A Tiny Treasure House!
ISSN 2631-326X
JULY 2021
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JULY 2021
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Contents 03 Tiny Treasure House … Page
A Tiny Holiday Home – The Home That Can Earn You Money (A Tiny Living Promotion) … Page
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The Chesterfield Canal Walking Festival … Page
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On the cover: Tiny House Bedroom with Blue Walls
photographed by Andrea Davis
Published by: Tiny Living Productions Ltd Editor: Pamela Palongue Design by: Gilmour Graphics Email: info@tinylivingmagazine.co.uk
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Tiny Treasure House 03
From a garden shed to a stunning tiny house transformation! -How an anglophile turned her back yard into a beautiful, English garden escape!
While the world was turning upside down in 2020, Vera Hailey found herself wanting to create a living space that reflected her English roots in her Virginia home. “I’m so very proud of my British roots and I’m a fan of all things British! By telling stories, relatives got me interested in genealogy in my early teens.” Vera’s roots have been traced, all the way back to William Farrar, who came from England in 1618,
and settled in a place near Richmond, Virginia, which was later to become known as Farrar’s Island. In an odd quirk of fate, William Farrar became a magistrate in the new world, and more than 300 years later, his descendant, Vera, also served as a magistrate in the Virginia Supreme Court! Vera and her daughter hope to visit the UK in 2022 and spend some time in London, Hebden Bridge and points in between. Vera says, “We’d love to find tiny lodging options along the way.”
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Her own tiny house creation, sprang from a simple, cinderblock (breeze block) shed, which was already a reincarnation of building materials. It was constructed of 3rd use brick and breeze blocks that had been salvaged from a 1930s chicken house which had belonged to her great-aunt. Although the cottage is diminutive, planning restrictions abound in the US, much as they do in the UK. One early disappointment came in learning that since the structure was built on a concrete slab, it had to be insulated to qualify as a living space. This was no small feat as the exterior brick and stucco had to be removed and a trench dug around the perimeter to apply the foam insulation. Inspections had to be completed after each phase of building to ensure
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that each aspect of the renovation was built to the specific, local code. If the aspect failed to pass the inspection (which happened multiple times) some innovation was required to make the necessary changes, and still preserve the original vision of what the cottage was to become. Vera acknowledges that it was a learning process from start to finish. She spent many hours of research prior to the start of the project, collecting ideas from Pinterest and gathering previously-owned items such as a cast iron sink, and a mirrored Ikea closet door. She decided to add the loft space so that the bed could be large enough to accommodate two people comfortably, rather than opting for a space-saving twin.
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Her original sketch featured a staircase along one wall, but it was revised when she found a secondhand wooden spiral staircase! However, the lucky find actually led to more work, as it did not meet the building restrictions and had to be altered for actual use. There were also challenges with building material shortages. In the US, many people were forced to remain at home. When they received their economic stimulus checks, many decided to spend the money on upgrades to their homes in which they were now spending so much time. This helped contribute
to difficulties in getting many building items, especially lumber. One final hurdle had to be overcome with regards to building restrictions. The ceiling in the loft was 5’9” or about 1.75 metres. “The exception provisions of the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) Appendix Q relating to Tiny Houses allowed this and it was approved,” explains Vera. When it was all done and dusted, the project had taken a year to complete.
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“…amazingly, it had turned out to be much better than the sum of its parts,” says Vera. Though she denies having any prior background in decorating or design, she does confess that the inspiration for her English country style garden was probably influenced by watching every episode of ‘Midsomer Murders’. She had started with a plan to convert a garden shed into a cottage that would be used by friends and family when visiting. However, the reactions she received, gave her the idea of sharing the cottage with others. “I imagined it would make the perfect guest cottage for visiting family and friends. Letting it was not part of the original idea. I wanted a simple, single room with a minimal, but functional kitchen, and a bathroom separated from the main living area by a partition.”
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Her advice to other would-be tiny house builders? “Meet with your building authorities first thing to learn the requirements and to know what’s allowed by law as it could change the direction of the plan and save the expense of do-overs. Ask questions and get clarification. Have fun and be willing to take chances on design and furnishings.” If you’d like to contact Vera about the build, or have questions about staying in the cottage, email her at vera@verahailey.com You can book a stay in the cottage by visiting Airbnb at www.airbnb.com/h/verahailey Photos of the cottage during restoration are by Vera Hailey. Our thanks to Bessie Black Photography of Bridgewater, Virginia USA for her lovely photos of the cottage and garden: www.bessieblack.com
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A Tiny Living Promotion
A Tiny Holiday Home –T he Home That Pays For Itself A tiny home is a great way to get away for a holiday. You can live with nature, and spend time with those people who are most important in your life. Far less expensive than a conventional holiday home, it leaves a smaller footprint on the environment. -And, it’s completely portable! Another important aspect of a tiny holiday home is that it can earn money for you. A well-placed home in an inviting setting can be let when you’re not using it. The house featured here was built by Master Tiny House Builder, Chris March of Tiny Eco Homes UK. They build homes based on your needs and your specific location and climate. Click here for more: www.tinyecohomesuk.com
– according to the Canal & River Trust, 26% of the
UK’s 33,000 boats are used as primary residences? – thousands of people in the UK are already embracing small-space living in studio flats, student accommodations, and small terraced houses? – there are over 80 shepherd hut building companies in the UK? – prices for a well-designed tiny house fitted with kitchen and bath starts at £26,000? – according to Popular Science, human beings are hard-wired to like tiny things?
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www.popsci.com/why-do-we-think-tiny-things-are-cute
Photograph by Tom Courtney, Canal Tunnel at Drake Holes.
The ß Chesterfield Canal Walking Festival The Chesterfield Canal is one of the most scenic canals in all of England. It features 240 year-old staircase locks, and beautiful natural surroundings where waterfowl, fish and plants live in harmony with people. Every inch of the canal’s 46 miles is walkable via the towpath known as The Cuckoo Way. The Chesterfield Canal Trust will host a Walking Festival from 11th – 19th September. There are 42 separate walks offered, featuring various parts of the canal, such as the famous Traquair Murals of Clayworth, historic churches, listed buildings, a visit to an ancient woodland, and a classic bicycle ride along the canals, beginning and ending
at Vintage Tea Rooms. -An excellent opportunity to explore the countryside and learn about the history of the canals. All people who wish to participate will need to book in advance. To reserve your place, visit www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk/bookings The Chesterfield Canal Walking Festival is made possible by several generous sponsors, including the Canal & River Trust, Derbyshire County Council Action Grants, Avant Homes, Eckington Parish Council, Misterton Parish Council and West Stockwith Parish Council..
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