Size: 150 SF
Budget: $5000 (including doors, fixtures, finishes, etc)
Rather than using conventional stud construction, the FOUNDhouse's structure is CNC-milled from OSB and digitally fabricated joinery. The house uses the open-source Wikihouse platform in combination with Sketchup to help design and plan the structure. Check out this interview about the choices they made. Their Kickstarter page outlines their budget.
Tiny house for under $5000
Size: 250 SF (or so)
Budget: <$5000
Many houses in the "tiny house" movement are constructed on old trailer beds, and this is no exception. Three videos document the construction process in relatively fine detail and the finished product after occupation.
Ian Anderson's Little Timber House
Size: Less than 400 SF
Budget: <$5000
A WPI grad constructed this house in Worcester, Mass., outfitted with a solar panel and a loft. He has a great blog describing the construction process and how the house performs now that he lives there. Of special note is how he documents the house being picked up and moved from one location to another.
The Tiny Project
Size: 160 SF (plus lofts)
Budget: $30,000 (!)
While this house was much more expensive than others here (due primarily to finishes, I believe), it's strength is in its layout: it feels light and airy, and has a contemporary feel on the exterior (check out the finished photos here and here). This house is on wheels, which (I believe) is unnecessary for our particular situation.
Tiny R(E)volution House
Size: 240 SF
Budget: $12,000
Another house that's way over our budget, but is very well documented. Blog includes a detailed budget, lots and lots of how-tos, and plenty of process photos.
SPACE PLANNING IDEAS
The next few projects are waaaaaaaaay out of our budget, mostly due to finishes, but all use effective space planning to create compact spaces that look great.
Ikea Room
Size: 430sf
Budget: Unknown
Awesome video from Ikea talking about maximizing small spaces. This video is a walkthrough of a small, single-room space that sleeps six. Check out still photos here.
Backyard Room
These Australian prefab garden sheds are gorgeous and compact. Again, very luxe, but they have tons of designs and floor plans that could work as precedents.
Macy Miller’s Boise House
Size: 196 SF
Budget: $11,400
Don't put the house on wheels, it’s hella expensive. Very nice space planning and finishes nevertheless. Slideshow here, and short press story here.
Rocky Mountain TinySize: 120 SF
Budget: $25,000
Nice use of materials, contemporary look. Project profile here. Lots of project details and photos here.
