In praise of SketchUp

 
3D modeling software can effectively help people visualize an object or structure before it's actually built, but this type of software often includes a steep learning curve and hefty price tag.  Fortunately, Google SketchUp addresses both issues. It's free (the feature-rich Pro version costs ~$500) and it has a surprisingly intuitive interface that can be mastered relatively quickly. Basically, you create a 2D object like you would in any drawing program and then you simply "push/pull" or extrude the object into 3D and suddenly you're working with 3D objects. There's a plethora of instructional video tutorials, as well as user-generated videos, that help users become proficient in limited time and without delving into user manuals. This video is the first of a 7-part series depicting the digital creation of a tiny home. SketchUp enables users to create complex models with different layers so you can, for example, examine only a building's framing by simply hiding other layers. Users can also import (or export) models from the 3D warehouse, a vast repository of everything from simple objects to entire cities modeled in SketchUp.

OK, I know what you're thinking: if SketchUp is so intuitive and I'm always yammering about a tiny home then why don't I have my own model to show here? Fair question. Rather than do a quick mockup, I plan to digitally prototype the home by building it from the ground up with digital 2x4s, sheets of plywood, etc. and using exact dimensions (similar to this video but I'm not nearly as adept). This will take some time and it requires me to carefully consider design decisions including specific dimensions. Nonetheless, I will have something to show before I start the actual build. In the meantime, if you haven't done it already, I encourage you to give SketchUp a try.

Pepper's open house

This past weekend I thoroughly enjoyed an interesting and informative tiny home open house in a Sonoma County park next to the Russian River. The home was built by Pepper and Dylan who run a company called Bungalow To Go. They work closely with Tumbleweed (Pepper presents at some of their workshops), but also provide some flexibility since Tumbleweed adheres to its own designs as well as a specific aesthetic. I plan to build my own tiny home, but like to see what others have done and exchange ideas.

This home was clearly well-designed and well-built. There were a number of elements I really liked including an attractive octagonal window that filled the loft with natural light, efficient toe kick drawers that help maximize use of all space, and a closet lined with cedar that was pleasing to both the eyes and nose. The bathroom (see image below) was actually more spacious and comfortable than you might think. One thing I noticed that might be an issue for me was the size of the hot water heater (19 gallons) that together with the expansion tank took up a significant amount of space in a closet. I may go with a tankless/flash water heater that will cost more initially, but require significantly less space and reduce ongoing energy costs since there is no tank of water to heat continuously. More research is required on this issue as there are tradeoffs associated with tankless water heaters.

The best aspect of the open house was the opportunity it provided to chat with Pepper and Dylan who are both passionate and knowledgeable. They shared ideas and the logic behind many of their design and construction decisions. Even though I plan to build my own home, I hope to work with Bungalow To Go in some capacity.