Sherwin-William's 2017 Color of the Year

Poised Taupe.  You heard me right, an old standby neutral that is new all over again.  Sherwin-Williams says this is why: This timeless neutral is modern, classic and a beautiful balance of warm and cool.

It appears as though we can stop trying to find workable combinations with the old neutral - gray - and switch gears to find the punch of color that will work well with Taupe.

If hot jewel colors are what turn you on, you might want to see what else would look good on you, or in your home if staying abreast of the "trendy look" is what you are shooting for.  

Below is a link to Sherwin-Williams' website so you can find out more on the chosen colors for 2017.


2017 Color of the Year


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Washing Machines in Tiny Houses?!?

I ran across an article on wearing clean clothes and washing machines in tiny houses by Andrew M. Odom for the “Tiny House Blog”.   His title caught my attention, “Do Tiny House People Wear Clean Clothes?” 

I just had to open the link and read it. 

They answer, well of course Tiny House People wear clean clothes! The real question is, do you need to take up ¼ of your floor space to have a washer/dryer in your tiny home? 

I have designed a couple of tiny homes with smaller stacking washer & dryers units, as well as all-inclusive machines that wash and dry, and they do take up a sizable footprint even when your tiny home is 8.5’ wide and 28’-30’ long. (On the larger size for tiny homes.)

Andrew notes that before you even consider the footprint size further, it is important to consider the electrical and plumbing requirements involved in having this in-house luxury.  Maybe a weekly trip to a laundromat or using the Wonderwash (The Laundry Alternative, Non-electric Portable Compact Mini Washing Machine) that can be found on Amazon, might be an alternative consideration. ( https://www.amazon.com/Laundry-Alternative-Wonderwash-Non-electric-Portable/dp/B002C8HR9A ) You would still have to line/air dry if your use the Wonderwash or some other hand washing procedure, but NOT having a traditional washing/drying machine would certainly save space for other features and save money on costly electrical and plumbing considerations.

Read more at http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/do-tiny-house-people-wear-clean-clothes/#5pQxi4TDZJeXhP63.99

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Tiny Home with NO loft

For many reasons, some people just don't want a loft in their tiny home living.  Those with physical limitations (young or old) who just cannot maneuver a ladder or small stair case, OR, just don't want to.  

Think about going up and down a ladder every time you needed to use the bathroom in the middle of the

night - for a Boomer like me, that is just an accident waiting to happen.





Because of this I have been focusing on creating plans that are functional for long term use that DO NOT have lofts.  

This one has a 2 step raised platform for the queen size bed.  Under the platform is built in storage, a pull out 2 rise step, and a twin size day bed. 

The kitchen has an apartment size stove with oven, microwave, and apartment size refrigerator/freezer.

The bathroom has a roll-in shower for handicap accessibility and a toilet and sink with plenty of light.  This design has the space to put a stacking washer/dryer if you give up the full-size sofa for a love seat. 

The taller and slanted ceiling gives more vertical volume that provides the home with a more spacious feel.

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https://www.pinterest.com/lmquiggle/architecture-sunshine-tiny-homes-by-linda-quiggle/

Tiny Houses for the Homeless: An Affordable Solution Catches On

I ran across this publication, yes! magazine, and their article while posting on FB. They indicate that, "For many years, it has been tough to find a way to house the homeless. More than 3.5 million people experience homelessness in the United States each year, according to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty."

The yes! magazine showed how communities in Oregon, New York, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin are now stepping up to the plate in dealing with their homeless population by creating some tiny-home communities.

The Quixote Village in Olympia, WA began as a camp and the community raised enough money to turn it into "Quixote Village".   It opened in 2013.

Amarillo, if you would like to learn more click on this link:

http://www.yesmagazine.org/new-economy/tiny-house-villages-for-the-homeless-an-affordable-solution-catches-on

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Aging in Place in your Tiny Home

To tiny-home or not to tiny-home, that is the question.  

I have had the opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of living in a tiny-home with hundreds of people during the last ten years, and among the more mature adults the statement is always, “I’m not climbing a ladder to get to my bed”.  

The older you get the more you realize that universal design and being able to age in place are at the top of the priority list when making a choice of a home; tiny-home or not.  

Because I now find myself in that older group, but still have the dream of living tiny on purpose, (and did I mention I have a BS Interior Design degree) I have made it my goal this year to design a line of tiny-size to park-size homes that will meet the physical and emotional needs of Baby Boomers and the generation that follows.

As a designer I begin with questions like -

·  Will the owner be a couple or a single adult?

·  Do they need separate sleeping areas or can they sleep together?

·  Do they need space for walking aids?

·  Do they need additional outlets in the bedroom, bathroom and living area for medical reasons?

·  Do they need a tub or a shower for bathing?

·  What hobbies need to be taken into consideration?

·  Do the owners love to cook or is a microwave all they use?

·  Do they have medications that require refrigeration?

·  Do they participate in juicing or eating fresh, creating the need for a larger refrigerator?

·  Can they navigate one step, but not a ladder or staircase?

·  Do they have a pet?

·  Will they be traveling with their tiny-home?

·  Will they be permanently parked on private land or backyard?

·  Will they be permanently parked in a private park?

You have to ask the same type of questions as when building a traditional home, and many more due to the limited amount space in a tiny-home. 

It all boils down to, what the owner is willing to live without, and what they deem as esential for quality of life.

If you are interested in building a tiny home of your own, but need help with the design and layout, I am here to assist: Linda Quiggle - designsforaqueen@gmail.com .
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Tiny House - What does that mean in 2016?

Tiny Houses have become such a big thing in our culture over the last decade that there are now specific labels to define what kind of tiny house you might be talking about. Here is a small lesson - 


 "Micro" can include anything from a pimped out "Tear Drop" trailer to a shed, a treehouse, or van camping. It is really "micro" in size, but still meant to at least sleep and eat in.



"Tiny" includes a couple of distinctions, those on wheels and those on a permanent foundation.

  

• "T.H.O.W. is a tiny house on wheels.  These can be structures built with traditional building materials, or they can be house-trucks, buses, or any other driveable or towable device that has had a conversion and are meant to be lived in.

A standard "Tiny House" would be any "Tiny" structure built on some type of permanent foundation, and typically no larger than 500 sq. ft.

"Small" is a small structure.  

• Larger than a tiny home and smaller than the traditional small single family residence of 1,000 sq.ft.
• Can include apartments and condos
• Can be cottages
• Can be container homes
• Can be cob design
• Can be dome structures
• And yes, it can even be a Yurt.

Hope you feel better prepared to have a discussion about "tiny homes".  Keep looking.  Keep Learning. Live small on purpose.

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Container Homes have hit the big time!

Container City - London!

Container City II

It is incredible that a large metro center like London, England has embraced such an "outside" the proverbial box method of meeting some of their housing and commercial needs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa2p_ux8ER0&feature=em-subs_digest-vrecs

BBC Broadcasting Offices

Medical facilities, schools, worship centers, offices, restaurants . . . 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hou5_w60Lew

Hornimans School

What a creative way to Reuse-Repurpose-Recycle a box.






Come on Amarillo, TX - It's time to start offering some affordable living and working solutions.  (Oh yes, and trendy and smart looking too.)

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Linda Quiggle holds a BS of Interior Design and and MBA in Marketing.  She currently works and lives in Amarillo/Canyon , TX

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