A Room of One's Own

​Obviously, the definition of microcabin or microhome varies. Thoreau lived in 150 square feet. Some people say 800 square feet is micro. I build (and have lived) in the 96 square-foot ballpark. It has always been enough. Joyfully enough.

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​As I've said elsewhere, when I build, I approach each cabin as a commissioned art piece. Because I never know exactly what materials will be available (new old wood is always coming into the yard at Heritage Timber) it's impossible to say exactly what the finished cabin will look like. Depending on exactly what you want, however, most cabins will come with:

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         Bed, desk, bookshelves​

         Wood stove (Never fear being cold. The cabins are warm!)​

         2-burner propane stove to cook on​

         Counter space with sink and gray-water catch. ​

         Reclaimed or handmade doors and windows​

         Metal roof with skylight

         Character. (Lots of it. Oodles of it. And charm to boot.)​​

         Pair of oil lamps and a complimentary copy of Thoreau's Walden ​

        

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Furthermore, they all have all-wood interiors of mixed species, are fully insulated with R13 pink fiberglass, and use ballon-framing 2x4 walls and floor.

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​Generally, I build in the 8' x 12' ballpark, for ease of transport.

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They can be mobile or stationary, left on a small trailer, or skidded off and placed on cement blocks.

 

They look good.

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What you don't get

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​In a nutshell, electricity and running water. And trust me on this, you won't miss them. In fact, you will come to relish not having them. ​Hang out on even one snowy night with the wood fire going and oil lamps burning and you'll see what I mean.   

 

 

What can you use them for?

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Just about anything you want. Such as:

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          Spare bedroom or guest house​

          Writing or art studio  ​

​          Yoga and meditation room​

          Garden shed or storage​

          Full-time residence (I have, and in Canada at that. No problem, eh.)​

          Teen hideout and escape​

          The greatest dog house ever, hell I don't care

         

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​Pricing.

 

Pricing is flexible and varies (see note on Gallery page). Regardless, I do my best to work with you and your budget. As a ballpark figure, something 8' x 12' will be about $48,000. It can be less, depending on features and style. Trailers are not included in this price. If you want one permanently on a trailer it will generally run another $6,000 unless you can find or have a good used one. The two cabins "Hut 1" and "Hut 2" that sit side by side that I did for Andy Laue and Rafael Chacon in Moiese were 9' x 13' and one had a clerestory that ran the length of it. Those were $50,000 each. The rusted metal-sided cabin in Potomac with the loft is $62,000.