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Small Cabin Books

Small Cabin Living

Everyone dreams of having a cabin in the woods-a wood-hewn structure with all (or, at least many of) the amenities of home-tucked away on a mountaintop with an awe-inspiring view, or nestled on the shore of a trout-filled stream or bass-laden lake. Most people also believe that such a dream house is just that-the stuff of dreams-not affordable, not buildable without hiring a construction crew. Author J. Wayne Fears is here to tell you that such a dream cabin can be yours-at a price that won't break the bank. And he knows because he has done it himself. "If you've ever had that dream...here's your book."--American Small Farm This book provides photos and ideas of cabins, inside and out, winter and summer, through out America. The Orvis Book of Cabins celebrates this beloved form of rural design with cabin getaways owned by people who love the outdoors: anglers, hunters, hikers, paddlers, and those who feel most at home when close to nature.
The broad spectrum of cabins showcased here, from a one-room rustic to an all-glass Wisconsin aerie, is almost seductive enough to surrender to country-wilderness living. Mulfinger and Davis have done an exemplary job of building the emotional case for cabins--beautiful settings, simple shelter, and at-home feelings. More than 30 basic (and not-so-basic) homes are documented, with photographs, overhead blueprints, and sidebars about specific intricacies. "The Cabin Builders" is more than a "how-to" book. These memoirs are an uplifting spiritual and intellectual guide for anyone interested in buying their own piece of wilderness and developing a nature get away. Craig Pfalzgraf started this project not knowing exactly how to get it accomplished. But using imagination, Craig and his brother Brian, along with friends Bob and Anthony, came together and created a wonderful oasis in the wilderness of the Adirondack Park. This book is a must read for nature lovers.
This is a bestselling account of one woman's journey into remote British Columbia, where she cleared a piece of land and built her own home. Illuminated by the author's own drawings, "Cabin at Singing River" is an inspiring book, realistic about how beauty can only be appreciated with hard work. The dream of shedding urban responsibilities and returning to nature is universal, and this book will inspire anyone interested in her experience. This practical guide is filled with rich photos of homes, greenhouses, studios, sheds, open-air structures and more, each pulsating with unique yet subtle creativity. Both a pragmatic construction manual and a philosophical, artistic guidebook, "Small Strawbale" is an inspirational starting point for a strawbale dreamer, and a great source of information for those who are ready to get bailing.
"Tiny Houses" contains the plans for forty-four houses so small that anyone can afford to have one—and so thoughtfully designed that anyone can build one—each offering the dream of solitude, a place to escape for a weekend of romance, meditation, or whimsy. Award-winning architect Lester Walker shows how, with a little energy and imagination, everyone’s dream of owning a home, or having a second home in the country, is within reach.


Cabin Design and Construction

W. Ben Hunt's classic has earned a reputation as the" authentic handbook since it was first published in 1939. Updated in 1974, it remains the only step-by-step guide to building log cabins and log furniture -- pioneer style." If you’ve ever dreamed of building a rustic log cabin to use as a weekend hideaway, hunting lodge or even an emergency retreat, this book tells you how to make it a reality. This step-by-step guide is chock-full of tips and advice culled from author Michael Mulligan’s decades of experience. Specializing in do-it-yourself projects that use improvised materials and avoid bureaucratic hassles, Mulligan first shares invaluable insight on finding your land and negotiating the shark-filled waters of real estate deals. Then, in straightforward terms that even a novice can follow easily, he walks you through the construction process, from selecting and preparing the logs to erecting and chinking the walls to building the roof and finishing the interior.
This is a delightful book that promises to deliver loads of fantasy and fun for anyone in need of a rustic place to rest, relax, and retreat from the speed and stress of modern living. The Stiles provide more than 20 step-by-step plans for low-cost outdoor buildings, among them a grape arbor, a hillside hut, a water gazebo (floating!), a log cabin, tree houses, a wigwam, a garden pavilion, a yurt, and a river raft. A bit of individual creativity can make any of the plans described and diagrammed into unique personal statements or fantasies. Many of the plans are so simple they can be built in a few hours or in less than a day, and most do not require high levels of carpentry or building skills. "...a sort of modern-day version of Thoreau's classic."(Walden)" Filled with wonderful photographs, and a fine,wry wit..." "...friendly, approachable..."
Focuses on the practical topics -- building a deck, cutting firewood, keeping out pests, first aid, fishing and hospitality. Complete with plans and diagrams, "Cottage Essentials" shows readers how to maintain and enjoy their vacation property. A valuable reference chock full of ideas, tips and techniques, even recipes. Complete plans for 16 low-cost permanent and vacation homes and cabins. Wood-frame, A-frame, pole-frame, concrete masonry, and log cabin ranging from 10' by 14' one-room cabin to two-bedroom tenant house. Sketches, floor plans, hints on construction, materials, location, installments, more.
Whether nestled in a stand of pines, bordering a mountain lake, or basking in the sun by the sea, a vacation home provides a welcome retreat from the hectic pace of daily life. These distinctive designs offer flexible plans that are perfect for everything from hideaway cabins and retirement cottages to seaside getaways. A step by step "how-to" on the construction of a log cabin profusely illustrated with over 300 photographs plus several line drawings. This book was written and designed for the "average" person who has the desire to build a log cabin but not much knowledge. Modern tools are used and everything but logs (including roof) were purchased and yet the cost of construction was kept right at $3,000. Common problems are shown being solved using not much more than common sense. From trees in the timber to the final chinking, this book is designed to get the reader out there and building.
Comprehensive and up-to-date the classic visual guide to the basics of building construction. For twenty-five years, "Building Construction Illustrated" has offered an outstanding introduction to the principles of building construction. Now this Third Edition has been expertly revised and updated to address the latest advances in materials, building technology, and code requirements. Complete with more than 1,000 illustrations, the book moves through each of the key stages of the design process, from site selection to building components, mechanical systems, and finishes. Topics within each chapter are organized according to the CSI MasterFormat(TM), making the book extremely easy to use. For over 100 years, the majority of North American homes have been built using wooden framing. This technique is strong, conserves materials, and allows great design flexibility. Framing Basics (part of Sterling's excellent "Basics" series, which covers numerous tools and woodworking techniques) offers a helpful introduction to framing for do-it-yourselfers. Readers for whom this book is intended aren't going to build an entire house; they are homeowners who want to move, remove, or install a wall or create built-in storage.
Cabins have come a long way from the 19th-century rustic structures familiar to all school children. The Stileses, a husband-and-wife team who have collaborated on a number of woodworking titles, show how to build a cabin that reflects the builder's lifestyle; some are simple, while others contain multiple rooms and utilities. With a focus on architecture and details, rustic expert and author Ralph Kylloe introduces creative rustic designs that are inspiring a revival of cabin craftsmanship in his newest book, "Rustic Cabin Renaissance". The book features log homes that are newly built, but that are steeped in regional history as well as the log-building history of the Scandinavian settlers and mountain men from centuries past. Kylloe provides photographic details of the highest-quality workmanship in stone masonry and log work, highlighting the unique blend of fine antiques and contemporary furnishings that these homes exhibit.
The Big Book of Small House Designs is a collection of more than 500 drawings illustrating all aspects of 75 small homes of various styles, from a New England farmhouse to a sophisticated steel frame to a Santa Fe ranch. Each design includes detailed floor plans, section drawings, elevations, and perspectives, as well as a description of the materials used and landscaping around the home. Keeping in mind that a chief priority for a small home is often energy efficiency, most of the plans incorporate some energy-efficient element. This exhaustively documented sourcebook will be invaluable to professionals and students of architecture, interior design, interior de-corating, and furniture design. Information is provided on every aspect of the design process from the ground up—floor plans, materials, and specifications—on furniture and fixtures. The 30-plus illustrated case studies are of homes that are streamlined on the inside and out, and include full-color photographs, floor plans, and sketches. Also revealed are dozens of never-before-seen solutions in storage and an array of ingenious design solutions for furniture and fixtures that serve a variety of purposes.


Self-Sufficiency and Off-Grid Living

A down-to-earth guide to building solar-powered log homes, complete with how-to illustrations and photos, plus enlightening stories from log home owners across the country. Follow the authors' journey of handcrafting an off-the-grid log home in the Colorado Rockies and discover how renewable energy is a perfect match for modern log home living, from small weekend cabins to expansive year-round homes. (The completed revised edition of "Logs, Wind and Sun") With frequent warnings about water and energy shortages, or the potential dangers of pesticides and genetically modified foods, many people nurture a dream of living a self-sufficient life. This comprehensive yet easy-to-read addition to the Specialist series explains what it really takes to live off the fat of the land. It answers all the fundamental questions anyone considering a lifestyle change might ask, from the best way to warm your home off the grid to how much time and effort it takes to grow your own food and raise your own animals. Both the most fulfilling aspects and the hard work of self-sufficient living are revealed in full. Packed with informative illustrations and diagrams, this manual offers a wealth of useful advice for prospective small farm owners.
An in-depth look at the strategies employed in sustainable home design. Ryker explores the value of case studies in understanding new alternative-energy technologies. She profiles three completed leading sustainable case study projects to lay the groundwork for body of the book, which presents six contemporary architectural projects that integrate alternative technologies for generating and conserving energy. Each project explores how the owner's desire to contribute to a more sustainable culture is brought to bear on the design and execution of the home. Want to take advantage of solar power in your home? Whether you’re looking to save on your energy costs by adding a few solar components or you want to build a solar-powered house from the ground up, "Solar Power Your Home For Dummies" takes the mystery out of this energy source and shows you how to put it to work for you!
With the right design, the sunlight that falls on your homesite will power your home. Your solar electric system can also be easily configured to provide on-site recharging of solar/electric vehicles allowing you to meet your transportation needs with renewable energy. Whether you're building a new house or have an existing one, "Basics of Energy Efficient Living" shares the principles behind energy efficient living. Have you ever wondered: What is R-value? How much energy could I get from my creek? Can I use alternative energy in the city? How much heat will it take to keep my house warm? How much heat will I lose if I put in a bigger window? Learn what it takes to save energy, then take the next step and collect your own. Find out how much energy you can get from water, sun, wind, and wood. Discover how much energy you need by making an energy budget specific for your house. Learn energy principles as you design a house step-by-step.
The subtitle for this attractive paperback is "An Out-of- the-City Guide to Pumps, Plumbing, Water Purification, and Privies," and it deftly fulfils its promise. Mr. Burns uses humor interspersed with excellent illustrations to convey technical information in layman's terms. He provides a comprehensive overview of all possibilities... the pros and cons of each alternative are thoroughly examined. The Renewable Energy Handbook focuses completely on off-grid, sustainable living and energy independence in a rural setting. Author William Kemp and his wife designed their own high-efficiency off-grid home in 1991. They worked methodically to produce a home which has all of the standard "middle-class" creature comforts while using six times less heating, cooling, and electrical energy than the average Ontario home. Soon they were inundated with inquiries and decided to put their experience into book form in 2003.
Solar Power (photovoltaics) is now a one-billion-dollar industry, and it’s poised to grow rapidly in the near future as more pressure is placed on limited fossil fuel resources and as advances in solar technology drive down the costs of residential solar systems. This book helps readers understand the basics of solar power and other renewable energy sources, explore whether solar power makes sense for them, what their options are, and what’s involved with installing various on- and off-grid systems. Fully illustrated. The ultimate guide to renewable energy, sustainable living, green building, homesteading, off-the-grid living, and alternative transportation, written by experts with decades of experience and a passion for sharing their knowledge. This fully updated edition includes brand-new sections on Peak Oil, climate change, relocalization, natural burial, biodynamics, and permaculture.
Live in less space but have more room to enjoy it. Does that sound like a contradiction? Smart readers will discover that, on the contrary, living small can free up your mind, your wallet, and your soul. With the cost of living rising, and the environment suffering from excessive building, now is the time to scale back. Join the movement. You, too, can build a joyful, sane life that emphasizes home life over home maintenance.



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