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CHAPTER 1
50 DESIGNS FOR COMPACT CABINS
YOU'LL FIND HERE FIFTY INNOVATIVE CABIN DESIGNS TO SUIT ANY SITE, BUDGET, OR LIFESTYLE, ALL IN LESS THAN 1,000 SQUARE FEET.
Compact Definitions
In designs that follow, the term BLDµBLD refers to cabins that are less than 300 square feet. The term mini refers to cabins that are between 300 and 500 square feet. All the rest are considered simply compact.
They are arranged by size, from the smallest to the largest, with the square footage determined by enclosed space (not including, for example, open porches or decks). Some are named after state parks and natural features in my native Poconos region, while others have more prosaic names based on their notable features. Each cabin is complete unto itself, but the features of any cabin could be combined with the features of others to create new designs.
Each design notes the number of people it will sleep and the size of the kitchen and bathroom.
* Kitchens: A full kitchen contains a four-burner range, a 10- to 14-cubic-foot refrigerator, and a sink. A three-quarter kitchen contains a two- or three-burner range, an 8- to 10-cubic-foot refrigerator, and a sink. A half kitchen contains a two-burner range, a 3- to 8-cubic-foot refrigerator, and a sink.
* Bathrooms: A full bathroom contains a shower over a tub, a full-sized toilet, and a sink. A three-quarter bathroom contains a shower, a toilet, and a sink. A half bath contains a toilet and a shower and shares a sink with the kitchen.
Sleeping accommodations are listed as full-sized bed, Murphy bed, daybed, bunk bed, single bed, pullout sofa, or folding dinette.
The floor plans are to the scale of 1/8 inch = 1 foot. With the use of an architect's scale (available at drafting or art supply stores), you can take measurements from them in order to incorporate ideas into your own designs.
MICRO CABIN
This tiny cabin is based on ideas gleaned from the travel trailer industry to utilize space very efficiently. In a cabin this small, electric space heat makes sense.
Features
162 square feet
Half kitchen
Half bath
Sleeps 2
Utilizes RV components
Adaptable to being off the grid
PERSONAL CABIN
This cabin is just the right size for a personal retreat. With the addition of bunk beds it becomes a getaway for two. This design calls for a small woodstove; if you intend to use the cabin as only a three-season retreat, an electric space heater would work well.
Features
200 square feet
Three-quarter kitchen
Half bath
Sleeps 1 or 2
Adaptable to being off the grid
MICRO CABIN WITH OUTDOOR CLOSET
A roomy outdoor closet can be useful if you have a lot of fishing, hunting, boating, or other gear to store. It also can house a sizable battery array for a solar-electric system.
Features
240 square feet
Half kitchen
Half bath
Sleeps 2
Utilizes RV components
Adaptable to being off the grid
ENDLESS MOUNTAINS MICRO CABIN
This cabin is a perfect getaway for two, and when the couch is pulled out, it can sleep an additional two guests. For a cabin this small the heating options are many: the design calls for gas-fired space heating, but electric space heating, a hot water circulation system (see page 196), or a small woodstove would also work well.
Features
250 square feet
Half kitchen
Three-quarter bath
Sleeps 2 to 4
Adaptable to being off the grid
MICRO CLERESTORY CABIN
At just 256 square feet, this cabin has some surprising amenities, including a full kitchen and bath. The bank of clerestory windows allows light into the center and also provides natural ventilation.
Features
256 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2 to 4
Adaptable to being off the grid
HIGH KNOB CABIN
A cabin with all the traditional amenities. The fireplace provides heat and the romance of a roaring fire on cold evenings.
Features
270 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2 to 6
Fireplace
Adaptable to being off the grid
PORCH LIFE MICRO CABIN
A perfect getaway. The enclosed porch functions as a three-season room, with large banks of windows that, if oriented to the south, can act as passive solar components, keeping the porch warm enough to enjoy in cold weather.
Features
280 square feet
Three-quarter kitchen
Half bath
Sleeps 2 to 4
Adaptable to being off the grid
BAER ROCKS CABIN
This cabin works well in steep building sites, such as along the bank of a stream or river. Its dimensions lend themselves to off-site building; the main unit of the cabin can be trailered in, and the deck built on-site.
Features
288 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2 or 3
Works well in a steep building site
Can be built off-site and trailered in
Adaptable to being off the grid
CLASSIC SIXTIES A-FRAME
Traditional A-frame cabins have an inherent interior space problem. To overcome that problem, giving the cabin plenty of usable floor space, this design adds a shed dormer on one side and designates the other side for storage.
Features
288 square feet
Full kitchen
Three-quarter bath
Sleeps 2
Adaptable to being off the grid
MICRO CABIN WITH LOFT
Based on the 12-foot-square modules described in chapter 2, this cabin is compact but offers all the necessary amenities. The loft, accessed by a ship's ladder, gives some privacy to the sleeping space. Space heating is accomplished through the use of a catalytic gas heater. In a cabin this small, electric space heat would also make sense.
Features
288 square feet
Half kitchen
Half bath
Sleeps 2
Adaptable to being off the grid
SOLAR-POWERED MICRO CABIN
Designed for an off-the-grid application, this cabin relies on solar power for electricity and water heating. The woodstove provides heat in colder weather.
Features
290 square feet
Half kitchen
Half bath
Sleeps 2 or 3
Designed to be off the grid
MINI CLERESTORY CABIN
The roof design of this cabin accommodates clerestory windows, which allow light deep within the cabin and provide natural ventilation, easing or eliminating the need for air conditioning.
Features
312 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2
Screened porch
Adaptable to being off the grid
ADIRONDACK TWIG CABIN
Twig cabins are classic Adirondack style. Materials to build this cabin may be gathered on-site; any trees cut to make space for the cabin can be recycled as part of the twig architecture. The cabin's appeal is completely rustic, yet it houses a full modern kitchen and bathroom.
Features
323 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 4 to 6
Fireplace
GREAT OUTDOORS MINI CABIN
If the outdoor life is your thing, this cabin design is an excellent choice. For cooking outdoors, it offers an expansive porch complete with an outside fireplace. And if you make use of all the sleeping options, it sleeps up to seven people.
Features
325 square feet
Three-quarter kitchen
Three-quarter bath
Sleeps 2 to 7
Outdoor fireplace
Adaptable to being off the grid
PIKE COUNTY CLASSIC CABIN
Pike County is one of the rockiest places in the state of Pennsylvania, and probably in the country, thanks to the last great glacier, which left behind an abundance of rounded river rock. Cabins here are often built from the very stone that is cleared to make room to build them. Stone is an ideal building material for damp places or where it is readily available and therefore inexpensive.
Features
340 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 4 to 6
Adaptable to being off the grid
FOUR-SEASON MINI CABIN
With central heat as well as a huge fireplace, this cabin is a cozy year-round retreat. The loft gives some privacy to the sleeping accommodations and allows the first floor to have an open stretch of floor space.
Features
348 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2
Fireplace
Adaptable to being off the grid
LOYAL SOCK CABIN
This cabin offers a lot in just more than 350 square feet, including a full bath and full kitchen. The outdoor storage locker is roomy, able to accommodate bulky gear for hunting, boating, or other outdoor activities. Its full structural framework, if coupled with a strong door and lock, allows it to be a secure storage site.
Features
352 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2 or 3
Outside storage locker
Adaptable to being off the grid
WOODS CABIN IN THE ROUND
This semicircular cabin is designed to allow for maximum view of the outdoors. This cabin can be oriented to face south and capture the sun for passive solar heating.
Features
353 square feet
Full kitchen
Three-quarter bath
Sleeps 2 to 4
Adaptable to being off the grid
OHIO PYLE CABIN
This cabin works well along a riverbank or stream. The piers support the structure well off the ground, protecting it from high spring water and allowing it to stay dry in damp conditions.
Features
369 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2 to 6
Adaptable to being off the grid
TRAILER-WIDE CABIN
Just the right size for a modular home trailer frame, this cabin is designed to be built off-site and trucked to the building site. Narrow cabins like this one are ideal for lakeside sites, where the lots tend to be long and deep but not very wide.
Features
372 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2
Can be built off-site and trailered in
Adaptable to being off the grid
ROUND HOUSE CABIN
A round cabin — how unique! Curved cement blocks are available for building cisterns and farm silos and adapt well to building round cabins. This design calls for a custom-built curved sofa and fold-up table to make the most of the interior space.
Features
380 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2
Adaptable to being off the grid
LAKESIDE MINI CABIN
To be lakeside in the summer! This design lends itself well to the typically narrow width of lakeside lots. The angled front provides for a view of the water.
Features
382 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2 to 4
Adaptable to being off the grid
WEDGE CABIN
This mini cabin has the feel of a much larger one. It features an unusually large amount of glass, making it feel light and airy. It can be oriented toward a great view or toward the south for passive solar heating.
Features
384 square feet
Full kitchen
Three-quarter bath
Sleeps 2 to 4
Fireplace
Adaptable to being off the grid
FURNACE CREEK CABIN
This 399-square-foot cabin has some surprising amenities, including a full-sized kitchen and bath and a private bedroom. Cabin lovers who also appreciate the amenities of home will enjoy this design.
Features
399 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2 or 3
Fireplace
Adaptable to being off the grid
TRAILERABLE MINI CABIN
Designed to be built off-site and trucked to the cabin site, this mini cabin can be built as a winter project — perhaps by the whole family — and enjoyed during the summer. The shallow roofline won't interfere with electrical wires during transportation.
Features
408 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2 to 6
Can be built off-site and trailered in
Adaptable to being off the grid
LITTLE PINE CREEK CABIN
Fishing is all the more fun with a comfortable cabin waiting at the end of the day. This classic fishing cabin is ideal for a small family or a couple of fishing buddies. The fireplace provides heating and the ambience of a roaring fire on cold evenings.
Features
414 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2 to 4
Fireplace
Adaptable to being off the grid
RICKETS GLEN CABIN
This mini cabin design features a cathedral ceiling framed on one side with banks of overhead windows, allowing the interior to feel spacious and bright. More windows could easily be added to the deck wall, helping the cabin feel even more open to the outside.
Features
432 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2 to 4
Fireplace
Adaptable to being off the grid
GLASS HOUSE CABIN
The design of this cabin lends itself to the usually narrow dimensions of lakeside lots. The glass front is equipped with patio sliding doors to increase the view.
Features
434 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2 to 4
Designed for passive solar heating
MODIFIED A-FRAME CABIN
A-frame cabins typically have usable-space problems, since the roof meets the floor at an angle. This design modifies the roofline on one side to expand the usable space, helping the interior feel open rather than cramped.
Features
448 square feet
Three-quarter kitchen
Three-quarter bath
Sleeps 2
Adaptable to being off the grid
TWO-STORY LAKESIDE CABIN
This two-story cabin is designed with a small footprint to fit narrow lakeside lots. It offers the luxury of a queen-sized bed in the second-floor bedroom, which is accessed by an elegant squared spiral staircase.
Features
450 square feet
Full kitchen
Three-quarter bath
Sleeps 2 to 4
Two full stories
Adaptable to being off the grid
YURT CABIN
Patterned after the domed tents favored by nomads of central Asia, this round cabin is built on deck foundation and features a skylight at its apex. Its wall panels can be built off-site and then trucked in and assembled.
Features
452 square feet
Full kitchen
Three-quarter bath
Sleeps 2 or 3
Can be built partially off-site and trailered in
POCONO PINES CABIN
This design is ideal for a weekend cabin. Contemporary design concepts make it feel and function like a much bigger cabin. Designed for a location with a great view, one of the walls of the living space incorporates three patio sliding doors that open to the deck.
Features
455 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2 to 4
Fireplace
Adaptable to being off the grid
QUONSET CABIN
The Quonset is back! A Quonset hut constructed on top of a low masonry or frame wall is a fast way to build a cabin. This design is based on a traditional 15-foot-wide Quonset hut, but it is easily adaptable to other Quonset-hut-like buildings.
Features
480 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2 to 4
Utilizes one 15-foot-wide Quonset hut
OPEN-LIVING MINI CABIN
This cabin is based on an open space concept, making it function like a much larger cabin. Separating the two beds with the bathroom offers each a degree of privacy.
Features
485 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 4 to 6
JEAN'S RUN CABIN
This cabin sleeps six people in just more than 500 square feet. The Murphy bed and dining table both can be folded up against the wall to increase the usable interior space, while the loft is accessible by a narrow-profile ship's ladder.
Features
501 square feet
Full kitchen
Three-quarter bath
Sleeps 4 to 6
Adaptable to being off the grid
PINE CREEK CABIN
Based on the saltbox houses found in New England, this cabin design features an open sleeping loft that overlooks the living space, accessible via a set of steep stairs. Since warm air rises, very little heat is needed to keep occupants warm at night.
Features
502 square feet
Full kitchen
Three-quarter bath
Sleeps 2 to 4
Adaptable to being off the grid
A CABIN FOR TWO
A cabin with a spa tub? Absolutely. With the addition of a fireplace and a full-sized sleeping nook complete with built-ins, it is a romantic retreat for two — though it also offers accommodations for guests or kids with a pullout sofa.
Features
513 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2 to 4
Fireplace
Adaptable to being off the grid
FIREPLACE CABIN
Who doesn't like to sit around a fire on a cool evening? The focal point of this cabin is the massive stone fireplace, which anchors the living and dining space and is framed by banks of windows.
Features
570 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2 to 4
Fireplace
Adaptable to being off the grid
SPRING CREEK CABIN
This cabin offers the privacy of a separate bedroom; in combination with the pullout sofa, it can accommodate two couples. The glass of the entrance door wall offers a good view of the outdoors from the living area. Orienting these windows to the south would allow them to contribute to passive solar heating.
Features
576 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 2 to 4
Adaptable to being off the grid
CLERESTORY CABIN WITH DINING ROOM
This classic clerestory design employs a massive fieldstone fireplace for space heating. Unlike most other plans, it also features a separate dining space, perfect for cabin owners who appreciate a good sit-down meal.
Features
584 square feet
Full kitchen
Full bath
Sleeps 3 to 6
Fireplace
Adaptable to being off the grid
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Compact Cabins"
by .
Copyright © 2009 Gerald Rowan.
Excerpted by permission of Storey Publishing.
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