Share with me your clever cabin floor plans.

grunyon · #1 08/13/13, 07:37 PM

Hello!

I am looking for clever small cabin layouts. Something that is small enough that I could build myself on the cheaper side. Something that has a spot for a nice wood stove is important. The problem I have with most places I am seeing are they either have a big, built in stone fireplace (inefficient) or they have no space for a nice wood stove. I'm thinking the smartest place to put a wood stove in a small place would be between two doorways for the natural buffer zone (front door and bathroom)? I would also like something that takes full advantage of the loft space... if not as a bedroom than for a storage area. Storage to me is important. A lot of these plans I lok at and curiously wonder where I would keep my food stockpiles. I would prefer to have a tub instead of a shower stall so boiling bath water is always an option. Plus tubs are useful for all kinds of things. So that'll consume a lot of space I guess. Maybe they sell small tub basins. I do not require a sink in the bathroom, though, I am fine with one being in the kitchen only. I also only require a two burner stove top. I am thinking I will also want a fridge as well. I'm thinking a counter top with a leaf that can fold out and collapse would be very useful.

I'm not trying to go totally off the grid or 18th century, just self sufficient.

Help give me ideas!

emdeengee · #2 08/13/13, 07:49 PM

The best design I have ever seen was a friend's cabin. Very long and narrow. Shed roof. North wall had no windows except small clerestory ones to let in light. Entry on west wall, windows on south wall and windows and French doors on east wall in the bedroom. On the inside the north wall had floor to window height cupboards that stretched from the side door down the full length of the cabin. This meant the rest of the cabin was open plan. The entry was at the side door with a big hall and the bathroom. On the inner wall of the bath and hall was the kitchen so all plumbing was concentrated in one area. The south wall had floor to ceiling windows running through the living room and the bedroom. The bedroom was at the very end of the long cabin and there was a Swedish stove built between it and the living room to act as a room separator. Placing this in the middle of the cabin heated the whole thing with radiant heat. A deck ran the full length of the south wall and the views were spectacular and uninterrupted.

haypoint · #3 08/14/13, 07:23 AM

Here is an idea. This plan allows for both a basement and a second floor. A sun room can be added later on the south side and a living room/closet/pantry added on the north side. If the stairway and stairway walls were made of brick, the wood stove could use the mass to maintain warmth.

am1too · #4 08/14/13, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haypoint

Here is an idea. This plan allows for both a basement and a second floor. A sun room can be added later on the south side and a living room/closet/pantry added on the north side. If the stairway and stairway walls were made of brick, the wood stove could use the mass to maintain warmth.

I currently live in a 12x24 whatever you want to call it. Tax assessor tried to value it at $30,000. We had a little chat.

I moved out of a truck after 6 years and thought it was huge. After 6 years it is way to small.

The major thing I don't see in your plan is heating. Surely you don't think you will be able to heat a place with a wood cook stove. You need bout 12 sq ft min for a small wood stove.

Also there is no living space as in a living room. This really is necessary for all kinds of reasons. Well I did see it included with the bedroom. Not a good idea. Some dimensions would help.

I'll build another shack 16x36 double deck with appended bathroom and stair well. It will have a covered porch. First floor will be an open floor plan. Pantry will be in the stair well.

lonelytree · #5 08/14/13, 10:06 AM

Find a class A motor home that will work and take notes. A kick out will facilitate a woodstove. Otherwise, the use of square footage is optimal.

doingitmyself · #6 08/14/13, 10:21 AM

I have a few suggestions. The staircase takes up a disproportionately large amount of sq. ft. I would suggest a spiral staircase if you have to have a stair case. If the stairs lead to a loft sleeping quarters just do the ladder thing. The bath room sink is nearly on top of the stool. When you sit down to do your business your going to hit your head on the sink. And when you get out of the tub you have to walk the plank to get out. Also i would not do a table area and instead use a counter/prep area with stools that store under the counter. Save that space for more cabinets and storage. If you are going to have living room and bedroom together that's fine but you need to hinge the bed to the wall so you can old it up and out of the way. But its a nice draft for a livable small space!

starlady · #7 08/14/13, 10:27 AM

If you don't mind visiting another site, countryplans.com has a great collection of small home plans and a very friendly forum.

lonelytree · #8 08/14/13, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haypoint

Here is an idea. This plan allows for both a basement and a second floor. A sun room can be added later on the south side and a living room/closet/pantry added on the north side. If the stairway and stairway walls were made of brick, the wood stove could use the mass to maintain warmth.

NO! Look at use of space. Transfer of heat.

I do -40 and have 2 wood stoves. Burn way less that a cord a year. But I have to bring a cabin from -40 to 70 fast. Once the walls are warm, it it's not too bad and we burn a few logs to keep it decent.

Thermal mass is good, don't over rate it.

BTU's rule.