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rockies
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# Posted: 12 Sep 2018 06:48pm - Edited by: rockies
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While studying cabins I've discovered that the main focus seems to be on the square footage of the design. People seem obsessed with achieving a certain size of cabin, such as a 14 x 20' or a 16 x 24' plan without much consideration of the interior layout or the daily functions.
There are lots of cute plans out there, but most sacrifice storage (or even a functional kitchen layout) in order to meet their desired "size goal".
Other plans look great until you realize the cabin is really suited only for summer use or is located close to a town where you can pick up supplies every few days (again, no storage).
What interior spaces do you think should be included in an off grid, four season cabin out in the wilds?
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cspot
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# Posted: 12 Sep 2018 08:50pm
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Well I think the big question is, is this a permanent residence or is it simply a recreational place that is used mostly on weekends and maybe a week or 2 out of the year? Also the other question is, is there an additional out building for storage?
The answers to those questions can greatly influence what you need for interior space. For example our cabin is a recreational cabin, so I do not need space for a washer/dryer since we never do clothes washing there.
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ICC
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# Posted: 12 Sep 2018 09:02pm
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 Yep. The one thing that is at times difficult to gauge is whether or not the intended use when planning, remains the same years down the road. In town, if your life circumstances change you can move to another home. Not so easy to do when you have acres of land along with the home or cabin.
A full-time residence has to serve very different needs compared to a part-time recreational property.
Two different discussions.
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Princelake
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# Posted: 12 Sep 2018 09:52pm - Edited by: Princelake
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I'm currently drawing up plans for my cabin. When I first got my property I was thinking little cabin like 16x20. I started draw to scale drawings and measuring the actual size of furniture and items that would go in the cabin. I quickly realized I need to open my wallet and go bigger. My current drawing is now at 20x28. Ppl also pick the sizes you mentioned because its fits with common size in lumber. My cabin has 2 bedroom a half bath medium but useful kitchen breakfast nook area and common area livingroom with couch TV and woodstove. I've been looking at travel trailers and tiny homes for storage ideas. I have closets over bed storage book shelving etc all included in my plans. Also planned where my septic and plumbing is all in close proximity and even the direction of my roof and direction my cabin is angled at if but when I add solar. All I say is good luck get out a sharp pencil and some grid paper.
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Borrego
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# Posted: 12 Sep 2018 10:16pm
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It depends on the usage and people using it...
For instance, we decided on a 24 x 24' because it wasn't too large or too small, had a set of plans from a book that we liked, but modified them slightly....wife likes to cook, so made the kitchen a bit larger, kept a standard size 5 x 8' bathroom because I hate cramped bathrooms, and took the couple feet out of the bedroom, so it's bit tight, but that's ok. We also decided against the second bedroom because we'd rarely use it, and instead went for a open space design for the living room/dining room/kitchen. Works great for us, but may not for someone else.
As the OP said, storage is an issue, always will be in a 'Small cabin' I suppose....
But when I added on the screen porch (also 24 x 24') I built a closet next to the solar closet that helps out with storage...
Having done it, I don't think i would change a thing, not even go larger....there is something charming about a 'smaller' space, makes people live differently.....
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Cowracer
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# Posted: 13 Sep 2018 09:30am - Edited by: Cowracer
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My cabin was designed as a summer-time, weekend-only getaway. I.e. no storage was considered. Boy... was that a mistake...
We have put in a few of those "cubby" cabinets with the storage boxes. They look good, and offer quite a bit of room to keep extra clothes and stuff that we never really thought about at first. We have no closest. Our kitchen seems to be fine for food and whatnot.
I did put on a 4x8 lean-to on the side of it just to hold our lawn chairs, grille, smoker and a few other things I would prefer didn't walk away during our absence.
Overall, we have it working well now for us, but if we ever had to do it again, we'd damn for sure consider the storage issue a little better than we did this time.
Tim
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offgrididaho
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# Posted: 13 Sep 2018 11:37am
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Another consideration to keep in mind with size is heating... if you're in colder climate, larger spaces take more energy / effort to heat.
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rockies
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# Posted: 13 Sep 2018 06:19pm - Edited by: rockies
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I'll amend my initial question and refocus it on this: what functions do you really need inside your four season cabin? As I mentioned earlier, storage always seems to be wanting no matter what size your cabin is, but there are also certain room types that need to be considered.
For example, do you need a mudroom? Personally, I hate it when you walk unceremoniously into the middle of the main living space with no place to take off wet coats, muddy boots, put down parcels, etc.
Do you need a full bath with a tub/shower or is just a shower sufficient? Do you need a linen closet? Broom closet? How about a screen porch?
How big of a kitchen do you need? Full sized fridge or bar fridge? Wood cook stove or propane?
One series of books I would recommend are written by the architect Sarah Susanka called "The Not So Big" house books. She dissects each room of a house and asks "what is really needed or desired in this space"?
For example, when you approach the cabin, what do you really want to have there? A well laid out path, well lit steps up to a landing or porch, a wide overhang to protect you from the rain, a motion sensing light, a bench to put down packages or supplies, etc.
Inside you'd want a small mudroom, a bench to sit down on and take off muddy boots, hanging hooks for wet coats, a shelf for keys or gloves, an umbrella stand, a rack for muddy shoes, maybe a closet for extra coat storage. Once you read in the "Not So Big" house books about these features you think "of course!" but how many times are these details forgotten about during the design phase and never get built?
What features do you want to include (or wish you had) in your own cabin?
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Cowracer
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# Posted: 14 Sep 2018 09:25am
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Quoting: rockies I'll amend my initial question and refocus it on this: what functions do you really need inside your four season cabin?
I think that's about 80% going to rely on personal preference. i.e. you think a mudroom is critical, I personally don't.
I think that is a question everyone should ask themselves before cutting the first board.
Tim
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rockies
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# Posted: 14 Sep 2018 06:14pm
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True Cowracer, but as mentioned by Princelake, most cabins seem to be designed around the size of a sheet of 4x8 plywood. The other thing that sems to dominate is that a vast number of cabins all turn out to be simple rectangles. I am curious though, how do you enter your cabin? What is available inside your entrance that you can take advantage of should you come home soaking wet, covered in mud carrying bags of supplies?
The great thing that Princelake did was to measure out the sizes of the furniture and items he wanted to have inside his cabin, which led him to the realization that his original design was too small.
The sad reality is that a lot of people assume that because you're building small that you have to leave out a lot of functionality or rely on gimmicks (such as the diningroom table top being hand-cranked down from the ceiling whenever you need it or the kitchen that in "27 simple steps turns into a bedroom".
Does anyone know of any practical additions or built-ins that would add real functionality to their cabin, or possibly to a certain room?
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deercula
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# Posted: 14 Sep 2018 07:04pm - Edited by: deercula
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I'm not sure who it was that suggested using chalk or tape on a driveway or parking lot to outline your square footage and room sizes. This is genius. You can walk from room to room, or in the front door, prepare a meal, etc. and get a real feel for how much room you have.
My wife and i used graph paper and layed out everything WE wanted and needed. After many re-draws we finally had what we were comfortable with. It takes a lot of thought to get to this point. Placement of doors, windows, steps, appliances, beds, chairs, tables, carpet, flooring etc., etc., is a huge task.
There will be things you wish you had done another way. Generally we are very happy with our design. Not bad for an auto-worker and an insurance administrator.
Design and build it for YOU! The rules are yours to make. You only need to please yourself and your guests. Don't worry what people here or anyone else says or thinks.
When we pull into the driveway we get that indescribable feeling. In the end it matters little if you have a closet, a fireplace, pantry, or a sleeping bag on the floor. You have YOUR place, YOUR solitude, YOUR sanity. Nothing comes close for me.
Enjoy it, no matter what you have, because most only dream of what we have!
Links to interior and exterior videos before some more upgrades and improvements:
https://youtu.be/YKRZSZ84MMM
https://youtu.be/kobuL3KED64
Build link:
http://www.small-cabin.com/forum/6_6589_0.html
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rockies
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# Posted: 14 Sep 2018 07:21pm - Edited by: rockies
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Deercula: A very nice cabin. It looks well built and solid. I would suggest adding an 8' high wall about 3' long between the front door and the stove (set back from the edge of the door maybe 18") and putting shelves for keys, gloves, hats etc on the door side and shelves for pantry items on the stove side. That adds a lot of extra storage in a very small space.
The other thing I'm guessing is that you originally thought of using the loft for sleeping and then got really sick of climbing up there every night so you moved the mattress to the main floor. You might consider getting a Murphy Wallbed mechanism kit and building yourself a wallbed. That would free up the floor space for the day.
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ICC
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# Posted: 14 Sep 2018 07:46pm - Edited by: ICC
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Quoting: deercula I'm not sure who it was that suggested using chalk or tape on a driveway
searching the forum for "chalk" finds these posts;
http://www.small-cabin.com/forum/2_787_0.html#msg7310
http://www.small-cabin.com/forum/1_5830_0.html#msg85523
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deercula
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# Posted: 14 Sep 2018 08:39pm
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Rock, Thanks for the suggestions. We now have a bed frame that gets the mattress off the floor. Being in the corner it really doesn't get in the way. Gives me some under bed space for storage.
A good idea for a short wall near the door. We currently use that space for a boot mat and a 12 volt battery and inverter. You got me thinking how i can incorporate those into what you suggest. On my to do list..........
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Princelake
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# Posted: 14 Sep 2018 09:18pm
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I had a couple of bundles of 1x2s and layed them out in the backyard so you can invision exactly what you drew on paper.
I find full size tables/dining room tables big wastes of space. I'm doing my plans with a breakfast nook and the benches will also be storage. I have drawn up closets on 1 side and inset bookm/DVD shelves on the other. Also in the bedrooms instead of nightstands full cabinets going over the bed as a huge as headboard for storage that will be out of the way and you can add lighting in it for evening reading.
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