something they love, there are other options as well. Companies like Semi Handmade and Dunsmuir specialize in making custom doors and drawers to fit IKEA cabinet frames. While generally pricier than IKEA’s stock doors, they are absolutely gorgeous and look great as an accent if you can’t afford custom fronts for the whole kitchen. 

We are solving two problems at once by having a shallower custom upper cabinet built that will contrast the white IKEA cabinets, but won’t break the bank. 

TIP: IKEA's stock cabinet hardware, while very nice, is not the best I've ever experienced. Instead of settling for their limited options (unless you absolutely love it!), try pairing your IKEA cabinets with good quality hardware that truly reflects your style.

Weight

These suckers are pretty HEAVY! IKEA uses laminated particleboard for their cabinet boxes, which is a common material in off-the-shelf cabinets. Their drawers are also fairly heavy-duty. The full-extension drawers with soft close mechanisms, while AMAZING, are also going to add a significant amount of weight. In a normal house, this wouldn’t be an issue beyond making sure the wall could hold the extra weight, but when you’re counting ounces in a THOW, weight is a BIG deal. 

TIP: If you love the look of IKEA cabinets, but have concerns about the excessive weight, remember this: IKEA uses 3/4” panels in their construction, and all the components (frame, hardware and drawer/door fronts) are sold separately. You can build your own frame using a lighter material, then install IKEA drawers and doors. Just make sure your frame is sturdy enough to support the stuff in it and the countertops on it.

Quality

I can certainly say one thing: these Swedes know their materials. They understand that particleboard may be cheaper, but it has some structural limitations. As a result, you will see they use some quirky methods to make sure your cabinets are structurally stable and can withstand daily wear and tear. The hinges and drawer glides are incredibly solid. They are made by a company called Blum, which provides hardware for many high-end cabinet companies.  

When choosing door/drawer fronts for your cabinets, pay attention to the materials used. NOT ALL STYLES ARE CREATED EQUAL. Different styles use different quality materials and finishes, and some are more durable than others. I recommend buying a single small cabinet, taking it home, and using it on a daily basis to store something you use frequently. For example, we used a 15”x15”x15" cabinet with drawers in a painted MDF finish as an ottoman to store remotes, iPads, etc to test the durability of the finish. It’s held up very well. We also learned that the white lacquered finish, while very pretty, shows pretty much every fingerprint and smudge you throw at it.

IKEA has a good reason to make sure your cabinets last - cabinets and hardware (hinges, drawer glides, etc) are covered by a 25 year limited warranty. Mind you, cutting out spaces for things like wheel wells probably isn’t very warranty-friendly, so I recommend doing your research if this is something that’s important to you. 

At the end of the day, you can absolutely get a product that will work great and last a long time, so long as you do your homework ahead of time, and you're honest with yourself about how much abuse your kitchen will take.

Odering/Installation

Navigating IKEA's system can be confusing for those who are not familiar with it. Customers start by configuring their kitchen on IKEA's website using a klunky "3-D Kitchen Planner", then a store associate will help you translate your design into a list of parts and items that they then load onto a cart for you to take home (or you can have it delivered). Be patient, check to make sure you have everything, and remember that no matter what you'll need to make a few trips back for additional items. 

Depending on who you ask, you may get some differing opinions on whether or not you should tackle installing your own cabinets. Here’s the best advice I can give you: Go buy two cabinets. Put them together. (Yes, BOTH of them) If you are wearing more than 4 band-aids and contemplating the benefits of alcoholism by the time you’re finished, then you should probably hire someone to install your cabinets for you (unless your THOW only has two cabinets, in which case, congratulations you’re already done). If you’re like me and only had one bloody knuckle and a moderate case of potty mouth, then you should be okay. The first cabinet is always the hardest. Once you figure out how the system works, it gets easier from there.

Now, when it comes to attaching these heavy, stylish things to the wall, IKEA got it right. They designed a super easy-to-use rail system to install all of your cabinets (both base and wall). You basically just screw a narrow piece of metal into the wall, then hang the cabinets on it.  There, that wasn’t so bad, was it? 

Price

IKEA cabinets can be summed up in one word: VALUE. Our ENTIRE budget for one tiny house’s kitchen cabinets? Under $1,200. Not. Too. Shabby. 

Those who are purely budget-minded can absolutely find nice, basic cabinets at any Lowes or Home Depot for less than IKEA. IKEA cabinets are designed to appeal to those who want to incorporate higher-end features and customize their kitchen to suit their needs, but are flexible enough to work within a system that is more limited than, say a semi-custom company like Kraftmaid (which coincidentally came in over 3X the price of IKEA!).

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for something clean and simple for your tiny space, and the weight isn't a deal-breaker for you, IKEA is an incredibly solid product, both literally and figuratively. Their value is incredible, and their kitchen design team is knowledgeable and enthusiastic, especially if you show up on a weekday morning.

Something TINY is happening in Dallas...

For those of you that are lucky enough to live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, mark your calendars for Earth Day TX 2016 on Friday-Sunday, April 22-24 at Fair Park in Dallas! In addition to the usual eco-friendly companies and products being showcased, this year will have something special - a TINY HOUSE VILLAGE. Eleven tiny homes will be on-site and available for you to tour. You will have a chance to meet the owners, learn about their journeys, ask questions, and really experience what these amazing spaces are like. Be sure to pay close attention - a Tiny Modern Homes-designed kitchen will be on display for the very first time!

Head on over to http://earthdaytx.org/event-news/tiny-house-village/ for more info.

Welcome!

Welcome to the NEW tinymodernhomes.com! We are in the process of migrating our website over from Facebook to our new home on the web. This will enable us to bring you beautiful new designs, tiny house and modern design news, product reviews and more. 

Thank you so much for being a part of our journey. Tiny Modern Homes was created to bring beautiful modern design to everyone who feels their minds lightened and their spirits uplifted by spaces that are simple, clean and bright. Our mission is to show the world that you don't have to be wealthy to be able to live in a comfortable, well-designed home. You shouldn't have to settle for something that is "good enough". You should be able to live in a home that actually allows you to LIVE, and that makes you smile every time you walk in the front door. 

We are just getting started, and we can't wait to share our ideas with you. Please reach out to us if there is anything we can do to help you realize your tiny dream home.