This Tiny House on Wheels Began With the Small House Movement

Irwin Weiner ASID - Massive Victorian homes and their contemporary counterparts, the suburban McMansion, take lots of land, energy, and raw materials that aren't in keeping with our more frugal and green times. Back in 1997, architect Sarah Susanka started the "small house" movement when she published her book The Not So Big House, and the movement has taken many forms. It's a lifestyle movement embraced by today's Millenials - scale back on possessions; it's a minimalist decorating movement; and it's a reduce-your-home's-footprint movement.

Click on the photo to learn more about this other tiny house on wheels. (photo: Stephanie Diani for The New York Times)

Today's featured video shows contractor Tory Smith (whose contact information is at the end of the video) discussing a tiny house he designed for a newlywed couple - and it's on wheels, making it a take-anywhere, completely portable housing solution. Note that the not-so-big-house movement is now miniaturizing to so-called "tiny homes." The interior is a revelation, finding nooks and crannies for every basic living function. And you must admire Tory's reuse of antique building materials. We often forget that the greenest thing we can do in our homes is to reuse and recycle something old into our remodeling and design schemes. Thank you, Sarah, for creating a vibrant movement that tells us "less is more." Click here for more information on Sarah Susanka and her range of not-so-big books.

 Click here to subscribe to our daily design videos and features.  

Design Video: Derek Wilson Brings Us Inside His Studio (and His Head)

Irwin Weiner ASID - Belfast, North Ireland has seen more than its share of violence and urban flight. It was devastating for the city's economy and also for its artist residents. The last five years has seen a change, however, and noted ceramicist Derek Wilson has been part of that resurgence.

There has been a boom of sorts - it was so behind other cities - with graduates staying and designers and artists setting up. There's lots of support, and it's nice to be involved in the creative resurgence.

Designs from Mr. Wilson are inspired by the colors, light quality, and industrial heritage of his beloved Belfast. Like all talented ceramics artists, his work is both highly functional and sculptural, making them absolutely ideal additions to home decor.

Watch his video interview below, and click on any of his images for more information.

 Click here to subscribe to our daily design videos and features.  

San Francisco Couple Transforms Old Victorian Row House

Irwin Weiner ASID - Scott Kalmbach, designer and property developer (now realtor), and his artist wife Tjasa Owen faced a real fixer-upper situation with their crumbling row house in San Francisco. The house they originally purchased as newlyweds was in bad shape, with chopped-up floors housing duplex rentals and tacked-on shed additions in the backyard. But I admire their desire to transform old housing stock and turn it into something new and beautiful and open. You'll see in this HGTV video how House & House Architects in San Francisco helped the couple makeover their home into something truly special. Click here to see more beautiful interior photos of the Kalmbach/Owen house.
  

 Click here to subscribe to our daily design videos and features.  

Triple Threat Deborah Buck Combines Design, Collectibles, and Art

Irwin Weiner ASID - If you're in Manhattan, visit Deborah Buck at her Madison Avenue store. If you're not, check out her beautiful book, Tableau, and you can see her handy online inventory, on her Buck House website and in her 1st Dibs store. A client of mine recently gave me a copy of her book and a catalog of her artwork, and I must say, her design eye and artistic sense is impressive.

In Tableau, Deborah creates tablescapes and arrangements of collectibles, antiques, and found objects, then summons her artistic muse and creates art and wallpaper designs from an element within the tableau. Click on any photo spread from her book to learn more about Tableau, and visit the Deborah Buck website for decor and merchandise.

 Click here to subscribe to our daily design videos and features.