pdxremodels.com

While this post doesn’t really focus on home remodeling, per se, it does have to do with some really cool homes. I tiny. In fact, the company’s name is Tumbleweed Tiny Houses and the owner, Jay Shafer, has not only designed these miniscule marvels, but also lives in a home that is about the size of most people’s bathrooms.  

For the do-it-yourself types out there, you can order a full set of plans for each model; however, you can also order some of the homes READY MADE and delivered to you.  How cool is that? The homes do need some sort of foundation, and Tumbleweed suggests one of six types :
1. Piers
2. Blocks
3. Slab
4. Skids
5. Trailer (smaller houses only)
6. Basement

When asked on his website if the homes are environmentally friendly, Jay responds with:

“Yes.  My original house (the 8′ x 12′ Front Gable, now called the Epu) won one of Natural Home Magazine’s Home of the Year Awards in 2000 for its sustainable design, and my subsequent structures have been no less green.  Small houses mean fewer emissions, less construction waste, less fuel consumption and more green space.“

So, okay, maybe you are not so gung-ho to live in something this small, BUT wouldn’t it make a great home office in your backyard? Or maybe a guest house or a cabin get-away? Most of the designs have sleeping lofts and offer many of the creature comforts on a smaller scale.

He also designs homes that can be built as portable spaces. I especially like the VARGO model (designed as a portable office) with its curved roof and old world flair. Imagine, an office you can take anywhere!

Below are links to the floorplans for the various models pictured here. (Run your mouse over the photos above to see the name of the model). There are also other models and plans on the website.

• Weebee floorplan
• Z.GlassHouse floorplan
• Vargo floorplan

I am always on the look out for new products for my home and I, like many other folks, have begun to realize that choosing environmentally friendly products is not only in my personal best interest, but also benefits the community as a whole. 

In my web wanderings I ran across a type of home insulation I haven’t seen before. It’s called Retrofoam. Read the rest of this entry »

So, you are thinking about new appliances for your home. Before you go out and buy, you might want to consider checking into the various rebates and incentives that are available. Chosing energy efficient models might prove a better way to go. Depending upon the appliance you buy (or the way you choose to power them), you may be able to stuff a few dollar bills back in your pocket. Read the rest of this entry »