Tiny House Nation

more tiny tv shows, more reality

Tiny houses seem to draw TV audiences, just like they attract traffic online or at open houses. With increasingly mainstream exposure, it’s important to share tiny living realities on screen or online.

Here's a beautiful tiny house from Jamaica Cottage Shop. On Tiny House Nation, this home was built and the challenges of fitting a family were addressed well. (Tiny House Nation video)

Here’s a beautiful tiny house from Jamaica Cottage Shop. On Tiny House Nation, this home was built and the challenges of fitting a family were addressed well. (Tiny House Nation video)

The Hollywood Reporter announced that Tiny House Nation starts filming its second season immediately. A new show, Tiny House Hunting, also begins production. These series air/will air on FYI network, which replaced BIO channel.

FYI producers are pleased that “season one of Tiny House Nation improved the time-period average 37 percent in total viewers and 48 percent among adults 25-54 compared to last year’s BIO Channel average before the rebrand.”

We appreciate that viewers saw many tiny houses and learned about off-grid power, different toilets, kitchen options and multiple-use designs. One glaring omission? Getting municipal approvals and/or permits to live tiny.

Tiny House Nation: What happened

Each episode introduces the downsizers and builds a home quickly. There’s brief coverage on how they are doing now, while our online search finds new challenges after the cameras departed. Here are two examples:

  • 500 Sq. Ft. Rocky Mountain Mansion (video) – After a couple builds a swoon worthy home on the site of their forest-fire destroyed place, they’re stymied by a roof leak and still await their certificate of occupancy.
  • 210 Sq. Ft. Studio Retreat (video) – One young couple is very pleased with their Minim house, though face challenges about where to park and live in a new house on wheels. They want to remain local and advertise for help.

Tiny House Hunters: What matters

Have you seen house-hunter shows? Usually several options are shown and buyers make an offer which gets accepted. There’s some footage after the owners settle into their new place. All is well and good.

Yet with tiny houses built on foundations, issues may arise when owners decide to make any modifications. Compliance with zoning and building codes becomes a local pursuit:

  • Exterior footprint or height changes which violate zoning codes
  • Interior space changes that may not meet old building codes
  • Historic district locations with constraints of all kinds
  • Utility installations, upgrades or changes

Viewers and would-be tiny house buyers deserve as much reality as possible. Post-airing discussions could attract waves of on-demand viewing — and then everyone wins.

spiral stairs to sleeping loft

To conserve tiny house space, consider installing spiral stairs to access a sleeping loft. They would make an ascent or descent easier than any ladder, right?

Spiral stairs from a Washington tiny house

The first spiral stairs come from a jewel-box tiny home built by Zack Giffin, who’s a skier, carpenter and Tiny House Nation host. Over the past three years, Zack (and his partner Molly) traveled to many Western ski areas where they discovered powder secrets and tiny house admirers along the way.

These well crafted stair steps were hand-built by Zack Giffin, in his tiny ski house on wheels. They seem like fine furniture and works of art. (Photo by Michael Dyrland)

These well crafted stair steps were hand-built by Zack Giffin, in his tiny ski house on wheels. They seem like fine furniture and works of art. (Photo by Michael Dyrland)

Notice how the steps rotate around a vertical pole. It enables dwellers to use extra space for seating and other purposes. (Photo by Mark Fisher)

Notice how the steps rotate around a vertical pole. It enables dwellers to use extra space for seating and other purposes. (Photo by Mark Fisher)

Here the tiny house is truly at home, nestled into a ski area parking lot. Everyone inside should be ready for tomorrow's action. (Photo by Michael Dyrland)

Here the tiny house is truly at home, nestled into a ski area parking lot. Everyone inside should be ready for tomorrow’s action. (Photo by Michael Dyrland)

Spiral stairs from a Massachusetts tiny house

The second spiral stairs appear in a tiny house owned by Francis Camosse, a local youth minister. His dream home, a modified Tumbleweed Cypress, was just built by Zack Giffin, local contractors and the Tiny House Nation. Aah, we understand the source of these spiral stairs now.

"Henry Camosse, father of Francis Camosse, climbs the stairs to the loft of his son's tiny house in Charlton," says the Worcester Telegram. (Photo by Paul Connors)

“Henry Camosse, father of Francis Camosse, climbs the stairs to the loft of his son’s tiny house in Charlton,” says the Worcester Telegram. (Photo by Paul Connors)

Francis Camosse's tiny house gets log cabin siding for a sweet rustic look. The tiny is currently located on family land. (Photo by Paul Connors)

Francis Camosse’s tiny house gets log cabin siding for a sweet rustic look. The tiny is currently located on family land. (Photo by Paul Connors)

first time for a recording loft

For the first time, a recording studio loft has been custom-built in a tiny house on wheels. There are sound dampening squares placed on the loft floor and walls, plus an interior window to keep sound from leaving the area.

Let’s see the studio and entire 220 sq. ft. modern home, below.

Here part of the recording studio loft within a tiny house on wheels. The musician at home says he appreciates its acoustics and roomy area to sit, play and record. (Tiny House Nation)

Here’s part of the recording studio loft within a tiny house on wheels. The musician at home says he appreciates its acoustics and roomy area to sit, play and record. (Tiny House Nation)

This modern home, painted an energizing blue, features a sloped roof and plenty of light shining through highly-placed windows. (Tiny House Nation)

This modern home, painted an energizing blue, features a sloped roof and plenty of light shining through highly-placed windows. (Tiny House Nation)

We love the transition, from the chartreuse entry door to the calm seating area. Also notice the bathroom, with herringbone tiling and a traditional tub. (Tiny House Nation)

We love the transition, from the chartreuse entry door to the calm seating area. Also notice the bathroom, with herringbone tiling and a traditional tub. (Tiny House Nation)

It fits: a U-shaped kitchen, sleeping loft and expandable dining table. The table even becomes a quilting zone, with one sewing maching and materials hidden there. (Tiny House Nation)

It fits: a U-shaped kitchen, sleeping loft and expandable dining table. The table even becomes a quilting zone, with one sewing machine and materials hidden there. (Tiny House Nation)

Meet the homeowners, a traveling nurse named Angela and her musician boyfriend Hydrect. They are flanked by Tiny House Nation hosts Zach and John. (Tiny House Nation)

Meet the homeowners, a traveling nurse named Angela and her musician boyfriend Hydrect. They are flanked by Tiny House Nation hosts Zach and John. (Tiny House Nation)

More access: Want video? The Tiny House Nation show offers a video tour that’s free. The “Bohemian Escape” episode may be viewed online via your cable provider here or pay $2.99 to view itunes.

hip minim house multiplies

Minim House is a thoughtfully designed tiny house with hip good looks, energy efficiency, an open floor plan and no loft. Now that a second Minim has been built, we decided to compare the two homes below.

Both Minim Houses impress with their floor plans that include an office nook, closet and wet bath — plus space for a kitchen galley, large sofa, moveable and multi-use table, huge TV screen and roll-out bed. Let’s take a peek.

Minim Exteriors

EXTERIOR, DC - The original Minim House, designed by owner Brian Levy and Foundry Architects, is located right in Washington, D.C. Minim sports dark, natural wood cladding as well as a black-trimmed front door and windows. (Minim Homes)

EXTERIOR, DC – The original Minim House, designed by owner Brian Levy and Foundry Architects, is located right in Washington, D.C. Minim sports dark, natural wood cladding as well as a black-trimmed front door and windows. (Minim Homes)

EXTERIOR, NY - Here's the second Minim House, constructed for downsizing homeowners Tim and Shannon. This Rochester, NY version follows building plans closely and features grey siding, a blue door and white trim. (Shannon Soine, Instagram)

EXTERIOR, NY – Here’s the second Minim House, constructed for downsizing homeowners Tim and Shannon. This Rochester, NY version follows building plans closely and features grey siding, a blue door and white trim. (Shannon Soine, Instagram)

Minim Kitchens

KITCHEN, DC - "A 10 foot wide galley affords room for 2 cooks in the kitchen. It’s designed to accommodate a 7.1 cubic foot refrigerator under the counter, or has adequate room for a fuller size fridge to either side." (Minim Homes)

KITCHEN, DC – “A 10 foot wide galley affords room for 2 cooks in the kitchen. It’s designed to accommodate a 7.1 cubic foot refrigerator under the counter, or has adequate room for a fuller size fridge to either side.” (Minim Homes)

KITCHEN, NY - "This beautiful, light-filled house reminds you to seize the day." In this kitchen, traditional wood and glass cabinets are installed. Notice the larger fridge and freezer to the left. (Tiny House Nation)

KITCHEN, NY – “This beautiful, light-filled house reminds you to seize the day.” In this kitchen, traditional wood and glass cabinets are installed. Notice the larger fridge and freezer to the left. (Tiny House Nation)

Minim Sleeping (Plus) Areas

SLEEPING, DC - "The 5′x7′ office/storage area sits atop the bed platform. There is also a 5′ full width closet. The full or queen size bed hides under the platform, and easily slides out from underneath." (Minim Homes)

SLEEPING, DC – “The 5′x7′ office/storage area sits atop the bed platform. There is also a 5′ full width closet. The full or queen size bed hides under the platform, and easily slides out from underneath.” (Minim Homes)

SLEEPING, NY - "The bed slides out for sleeping, but hides away under the office space when not in use." In this close-up, the full bed is partly rolled out. Our homeowners know that sliding it away is their first daily task. (Tiny House Nation)

SLEEPING, NY – “The bed slides out for sleeping, but hides away under the office space when not in use.” In this close-up, the full bed is partly rolled out. Our homeowners know that sliding it away is their first daily task. (Tiny House Nation)

Minim Seating (Plus) Areas

SEATING, DC - There are no interior walls in the Great Room, and a longer sofa than most tinies. One feature we haven't seen anywhere else is the pull-down screen which covers the left-side windows for TV/video viewing. (Minim Homes)

SEATING, DC – There are no interior walls in the Great Room, and a longer sofa than most tinies. One feature we haven’t seen anywhere else is the pull-down screen which covers the left-side windows for TV/video viewing. (Minim Homes)

SEATING, NY - Here's a close-up of the long sofa (and storage), which looks comfortable for any house and ready for large-screen TV viewing parties. We hear nine people came over and there was extra room. (Tiny House Nation)

SEATING, NY – Here’s a close-up of the long sofa (and storage), which looks comfortable for any house and ready for large-screen TV viewing parties. We hear nine people came over and there was extra room. (Tiny House Nation)

More Access: Want video? The Tiny House Nation show featured the new Minim. Watch “Rochester Studio Retreat” online via your cable provider here or pay $2.99 to view itunes. For the original Minim, check out this video tour.

tiny house nation: tv about tinies

When there’s sufficient tiny house interest for a television series, something is shifting culturally. Tiny House Nation promises to feature a person or family taking the leap into tiny house living, on every show.

The series premieres on Wednesday, July 9th at 10E/11P, as part of an A&E channel launch called fyi. Like us, you’ll have to watch it live or on demand.

Here's a half-minute, sneak peek video of Tiny House Nation. Click on the image, and watch closely as several newly-built tinies flash before your eyes. (fyi.tv)

Here’s a half-minute, sneak peek video of Tiny House Nation. Click on the image, and watch closely as several newly-built tinies flash before your eyes. (fyi.tv)

John Weisbarth and Zack Giffin will serve as hosts for the show. We already know Zack and his girlfriend Molly, who tow their tiny house to Western skiing destinations. Zack’s building and living experience should be a great asset.

Look at this tiny ski house built by Zack Giffin, which glows in a cold winter night. Parked next to ski lifts, it's conveniently close to tomorrow's backcountry adventures. (Ian Provo photo)

Look at this tiny ski house built by Zack Giffin, which glows in a cold winter night. Parked next to ski lifts, it’s conveniently close to tomorrow’s backcountry adventures. (Ian Provo photo)

We are unashamedly excited to see a pure, 100-percent tiny house series emerge on the scene. For everyone thinking about getting his/her own tiny on wheels or land, let’s hope this TV show fulfills its promises to share true stories and homes.

7/17/14 Update: Tiny House Nation episodes may be watched free and online, including “172 Sq. Ft. Dream Castle” (view) and “River Escape” (view).