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VOL 01 | MAY 18
JACOB WITZLING: Pacific Northwest Cabin Builder
INTERVIEW: Our Mobile Basecamp
LUXURY CABIN A Night Under the Northern Lights
EMBRACING SMALL- SCALE
micro
EMBR ACING SM A LL-SCA LE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PACIFIC NORTHWEST CABIN BUILDER Jacob Witzling hand builds unique hidden cabins in the Pacific Northwest.
DEPARTMENTS 02 Micro's Contributors 04 Letter from the Editor 16 Retro Appliances 27 Storage: Staircases 48 Tiny Gardening 50 Portland's Micro Homes 55 Bus Conversions 69 Top Micro's of the Month
OUR MOBILE BASECAMP Meet Robert and Samantha Garlow: Creating their own tiny home from scratch
FEATURES
06
Jacob Witzling Meet Jacob and see some of his hand-built cabins around the Pacific Northwest.
12
A Simple Structure Interview: Couple builds their own mini portable home
22
Under the Nothern Lights Luxury stay in Iceland's nature with a breathtaking view
HOUSE WITH THE FLOATING TREE
27
Tiny House Fest Vermont's annual downsizing festival with tips and conversation.
A peek inside this home in Tokyo, Japan.
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MICRO'S CONTRIBUTORS
GABRIELLE ZSCHOCKE
Sara is our photographer and journalist, who adores covering anything enviornemental and architecture related. After growing up by a cabin on a lake with her dad, her career naturally steered here.
DIWANG VAIDEZ
Diwang has done a handful of work for Traveler and Architectural Digest. He has designed for projects in ten countries, and always finds himself spending days in the mountains looking for inspiration.
MARGARET SEROTA
MAT T L AMBERT
Margaret is one of the photographers of the future. She recently won three awards for her interior design inspired pieces. This is her first contribution to Micro, and will continue shooting around the unique homes hidden throughout the US.
Matt is originally from Sydney, but has been living in New York for two years now. He had the opportunity to shoot this month's Dwell edition, and wants to continue shooting archietecture for the rest of his career.
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Publisher Chelsea Bretal Creative Director Claire Dobson Photography Director Ben Lerner Advertising Megan Murphy Duncan Barile Tommy Gentillucci Associate Publisher Shanti Zschocke Editor Juliana Giokas Product i o n Andrew Burns Joe Kloc Ben Lerner Contributors Sara Underwood Diwang Vaidez Matt Lambert Margaret Seroda Media Mike Pearl Erika Allen Contact editorial@microny.com 709 Honey Creek Drive
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A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
hello, and welcome to the first edition of Micro, a brand new quarterly supplement designed specifically for anyone and everyone whose fascination sparks from the unique and unordinary mini architecture around the world. In our first edition, we want to start off by showing you some talented individuals who built their own beautiful living spaces, and how it does not mean you cannot do it yourself. This selection of insane mini spaces were chosen for their unique features and forms whose locations, design, and accommodations vary throughout. We supply words from architects, their floor plans, and
conversation with minimalists first hand. Our goal is to show the world that where sometimes, you do not need all of those things. Living in 100 to 400 square feet, these owners have minimal housing utility costs, and less time spent on cleaning and maintaining their home. Since tiny homes can even be built on a trailer bed and moved to new locations by truck, these benefits amount to more freedom and time to focus on other things like hobbies, community and traveling. With that being said, we want to show how you can get started! Juliana Giokas
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CABIN PORNOGR APHY BY: SARAH BUCKHO LTZ
pacific coast mornings are second to none. Sunbeams pierce the canopies of towering fir and hemlock just as that famous fog rolls down the mountains swallowing everything in its path with one gigantic gulp. This is the world Jacob Witzling rode his bike through on his way to this hidden spot in Washington state, on which he is in the process of building his fourth cabin. The call of the wild is sometimes inevitable; it’s the urge to go back to the essence of our existence. The forest can be really captivating and when scrolling through Instagram’s amazing nature M I C RO | 0 6
Crosspire Cabin Photo by: Frauke Hagen Building process Photo by: Sara Underwood
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photography, the rainforest of the Pacific Northwest has often caught our attention. hide away from the bustle of the city. It’s even more inspiring to find out the stories behind those amazing cabins, especially when you follow the path and get to know the story of Jacob Witzling, whose cabins have been portrayed in multiple feeds from some of the most influential outdoor photographers and travel bloggers. We just had to get behind the story of Jacob and his love for the forest and cabin building the call of the wild is sometimes inevitable; it’s the urge to go back to the essence of our existence. The forest can be really captivating and when scrolling through Instagram’s amazing nature photography, the rainforest of the Pacific Thr Northwest has often been catching our attention. When you search for hashtags such as #cabinlife or #tinyhome, some of the most amazing little retreats
pop up, making us want to get out there, enjoy nature, and a hide away from the bustle of the city. It has been even more inspiring to find out the stories behind these amazing cabins, especially when you follow the path and get to know the story of Jacob Witzling, whose cabins have been portrayed in multiple feeds of some of the most talented and influential photographers and travel bloggers. We just had to get behind the full story of Jacob and his love for the forest and cabin building. Then with locally-sourced lumber, a table saw, many bags of cement already arrived and are waiting for him among the sprouting ferns on the forest floor. Time to raise some walls. Standing amongst the sea of many green that is the forest of Olympia, this tiny, whimsical cabin above appears to have fallen onto the land directly from the pages of a storybook.
It was designed to be beautiful yet mysterious, nestling perfectly into it's deep wooded landscape. This cabin was almost entirely constructed from reclaimed materials. “Cabins have been a huge part of my life since I was about 16 years old,” shares Jacob Witzling. “I lived in a cabin during my last two years of high school in NH. It was built in the 1920's and was nestled way back in the woods. It was near my parents’ house where I’d do laundry, shower and have dinner before finding my way back to where I really lived. Inside was a wood stove that I fed and stoked through the harsh winter nights. I had my freedom and my fire. They were all I really needed to be happy.” A few years later, while studying to be a teacher At Evergreen State College in Olympia, he found himself dating a girl who, as fate would have it, lived in a cabin outside the city. Each time I would go out and visit her, the vision for my life only.” From demolition windows, to a floor that was rescued from an old bowling alley, each part of this enchanting cabin has a story to tell. Stepping inside the cabin brings an immediate sense of home There is a basic human need to feel nurtured and protected by a space which is perfectly fulfilled in this cabin. The furnishings are basic but enough and the whole home feels as though it just desires
to be lived in and used. Large windows throughout the cabin bring a sense of the surrounding forest into the home and serve as a constant reminder that you are somewhere special. The above loft is dramatically framed by the steepest rafters of the roof, which Jacob lovingly personifies as the ribs of his cabin. A single skylight placed above the bed provides a wonderfully framed view of the forest canopy which often allows glimpses of starlight to show through at night. Jacobs cabin isn’t alone on the property. A collection of bewitching cabins are nestled all throughout the cold forest floor. Some have stood there for decades and have seen many inhabitants come and go. Jacob quickly fell in love with this property after first falling in love with a girl who used to live here. Her connection to the land has since passed, but Jacob’s has only growing deeper. His latest work of art on the property is a delightfully geometrically playful cabin named Max’s Crown, a reference to Maurice Sendak’s, Where the Wild Things Are. This unique octagon shaped cabin again transports us into a place where things are built not only for practicality, but for joy and also beauty as well. “Cabins have been part of my life since I was 16 years old,” shares Witzling Standing amongst the sea of green that is the forest of Olympia, this whimsical
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Sara at home Photo by: Jacob Witzling Applying moss on the roof Photo by: Matt Lambert His First Cabin Photo by: Margaret Serota
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cabin appears to have fallen onto the land directly from the pages of a storybook. This cabin was designed to be beautiful yet unassuming, nestling perfectly into it’s deep wooded landscape. This cabin was just about entirely constructed from reclaimed materials, that salvaged from around the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. From some of demolition windows,to a floor that was rescued from an old bowling alley, each part of this enchanting cabin has a lively story to tell. Several years later, while studying to become a teacher in Olympia Evergreen State College, he truly found himself dating a girl who, as fate would have it, lived in a cabin outside the city. He craved a life that was very secluded, simple, and fed my soul. “ Not to sound cheesy, but it was right during that relationship where I heard the call of the wild. I needed to exist in the woods, and even though I had never built anything other than a blanket fort, I knew that my passion was to simply create, and that would be sufficient. Well, here I am, 15 years later, and I’m not only building my fourth cabin, but I’m raising it on that very same property.” His father is an architect and engineer
whose facility with shapes and expertise in the functionality behind design left an impression. “ I remember pouring over the pages of my dad’s favorite book, Handmade Houses: A Guide to the Woodbutcher’s Art. I would gaze at the pictures from inside my blanket fort and daydream about building one of my own. The uniqueness and zero restriction of the handmade homes is what inspires me to create these livable sculptures from sustainable and local materials.” Today, Jacob still utilizes architectural salvage shops, local lumber mills and even Mother Nature herself to build his cabins! He sustainably harvests moss by the garbage bag to create living roofs on all his cabins. Because the moss is native to area, it requires no upkeep and gives the cabin the appearance of an indigenous species of Pacific Northwest. “I enjoy making permanent structures that complement the environment rather than inserting something completely foreign into the surroundings. I want these cabins to look like they sprouted from the ground and have been watered like a plant. It’s a home in its home.” If you feel the urge to build something,
and don’t know how to get started, Jacob will tell you that the only way to begin, is to not have your focus be on perfection. I would never have created this unique life for myself. Perhaps being a second grade teacher and a temporary cabin builder for so long has helped me keep a firm hold on optimism and wonder. I mean, here I am, untrained, in the deep woods, building a cabin alone out of a mud pit. No matter what, I’m always proud to step back and stand in awe and appreciation of every piece of timber, fiber of moss, and all 300 hours it took to create each cabin. Each one is authentic and honest and beautifully imperfect. Today, it's still Jacob’s goal to take advantage of as much used materials as possible. He also acknowledges the natural elements from the surroundings flow into his work; for example, he uses moss to cover the roof of his cabins which requires no upkeep and allows the cabins naturally merge more in the native area and unique flora of the Pacific Northwest. Jacob has created retreats in the deep woods and each one is authentic, quite like a livable sculpture to hide in, and inhale the peace of nature. If you are in the Pacific Northwest, you must pay one of his cabins a visit.
“From demolition windows, to a floor that was rescued from an old bowling alley, each part of this enchanting cabin has a story to tell.”
CABIN BUILT FROM SALVAGED MATERIALS by : bryce l ang s ton for a student without a lot of money,
the idea of being able to avoid rent by building a cabin in the woods may sound like a far-fetched dream, yet it was the perfect solution. A small, beautiful, secluded woodland cabin that Jacob constructed for only $800 which he lived in during his college years in Washington. After finding a land owner who was happy with him building a cabin and living on her property, Jacob got to work on his cabin. This was constructed entirely from salvaged materials. It is thanks to his thrifty eye and cando attitude that he was able to fully complete the build for such a low budget. When stepping inside the front door, you are greeted by a wonderfully eclectic room, filled with whatever materials were available for the construction. The cabin is no longer occupied and is sparse, yet hints still remain of its lived in days. The intention was to create the feeling of being inside a tree, climbing up into this space gives the feeling of a child’s playhouse and embodies a sense of adventure. The sleeping space in the loft is reminiscent of camping. There is no running water or power, but Jacob admits that life at the cabin could be hard at times. For Jacob, the return to this cabin was a welcome visit to an old friend. A place which would ignite his fire for cabin building and begin to kindle a life long calling.
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THE TRUCK CABIN JACOB WITZLING & SARA UNDERWOOD TRAVEL THE U.S.
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Sara in Their Truck Photo by: Jacob Witzling Measuring the Wood Pieces Photo by: Megan Murphy
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jacob witzling and sara underwood designed, built, and drove this unique, eccentric and extraordinary truck cabin around the United States. Built on the top of a 1979 F-250 pickup, this tiny abode accommodates a 20 square foot loft for a cozy, yet comfortable sleeping and eating experience. It's rustic facade has been meticulously made, primarily using recycled wood for its siding, roofing and all of the interior walls and triam. They designed the roof and sides to be aerodynamic on the road, adding bends and curves to cut into high winds on the highway. This also includes a compact yet functional kitchen, various windows which flood the interior space with natural light and ventilation.
“ LIVE LIKE A HOBBIT ”
Collecting Moss Photo by: Shanti Zschocke Truck Cabin Photo by: Margaret Serota
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SIMPLE STRUCTURE AN INTE RVIE W W ITH ROBE RT & SAMANTHA
Words by: Kathleen Morton Photos by: Margaret Serota
robert & sam antha designed and constructed a 204 square-foot modern tiny house. With just minimal construction experience, but a desire to learn and a passion for adventure, they spent 14 months building their house, which cost them only $30,000. They only live in 180 square-feet of their 204-square-foot home. This is because 24 square feet of it houses a gear room to store all of their outdoor equipment. This allows them to spend their free time exploring the United States. While they do not always travel too frequently with their tiny home, they are able to travel much more now because of it.
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Welcome to our mobile basecamp. How did you get the idea to build a tiny house on wheels? While a tiny house aligns closely with many of the underlying principles, we believe in reducing our ecological footprint, and the conversation was ultimately kickstarted by our interest in saving money and increasing our option for mobility. The thought of taking on more debt in the form of a mortgage while trying to pay off a six-figure student loan debt was a huge turn off, and we did not know if we would be staying in that location long term, or even for the 3 to 5 years that seems to be required to make sense of buying a house.
The Picture window Photo by: Bo Petterson Mobile Basecamp Photo by: Matt Lambert
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How did you go about design your custom tiny space? The design phase took a couple months of scribbling and sketches. We got the broader things like form and rough layout pinned down to purchase a correct sized container with proper axle location for weight distribution, but then we let things evolve organically throughout the construction process. Our design was guided by parameters of necessity and function that then let the form to emerge intuitively. In order to avoid any special requirements when transporting our home, we designed it within the maximum dimensions of 8' 6" wide and 13' 6" tall. This first set of constraints provided us with an empty volume to start. We prioritized our needs and tried to proportionally represent them in relation to the volume we had available. We took into consideration what we had found to be the minimum amount of actual space required for tasks, the amount of time that is spent in each space and the nature of the task when
deciding how much space to dedicate. Placing the loft over the kitchen made sense based on similar square footage plans, and that decision resulted in the highest point of our tiny home. Spaces like the bathroom and gear storage areas did not require high ceilings, and so a single line drawn from the high point of the loft down to the lower ceiling of the bathroom became a longitudinal shed roof that removed the unnecessary weight, energy costs and construction costs associated with 270 cubic feet of unneeded volume. The form that emerged became much more aerodynamic when we transported it. The final tweak to the roof line came from increasing the height of the entry point into the loft. We were drawn to the nickname “SHEDâ€? because it spoke to its simple form and utilitarian design, while it simulÂtaneously speaking to the process of downsizing and simplifying when used as a verb. Would you walk us through your building process? We picked up our trailer the day after Thanksgiving of 2014 and started construction shortly after. Without going into the long, boring details, the process was not unlike a normal house and went something like this: floor framing, insulating and even some sheathing. Windows, siding and then roofing to get it weathered in. Electrical wiring and then insulating the entire space before installing our paneling. After that, we finished out the interior before adding built-ins and cabinets and appliances while simultaneously installing the propane lines mini-split system: electric heating and cooling. It is worth noting that we designed our wall assembly different than most tiny houses, using 2x3 advanced framing with an additional inch of continuous exterior rigid insulation under our corrugated metal siding that spent its first half of century as a barn roof up the road. The time each task took varied from 1 to 3 weeks, only working only weekends and many overlapped each other. One of the more interesting statistics we learned was that for each hour we spent building onsite, and roughly a half an hour was spent in preparation at home. Being
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concerns were compounded by a complete lack of suitable materials in our area after sifting through Craigslist, garage sales and boneyard piles (for misordered and leftover windows). So the majority of our home is built from new materials with one really big and awesome exception: our siding. The corrugated metal was salvaged from the roof of an old barn up the road, and the walnut around the entry was also reclaimed from a barn and re-milled into our custom modern shiplap profile. The Picture Window Photo by: Bo Petterson Robert and Samantha Photo by: Matthew Moisant
armature builders, we spent a lot of time researching about the next stage and task, designing and detailing, acquiring the appropriate tools and material purchases and deliveries so that our time on site was spent as efficiently as possible: building. How did you find the materials for your overall build? We initially approached this project with intentions of using as many reclaimed materials as possible to save money and give them a second life, including our trailer. We quickly learned that finding acceptable salvaged materials can be very time consuming. When considering used or reclaimed items like a trailer or lumber, there are questions you should ask about the structural integrity. When looking at used windows, there are some questions you should ask about energy efficiency and glass integrity. Those
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Did you have an initial budget before beginning the whole building process? We had initial hopes of building a tiny house for $16,000-$20,000, but it was hard to build and incorporate exactly what we wanted and we knew it would cost more than that pretty early on, and thanks to our seemingly expensive taste. Because we were paying for everything out of our pocket, we had to stay within the constraints of our paychecks. But we began to look at our budget as a moving target that would be offset by X number of years living in our tiny house. We spent about $10,000 per year renting a space. So not only was it paid for in full upon completion, but once we lived in it for the appropriate amount of years, it paid for itself. Our final total was $30,000. Some of the inexpensive projects were the most time consuming, such as the custom
plywood stairs and counter tops, tandem LVL beam design for the loft, the shampoo alcove and the walnut accents around the front door. We are confident that it is possible could build a similar version for $20,000 by making a few different choices in construction materials and finishes. Some of the more costly individual items of our build were: tiny house specific trailer: $4,300 windows and doors: $3,000 dimmable and wirelessly controlled cable and tape led lighting: $1,200 composting toilet: $1,400 grade propane stove: $800 How did you fund your build? A lot of people think that you have to live a nomadic life or be able to work from home to live in a tiny house on wheels. Those two options are awesome, but we have careers with average hours. I work as an architect and Samantha as a nurse practitioner. While in the midst of paying off our student loan debt, we were able to use our savings to purchase the trailer and start construction. Then, we funded the project, paycheck by paycheck. Our advice would be to open a credit card, not to actually utilize the credit line, but to filter purchases through it and accumulate airline miles. We never spent more than we had, so we paid the balance off every month and earned ourselves two free flights in the end.
then we can say that our entry is our favorite part. For a part of the house that was never supposed to be that way, it ended up really nice. The original plan to install our entrance into the sidewall was the most practical and the easiest option, but it lacked the definition that every main entry deserves. A last minute stroke of inspiration led to a build site sketch on a piece of construction debris and we discussed how to subtly push the door into the space just enough to add some emphasis on the outside and better align the user to the space upon entry. Would you change anything if you did it over again? I’m sure there are plenty of small things we might tweak smarter or more efficient construction decisions and the like but nothing comes to mind. Samantha really misses having a bathtub, but it is not something we would add if we did it again as it is not the best use of space when designing micro dwellings. What advice do you have for those thinking about building their own house on wheels? Do it. The act of building something like this is more important and memorable
than the act of having it. The financial and mobile benefits that accompany it are a bonus. Besides that, be sure to set realistic expectations. It will probably take longer and cost more than expected. By setting realistic expectations up front, along with smaller steps and goals during the construction process, you will reduce time, a large amount of financial related stress and be pleasantly surprised rather than frequently frustrated. Do you see both your future living so small permanently? We have always said that we will live this way for the foreseeable future. I don’t think it is a forever home, but it is a very important tool at this stage in our lives. It's one that allows us to focus on what is important, do more things that we love, pay off student loans and, if an emergency occurs, pick up and move while providing a valuable perspective. We would love to purchase a piece of land in the area and live in our tiny house while we design and build a small house on the land that would more efficiently host a family. Our tiny house will then be used in a slightly different capacity, while either becoming a backyard studio, office, or a source of additional income through becoming an Airbnb home.
What did you learn from building your house together? We have a long history together, plenty of it in difficult or stressful situations. Often times on the side of a mountain in slightly more dangerous situations. So while this project tested our patience, it was a very gratifying experience that we will never forget. Living inside of your own space that you built with your own hands; learning the consequences, both positive and negative of your design first hand; being able to look at a piece of trim, corner of the stairs or a piece of walnut and remembering the specific moment that you did that. What would you consider your favorite part of the house? If we are talking about a physical aspect, M I C RO | 2 0
A NIGHT UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS. HVALFJÖRÐUR, ICELAND THIS SIMPLE AND CLEVER DESIGN FOR A CABIN IN ICELAND OFFERS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.
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it ' s no secret that iceland has become an essential destination to every single traveler’s bucket list nowadays. This northern wonderland boasts some of the most fantastic scenery of the northern hemisphere, including glaciers, volcanoes and ice caves, forcing visitors to continue to come back for more. Whether you’re looking for a short getaway or a full on backpacking adventure, Iceland offers everything you are truly looking for. However, before packing up and heading north, here’s a few different itineraries to plan a perfect length Icelandic getaway. If it’s your first time in Iceland, it is recommended that you spend at least 3-4 days visiting. This will definitely not be enough time to explore all that there is to offer, but it will help you plan a nice beginner’s trip around the island. There is also a famous road trip for those who want to tackle Iceland’s iconic ring road. Technically, the full drive takes 24 hours; however, �-8 days can allow you to visit all the major stops along the way. Generally, we advise to visit for not less than �-8 days as you will then have sufficient time to explore much of the tours and attractions in Iceland and Reykjavik. Then, there is the Northern Lights. The trouble with viewing the Northern Lights is that the countries where you can view them most clearly tend to be awfully
cold. The unfortunate truth is: To get an unobstructed view of Aurora Borealis, your best bet is to be outside and look up, or even consider staying in one of the most unique homes created to view these lights. Many people visit Iceland for two reasons: the amazing landscapes and the northern lights. The issue is that tourists in Iceland have taken on the terrible habit of searching for the northern lights while driving and it is been the reason behind several road accidents in the country; you’re not supposed to be looking at the sky, no matter how pretty it is. From the comfort of a cozy bed, meet the Panorama Glass Lodge in Hvalfjörðu, Iceland, a luxury rental cabin whose bedroom is built with floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s a stunning visual effect that’s doubled by the fact that the cabin sits on the shores of the sea, creating a reflection pool for nature’s prettiest show. The house is a ��-minute drive from Reykjavik and sits near the shores of the Greenland Sea. The motto for this Panorama Glass Lodge states “ Where the sky is ,” which works as a very fitting descriptor for the design of this extremely cozy 248-square-foot vacation cabin. As a family-owned property available for rent, it affords full privacy to its guests while offering panoramic views of the amazing natural surroundings.
Interior Decor Photo by: Alvin Lee Guest in the Hot Tub Photo by: Gabrielle Bonniol Cabin at Dusk Photo by: Sean Sullivan
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Bedroom Windows Photo by: Thomas Gordon The Bedroom Photo by: Jennifer Lew Glass Lodge Hot Tub Photo by: Frank Simmons
HVALFJÖRÐUR
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Glass panels surround the sleeping area, and a glass roof allows visitors to see the night sky while lying in bed. This specific part of the house extends from the central timber section and will bring natural light into the entire interior. The area is remote, private, quiet, and ideal for hiking during the day. This quaint lodge features an incredible view of the Icelandic landscape thanks to large glass windows that surround the bed. The custom-made king-sized bed is dressed with luxury duvets imported Böhmerwald, Bavaria, and fluffy linen from Schlafgut, Germany. There are window blinds for the walls, if more privacy is needed, while the glass roof remains exposed to the sky. When encasing the sleeping area in glass, visitors are guaranteed an unobstructed view of nature night and day. Panorama Glass Lodge is located on the shores of the sea, and with only five other houses on the coastline—each a fair distance from the lodge — it’s the perfect stay for those looking to unplug and unwind in complete privacy. This secluded tiny house comes equipped with everything you’d need to survive the Icelandic wilderness — a fully-stocked kitchen, rainforest shower head, and a terrace with a wood-clad hot tub. Panorama Glass Lodge is a family owned and operated business. The young family from Reykjavík, who are originally from Switzerland and Germany, is running the business and designed the Glass Lodge all by themselves. They had the idea to create an absolutely unique getaway in Iceland where it is possible to watch the northern lights and the midnight sun right out of the bed or the hot pool. The shape of the Glass Lodge is inspired by Scandinavian houses and the combination of wooden elements with steel and glass makes the Lodge unique. The Lodge was finally ready to book in December 2017 after a long planning time. In the beginning, it was meant to be a romantic getaway, but when the Lodge got featured in several print and online medias such as Maxim, The Telegraph, Harper's Bazaar, ELLE, Dwell, Süddeutsche Zeitung, and many more, a lot of people wanted to visit to see the scenery and get nice several pictures from the bed with a view. The tiny business
went extremely popular in a short time. Then, due to the high demand the owners plan to build more Glass Lodges on a different, yet very beautiful location in Iceland around end of 201�. A colorful sky isn’t the only thing you can expect, there’s also a possibility to spot a whale out in the fjord or seals sunbathing on the beach. Prices are currently starting from $��� a night, but make your reservations early, as this glass oasis is constantly booking up quickly.
- 2 GUESTS - 1 BED - 1 NIGHT MIN - 1 BATH - $584 / NIGHT
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RETRO, SMART, & MICRO MINI WASHER The washing machine from the �0’s Retro Style line, a refreshed version of the previous LBL16 model, has been released on the market with new colours and innovative design andtechnology that further improves its performance. The product is available in these shades of pastel pink, pastel blue and white. The sink has a combined mixer and a � liter washing capacity. The LBL1� washing machine is designed for maximum ease of use and is manufactured withan inner
door that hides the porthole-shaped door and at the same time houses two shelves. The shelves are designed to place sponges, cleaners and all other items necessary for cleaningand washing, thus creating a tidy utility area. It's design complies with energy class A+ and it can be used to wash large quantities oflaundry, owing to its particularly high 7-kg washing capacity. It can also be loaded very easilyas it has a �0 cm wide porthole door.
2-SLICE TOASTER The SMEG2 Slice is a modern toaster oven with an old-fashioned look. Its classic design would seem normal in a 1960's kitchen. It is available in eight colors, and the SMEG 2 Slice can fit in well with any kitchen decor. It comes in cream, red, black, chrome, blue, pink, pastel blue and pastel green. Though it is retro in appearance, this unit has many features found on some contemporary toasters, such as a removable crumb tray and a reheat setting. However, as cool
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as this colored toaster looks, it did have an issue with toasting. It has six levels of browning control and for a compact design, it has good deep slots that cope well with thick freshly cut bread. The toasting coverage and color are reviewed to be decent. The bagel setting works well, and while toasting, it leaves the cut side and the back soft. Frozen bread cooked using the defrost button also came out beautifully golden and even.
E D I T O R ' S C H O I C E
VOLKSWAGEN BUS INSPIRED FRIDGE
shapes, bright colors, and stand out against everything else. And when it comes to retro design, there is arguably Modern style has began trending toward nothing more iconic than the 1960’s Volkswagen Bus. a more minimalist style. Now as most In celebration of some German appliances become more muted in tone, engineering and the need to keep food they tend to fade into the background. fresh, Gorenje has revealed the new Retro appliances are rapidly making a Volkswagen Bus refrigerator. Just like comeback. They have several unique shapes, bright colors, which stand out the vehicle that inspired it, this new against everything else. When it comes special edition fridge features chrome to retro design, there is arguably nothing trim, a two-tone paint job, and a big claimed to be more iconic than a 1960’s VW emblem on the door. The only things missing are headlights, a windshield, Volkswagen Bus. and a bumper. Beyond looking good, the In celebration of the need to keep retro Volkswagen Bus refrigerator is food fresh and German engineering, full of modern features. Using thermal Gorenje has revealed the brand new insulation, proper door sealing, and Volkswagen Bus refrigerator. Just like more, the fridge highly energy efficient. the vehicle that inspired it, this special The highest rating possible in Europe, edition fridge features chrome trim, Gorenje’s retro fridges use 60 percent less a two-tone paint job, and a big VW power than those in the A class. The emblem on the door. The only things addition of an advanced fan system and missing are headlights, a windshield, dynamic cooling helps evenly distribute and a bumper. ionized air for consistent temperature Modern style has trended toward a throughout. The ionized air supposedly more minimalist style. As appliances mimics the natural microclimate, which become more muted in tone, they tend keeps food fresh longer. For those who are to fade into the background. As a interested, but are not sure how this market response, retro appliances are charming fridge would look in their making a comeback. They have unique current kitchens, Gorenje encourages people to virtually park it in the kitchen. By uploading a photo to its website, potential buyers can visualize how it will look in their home. Buyers can choose between Burgundy or Baby Blue for the base color. This isn’t the first time a retro fridge has been inspired by classic European cars. Earlier this year, Smeg revealed the Smeg 500 was coming to the United States. This charming
cellar-style fridge is modeled after the hood of an original Fiat 500. Unlike Smeg’s retro appliances, this refrigerator is currently only available in Europe at the moment. If anyone else has been holding out hope that Volkswagen would revitalize the actual Bus, that reality is only a few years away. It has been confirmed that an all-electric version called the I.D. Buzz will be released in 2022. Just like Gorenje’s fridge, it’s a modern reimagining of an original and classic design. This is far from just being a gimmick, because this is actually a well rounded appliance. The Gorenje Retro Special Edition gets a top energy rating. It has IonAir with DynamiCooling, which will evenly distributes the temperature throughout the fridge, a CrispZone with humidity control for your produce, and SimpleSlide shelves which allow you to customize your space and keep your food organized neatly within. We're sure you did not think that you would be reading about the specs and features of a fridge today. Well, we’ve seen a lot of consumer products branded by other car companies: BMW shoes, a McLaren buggy, Renault nail polish, and many others. Out of all the car branded stuff that we have come across, this refrigerator is by far one of the most unique products out there right now. However, the worst part of the design is having to pick a color. Your options are between the classic aqua and red color, and both are as crisp as shown.
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