Beautiful Small Spaces! ISSN 2631-326X
JANUARY 2019
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JANUARY 2019
Write to Us!
Are you currently living in a small space and making it work? Are you working on a self-build, tiny house, or narrowboat renovation? Your story can inspire others to follow their dreams. Write to us at: info@tinylivingmagazine.co.uk
Contents 3 The View from Above … Page
Bed Head - Thinking of sleeping space differently… … Page
7 10 13
Cabin Fever! … Page
Make a Fresh Start … Page
Published by: Tiny Living Productions Ltd, Glasgow UK Editor: Pamela Palongue Design by: Gilmour Graphics Email: info@tinylivingmagazine.co.uk On the cover: Red wooden cottage, Stalheim, Norway Photograph by Oleksandr Mazur
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The View from Above
One of the most fascinating and magical places in the world has to be a tree house – even if it happens to be in your own garden.
But is it possible to have a tree house that can be maintained for several years to come? We spoke to Simon Payne of BlueForest Tree Houses to find out more.
As a child, a tree house provides a secret private place, far away from the world below. For adults looking for a weekend escape or holiday home, they can provide much the same.
One of the first concerns in building a tree house is to do no harm. The structure must be carefully planned to avoid doing any damage to the tree itself.
What could be more natural and close to nature than dwelling in a tree? The views of the surrounding landscape are just a little more beautiful. And the strong limbs of the tree embracing your house can feel like an old friend.
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“ We’ve worked really hard to develop methods which will have minimal impact on the tree” Simon Payne, BlueForest Tree Houses The limbs of the tree sometimes pass right through the centre of the house to maintain the tree’s integrity!
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Alexander Whittle Photography
Then, over the years, adjustments are made to ensure that the structure can “grow” with the tree, so that both can co-exist. Simon, and his brother Andy, had the unique experience of growing up in Kenya, where they were inspired by the safari lodges of East Africa. Their curved rooftops and organic appearance influenced them, but it was a friend who asked them to build a platform for a treehouse that actually started them on their journey of building treehouses. They’ve built many treehouses for all ages and functionalities. And the houses can be supplied with both power and water.
Solar energy can be used, but one of the best sustainable power sources is wind, supplied by a wind power fuel cell. If a client wants a treehouse, but doesn’t have any trees large enough for the job, the houses can be supported on stilts. When nestled among trees and other foliage, it has the same aesthetic as a treehouse. There is a book available on Amazon, authored by Blue Forest, with more information and ideas on tree house structures, “Tree Houses Reimagined” -For more information on Blue Forest and their bespoke creations, visit: www.blueforest.com
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Tiny Living Magazine is available in PRINT for SCRAPBOOKING, VISION BOARDS and HOME JOURNALS. Our 32-page WINTER edition has three of our online editions in print, for just £5, mailed right to your door. Our magazine is printed exclusively on recycled paper with vegetable oil-based inks. Visit www.tinylivingmagazine.co.uk and click SUBSCRIBE from the main menu.
Timber Framing Course The Scottish Crannog Centre, located in Aberfeldy,Perthshire, is offering two timber framing courses in February where the art of greenwood and timber framing skills will be taught. The instructor, Mike Ellis, runs Scotland’s only nationally accredited courses on Traditional Woodman’s Coppice and Greenwood Skills’. The course will be offered 19th February, and 26th February with each course lasting five days. For more information, contact Mike Ellis at mike@helmsdalewood.co.uk or call 01431 821855. For more information on The Scottish Cranog Centre, www.crannog.co.uk
Online Strawbale Building Course!
Strawbale building is an ancient method of construction that is enjoying renewed life. The materials are inexpensive and organic, and it’s a great insulator, staying cool in the summer and warm and toasty in the winter. One of the UK’s best known strawbale builders, Barbara Jones, has partnered with Low Impact Living Initiative to create an online course with over 200 minutes demonstrating the building technique. In addition to Barbara’s instruction, there are diagrams and text for detailed illustration of strawbale building. For more information, visit the link below: www.lowimpact.org/onlinecourse/straw-bale-building
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“ The impossible is possible. -Just build!” -Pamela Palongue
A Tiny Living Promotion
Where to Start With Purchasing a Tiny House -M aster Tiny House Builder Chris March lends some practical advice for first-time, tiny home buyers.
Where do you start with purchasing a tiny house? CM: Looking at photos of houses you like is a good place to start, but it’s also important to get inside one if possible. You need to see what they’re like in 3D. There are several tiny houses which can be rented now for holiday lets, but this can be expensive.We have a gallery of tiny houses at our location in Bishop Auckland, where people can tour them and discover what their personal taste is.
Is it necessary to have house plans before approaching a builder? CM: This is going to depend on the particular builder you work with. Some will want everything mapped out before starting, but in my own case, people often just come to me with their ideas and I can work from a rough sketch.
How do I choose a builder? CM: One of the biggest factors, is to look for someone with experience. If they’ve only constructed a few homes, it could be hit or miss. Although tiny houses are more inexpensive than a conventional house, they’re still a sizeable investment. Try to see their work in person if possible and look for the quality of the materials they’ve used. At the very least, ask, for references which you can verify.
- Chris March is a master tiny house builder, having built over 60 tiny houses, and is a specialist in mobile tiny homes. You can find more information on Chris and selecting a tiny house at: www.tinyecohomesuk.com
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Bed Head Thinking of sleeping space differently…
– A clever daybed doubles as a sofa, from August Grove and available at Wayfair.
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– Alcove or wall bed, designed by The Wee House Company.
The concept of tiny house living, often conjures up the idea of a loft bedroom, accessible only by ladder. The loft bed makes sense for those wanting to save floor space, and a cosy nook can make a great sleeping area with beautiful morning views from your high perch. But if climbing a ladder in the middle of the night does not appeal, there are other options which will keep your feet planted firmly on the ground. A daybed, a wall bed, or alcove bed could be the best answer. One of the best places to start is one of the simplest solutions – the daybed. The one pictured here by August Grove, is available from Wayfair for under £300. This is especially economical when you consider that the daybed doubles as a sofa, saving space and money. This particular model is called “Ariela” and depending upon the linens used to dress it, could fit in a fairly wide range of styles.
The “Captain” Daybed, by Castleton Home and also available from Wayfair for a little over £400, actually manages to combine three functions in one piece of furniture; a bed, a chest of drawers, and when pressed against a wall and bedecked with large cushions, it can serve as a comfortable sofa. Another clever alternative for small space sleeping is a wall bed, or sometimes called an alcove bed. These need to be custom-built, so they work well when you are ordering a bespoke tiny house, or renovating a narrowboat or studio flat. The one pictured above was built by The Wee House Company for their Studio Home model. Tucked up against a wall, beds take up much less space than extended into the centre of the floor. These alcove beds can be designed with wall sconces for reading light, and shelves built into the wall, eliminating the need for a bedside table. They can be closed off during the day with a drape, or doors which neatly close the space from view.
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Finally, there is the fold down bed, also known as a wall bed, and in North America, a Murphy bed. These are nothing new as the inventor, William Murphy, first patented them in 1900. What is new, is the plethora of variations with which they are now being created. There are beds which fold down vertically, but there are also varieties which fold down horizontally, and ones that swivel, just like the bookcase in movies that leads to a hidden passageway! All the beds pictured here are available from Clei UK in London. They construct beds which can double as sofas, chairs, tables and desks. Their designs are clean, contemporary and would work well with most dÊcor. For more information on the beds you see pictured here, please visit: www.wayfair.co.uk www.theweehousecompany.co.uk www.clei.co.uk – A daybed with drawers by Castleton Home.
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Instead of wanting to get out of the house, you may want to burrow into one of these cosy huts.
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These unusual little cabins on the horizon have a unique shape and come from a unique place. They are all hand-built in Estonia, and shipped to various parts of the world. The company, called Iglucraft, now has a base in Somerset from which you can explore one of the models up close for yourself. The little shingles or chips that cover the outside are actually three layers deep. And only about 1/3 of each chip is visible, which actually measures about 60 to 70cm in length! The chips are made of spruce and aspen, and because they are grown in cool climates, the wood is lightweight, but incredibly dense. In between the layers of chips is a cavity which is insulated to withstand the cold to -27 Celsius. Besides withstanding the cold, the huts are also quite durable in wind. One was recently shipped to a particularly windy area of Iceland. Although they are heavy, they can be ground-anchored to give them even more security. Also very important, the structures can now be solar-powered, although they are very energy efficient with conventional electricity as well. Although there are four models to choose from, each structure is made to order, according to the client’s needs.Iglucraft UK recommends that you call one of their staff for an appointment, prior to making a trip to tour the model in Taunton to ensure availability. (The Iglucraft structure available for viewing is Model 3) The staff do not offer planning services, but can however help refer clients to consultants who provide advice. Surprisingly, the demand for the sauna huts they also build has risen sharply. Several have been installed in the UK, including one for David Beckham!
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To find out more information on an Igluhuts for a holiday home, visit: www.iglucraft.co.uk
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Photograph George Chernilevsky
Like many things in our natural world, freshwater habitats are disappearing, along with many of the species that once lived there.
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Make a Fresh Start
One of the best ways that we as individuals can help protect our freshwater resources is to leave them as we found them, with as little human impact as possible. But if you would like to take a more active role in preserving these unique ecosystems, you may want to consider volunteering with Freshwater Habitats Trust. Volunteers help to carry out important research, conducting pond surveys on freshwater species, including rare plants and animals. They test the water sources for nitrate and phosphate pollution levels, and help monitor and manage ponds throughout the UK. - And if you live in the Oxford area, you may be able to assist with record keeping and distribution of equipment to other volunteers. If you have a passion for protecting our waters and helping the wildlife in them to thrive, visit: www.FreshwaterHabitats.org.uk
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Frogs, snails, ducks, shrimp, dragonflies, bats and birds, all have one thing in common; they need fresh water to survive. Rivers, streams, lakes and ponds, all make up the diverse freshwater environment for thousands of species of plants, insects and animals.
EVEN A SUPER HERO NEEDS A HAND NOW AND THEN!
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The impossible is possible – Just build!
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