Book Review: Tiny Homes: Simple Shelter

Book: Tiny Homes: Simple Shelters by Lloyd Kahn

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

There's a grassroots movement in tiny homes these days. The real estate collapse, the economic downturn, burning out on 12-hour workdays  –  many people are rethinking their ideas about shelter  –  seeking an alternative to high rents, or a lifelong mortgage debt to a bank on an overpriced home. Homes on land, homes on wheels, homes on the road, homes on water, even homes in the trees. There are also studios, saunas, garden sheds, and greenhouses.

There are 1,300 photos, showing a rich variety of small homemade shelters, and there are stories (and thoughts and inspirations) of the owner-builders who are on the forefront of this new trend in downsizing and self-sufficiency. You can buy a ready-made tiny home, build your own, get a kit or pre-fab, or live in a bus, houseboat, or other movable shelter. Some cities have special ordinances for building "in-law" or "granny flats" in the back yard. There are innovative solutions in cities, such as the "capsules" in Tokyo.

If you're thinking of scaling back, you'll find plenty of inspiration shown by builders, designers, architects, dreamers, artists, road gypsies, and water dwellers who've achieved a measure of freedom and independence by taking shelter into their own hands.


Rating: 3 stars

Review:

The old saying "Less = More" rings true for the home owners in this book. They all have chosen to downsize their lives and I found it interesting to see how they went about doing it.

I found all the pictures of the various small homes and spaces that range from ultra modern to very rustic. They were very interesting. It takes a lot time, patience and desire to want to live in such small spaces but the home owners seem to really embrace it and don't seem to be regretting it.

I really did like all the pictures. I can't believe one home owner created a Hobbit house. That was really cool. 

This is a pretty good coffee table book and great for those looking for an inspiration to learning how to live with less.