Spend Less, Live More! ISSN 2631-326X
OCTOBER 2019
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OCTOBER 2019
Contents Send Us Your Photos!! Are you living in a tiny house, a narrowboat, a studio or other small space? Your story can help inspire others to follow their dreams!
Heavenly Howfs … Page
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Sun & Wind - A Great Combination! … Page Re-Purposed Paradise! … Page
Email us at: info@tinylivingmagazine.co.uk
Published by: Tiny Living Productions Ltd, Glasgow UK Editor: Pamela Palongue Design by: Gilmour Graphics Email: info@tinylivingmagazine.co.uk Cover photograph: A lovely little cottage in the Scottish Highlands at Craighead Howfs. See our article on Page 3. London skyline image: Freepik.com
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Heavenly Howfs First of all, you may be thinking to yourself, ‘Just what is a howf?’ A howf in the Scots language, is a favourite haunt. And for anyone who’s ever visited Craighead Howfs, they’re sure to be a favourite. It is a collection of six unusual structures, that could have only been created by people with an exceptional imagination and great sense of fun.
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Ian and Heather purchased Craighead Farm 30 years ago. It’s located in Perthshire in Dunblane, the hometown of the famous tennis player, Andy Murray. Heather was a nurse, and Ian had started his own joinery business at the time they moved to the farm. They raised their three children there (and several animals) as they renovated the house and buildings on the farm.
When glamping began to become really popular around 2014, they came up with the idea of renovating the Summer Howf that already existed on the property, and building the Wee Howf. The Summer Howf is full of light, with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside, and has a charming built-in daybed. It’s also featured on our cover! It can be rented April through November. Ian designed the tidy little Wee Howf dwelling that sits near a lovely lochan, and built it with the help of their son Lewis. It’s a classic wood frame construction with cross timbers and skylights. Most interestingly, it’s built on stilts, and sits right on top of a burn, or stream! The Wee Howf is equipped with a log burning stove and is fully insulated, making it available to rent year-round. Craighead Howfs now has six howfs in all, and each is very unconventional. Heather explains, “…we have camped all of our lives and knew what we wanted to achieve – no standard builds, no pods, no rows of accommodations. We love the grounds here and intentionally placed each one in a part of the garden that suited its style and build. Each visitor has a little outdoor space of their own while they are with us.”
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The Howfs are not just a glamping business, it’s part of the family home, and Ian and Heather have tried to convey that theme of welcome at the farm. Over the years, they’ve acquired quite a menagerie of animals which currently includes two highland cows, pygmy goats, hens, geese, ducks, rhea, turkeys, two donkeys and some cats. Guests often enjoy interacting with the animals and the peaceful natural setting. A couple of years ago, Ian and Heather retired from their full-time jobs in nursing and joinery, and now focus solely on the Howfs and their guests. It’s a lovely lifestyle they’ve built for themselves and their family, that’s all about connecting with people and nature. For information on booking a stay, visit www.craigheadhowf.co.uk Be sure to look for our November issue, when we will be featuring an article on their Hobbit Howfs and Treehouse Howf!
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Sun & Wind - A Great Combination! Often the complaint with alternative energy sources is that they don’t generate enough energy for practical use. But with tiny houses, narrowboats and caravans, they’re a completely viable option that can save money, and are good for the planet. But which is the better option – wind or solar? The answer is actually to use both! Tiny house builder Chris March has found that because the UK gets more sun in the warmer months, and more wind in the cooler months, solar and wind works great in tandem. And the photovoltaic panels and wind turbines don’t require a large amount of space to be effective. With small-space living, there is less to heat, cool and light, and appliances are smaller and generally built to be more efficient, using far less energy. Most tiny houses and narrowboats are equipped with either a conventional electrical source or generator. Solar and wind power are a great supplement that can make sure you never run out of power.
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How much power you will actually need will depend entirely upon your particular lifestyle. If you need a big screen TV and regularly invite 30 of your closest personal friends to watch the big match, you may notice a deficit. But if you buy a reliable battery for power storage, make sure that your panels are well-placed for maximum sun exposure, and are energy conscious, you may find that your alternative sources can supply almost all of your needs. Many solar kits will allow you to charge both your engine battery and your leisure battery from the same solar panel. There are also flexible solar panel ranges on offer that can adhere nicely to a curved shape, such as the top of an Airstream caravan. This is a great option when rigid, framed panels won’t work for the space. Another consideration is whether to use monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels. The monocrystalline is a bit more efficient because the panels are made from a single piece of silicon. They’re more expensive,
and the panels will have a black appearance. The polycrystalline are composed of a blend of silicon pieces. You can think of the difference between the two as a solid piece of wood versus particle board which is composed of many. The polycrystalline is less expensive, and slightly less efficient, but more sustainable and ecofriendly in its production, producing less waste. Polycrystalline panels will have the characteristic blue colour.
up your TV, some solar and wind supply companies offer installation services across the UK.
Kits make sustainable energy easy because they ensure that you’re getting all the pieces needed to make your wind or solar energy operational, and you have a good idea of the cost up front. Alternatively, you can research the various components and purchase them according to your personal preference, but it’s a good idea to consult with more than one expert before buying. Look for a builder or dealer who has experience with them and can give speak to your individual needs.
SunstoreThis company offers next day delivery and performs installations all over the UK. www.sunstore.co.uk/product-category/solarpanels-for-caravans
A solar panel system is fairly straightforward to install if you have basic DIY skills, but if you’re someone who dreads the very thought of hooking
CAVEAT EMPTOR: There are many UK-based companies which offer solar and wind power kits that are especially made for tiny houses, caravans and narrowboats. The two listed below have consistently high ratings in reviews across different sources. Be sure to do your research before purchasing!
Photonic UniverseThis company offers both wind kits and solar kits, and offers a range of semi-flexible solar panels for curved surfaces. www.photonicuniverse.com
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A Tiny Living Promotion
In Case You Missed It… If you missed touring the Elegance Grande at London Excel earlier this month, you can still book a personal tour of the tiny house, and chat with its designer and master builder, Chris March. Tours are by appointment ONLY, and include a consultation with Chris regarding your specific home plans. Nothing is quite as helpful as actually ‘living’ in a house to see what it’s really like though! You can also book a stay at the Elegance Grande at Tiny Eco Homes UK, to get a real taste of living
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tiny for a couple of days in beautiful natural surroundings. -Chances are, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the amount of space in this cleverly designed home. The loft has increased headroom with a full six feet in height, and is the largest of the towable tiny houses. Tiny Eco Homes UK has built bespoke tiny homes in all shapes, colours and configurations for their homeowners. To view the online gallery of tiny houses and book your tour or holiday stay, visit www.tinyecohomesuk.com
The London Eco Film Festival !
AUTUMN PRINT on Sale Now!
2-3 November Rich Mix, Shoreditch This film festival is about informing and inspiring people to action. Tickets are free, with an option of donating to the Fair Earth Foundation’s initiative for replanting the Earth’s rainforests, and funding young peoples’ education in developing countries. For tickets, visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/londoneco-film-festival-2019-2nd-3rd-november-rich-mixshoreditch-tickets-59447834072
Our Autumn issue (a combination of July, August & September) available at these locations: LONDON Charlotte Street News, Fitzrovia, W1T 4QE LONDON Rococo News & Magazines, Notting Hill W11 2HX GLASGOW Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) Aye-Aye Bookstore, G2 3JD
- And online everywhere at www.Newsstand.co.uk
Plan Your Canal Trip! Narrowboats.org has an excellent canal route planner which has over 10,000 different points of interest to plan a personalised canal trip! The information includes the routes, location of bridges, locks, restaurants, pubs and local attractions. After you’ve planned your trip you can download a PDF of the route you’ve chosen.
EVEN A SUPER HERO NEEDS A HAND NOW AND THEN!
To plan your trip, visit www.narrowboats.org
At Tiny Living Magazine UK we’re here to help! That’s because quality housing and minimising our impact on the natural world is our passion too. When you advertise with us, our print magazines are distributed to over 90 locations across the UK every quarter, and our online version appears every month! We offer one low price for all of it, to give you the most success. Call us for more info – 07715888981 or email infotinylivingmagazine.co.uk The impossible is possible – Just build!
Photography - Martyn Richards, ‘Autumn fog’
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Re-Purposed Paradise!
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Wales is one of the loveliest places on Earth! And it’s perhaps because of its enchanting landscape, that there is such a deep appreciation for the natural world by those who live there.
and making them work. Dafydd and his wife, Ceri have converted, built and decorated each of the structures, which look as natural as the landscape that surrounds them.
In mid-Wales, there is a collection of seven small space dwellings, each unique in design and construction. The owner of this wilderness paradise is not surprisingly an architect, who has always had an interest in designing small structures
The cabans are all cosy and full of light, with beautiful views. But one of the most surprising, is a caban which has been converted from a hay trailer!
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Previously, the couple had a converted barn for a holiday let, but it was frequently booked. So they wanted to add another accommodation for their returning visitors. There was a spare hay trailer on the farm, so Dafydd came up with the idea of a moveable cabin by converting it. Caban Coch (Welsh for red cabin) was created. The caban has breath taking views of the Cambrian Mountains in its peaceful setting. Inside, it’s been furnished with found, vintage furniture pieces and bright cheery fabrics. Quirky artwork and vintage plates adorn the walls for a colourful mix that’s cosy and relaxed, and proves that you don’t need new items to create an entirely new look. So if anyone ever asks if you’d like to stay in a converted hay trailer, quickly seize the opportunity and say ‘Yes!’. Dafydd and Ceri have also created a tiny space called Caban Crwn (round cabin) which has been featured in several publications, and they recently added a treehouse to their growing list of unusual small structures.
Before taking on any conversion project or unconventional build, it’s important to always consult a qualified architect who has experience working with small spaces and conversions. They can help build a practical foundation for your dream conversion. You can stay in the Caban Coch by visiting their booking site at Canopy & Stars at www.canopyandstars.co.uk/britain/wales/ powys/beudy-banc/caban-coch This area uniquely offers tons of biking trails, Snowdonia National Park to the north and coastal areas just a few miles to the west. A special thanks to Canopy & Stars for the lovely photos featured here!
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- a ccording 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? www.popsci.com/why-do-we-think-tiny-things-are-cute
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Well-read dogs agree: Tiny Living UK is fun and inspirational! DISCLAIMER: The above survey was conducted by dachshunds with questionable math skills and skewed scientific methods.
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