JynxedPanda » Blog Archive » It’s A House Thing

It’s A House Thing

I’m giving away a ticket to Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2012! Pls scroll down or go to my post here.

Do any of you guys have Pinterest? Oh I can hear you guys grumbling “Not another social network, AGAIN.” Actually it does seem like Tumblr but in a more organized manner. Pinterest is somewhat like a corkboard and shelf all rolled into one. For example, you were looking for a particular style to redecorate your home but there are so many. So what you do is you “pin” it on a particularly board in Pinterest and then you’ll be able to review them all at a later time. What I love about is it’s graphical user interface and it’s just so easy on the eyes. It’s bookmarking WITH STYLE. I’ve already made 12 boards and I’ve also indicated my dream camera there too, just so I won’t forget it or anything. I will get a DSLR someday and after hours of research, I do know what camera and lens to get. I just need… you know, moolah. So if you’re on Pinterest already, ADD MEE! Or if you want an invite (you can easily log in using twitter or facebook), I can easily give ya one. Just comment away

One of my favorite boards there is of course, that dream house “Welcome to My Abode” board. Ever since I was young and had to move away from my grandparents, I knew I wanted my own room just like what other “normal” people had. Why am I still sleeping in the same room with my parents EVEN up to now? Why can’t I tear down these walls and decorate to my own liking? Well of course money money money is the problem and the fact that we’re just renting our house. So if ever the owners decided to boot us out, I’ll be homeless. So I don’t really have a permanent home, this is why I love the phrase, “Home is where the heart is” because I can make ANY PLACE my home. And thus the dreamer in me continues to dream. I’ve grown out of my pre-teen and teenage phase so unfortunately I can’t decorate my room like one anymore (well WHO SAYS SO… I still can! haha) but I have a vision of what my dream house would be like. It’s got to be big, and spacious! Check out my dream house board.

Seems though I LOVE to incorporate nature and books in my future home.

Maybe live inside a mountain or a hill

Or float around in my lazy river inside the house

Or yeah again in a cave

But then something revolutionary happened last week that threatened me to jump off my dream precipice. I watched a documentary on Youtube called “We The Tiny House People” and it featured the tumbleweed houses and various other people who were able to build extraordinary homes in such a limited space. It wasn’t actually my first time to see this particular house

which looked like a cabin compartment on wheels more than anything else. Somehow it wasn’t able to change my perception of my dream house but after watching this documentary and to find out how living less doesn’t always mean living more, but it doesn’t mean that LESS CANNOT BE MORE. Why can’t it? A lot would disagree with that statement at how having less things mean more things. But I believe that we can make it more. You got to work to achieve and if you check out my favorites in the documentary, such as this amazing 400-square feet boat home by Heather Wilcoxon who ditched the Hollywood glamour to live on a boat.(no I am not a hippie or bohemian-ish really… i would change the interior design but the concept is amazing)

My favorite apartment though has got to be Christian Schallert’s apartment in Barcelona. They call it the “lego-style apartment” because of how everything is connected and hidden. It’s perfectly functional too.

This space-saving idea is so practical and wonderful but might be turned off by those with kids. Of course you can’t raise kids in these kinds of quarters but it doesn’t have to be such a big difference right? People who have built tiny homes state that one of the reasons why they love building these is because of “being lazy” and “no dusting required” statement. Actually that’s a perk but I think the reason goes beyond that. Less cleaning is always helpful but let’s not forget that it’s great for sanitation purposes, it helps with countries’ density problem. Building these kinds of tiny houses is more economical and cheaper they say because of lower rent rates and of course less land needed and I do agree.

I look at the problems here in the big city of Metro Manila and look at the squatters and shanties around and I can’t help feel a nudge somewhere… that this might be a solution to their problem. I don’t know how it’s going to be implemented or not but applying these kinds of concepts could help with the environmental waste problem and also the squatter situation. I want to pitch this idea to somebody but I feel like I lack the needed knowledge (i am not an interior designer or an architect) but this is an important idea that must be shared. What do you think?

Please take the time to watch this documentary, it might be long (1 hour and a half) but it’s really worth it. You don’t have to watch it all now but it would be great if you take the time to watch this too. This has affected me so much that wherever I turn to in my home, I’d see “WASTED SPACE!!!” and say “TOO MUCH SPACE FOR 3 PEOPLE!!” and I want to take out everything. But it’s not yet my home… wait till I get my own. Nature will definitely be a part of my future home though.

If you just want to watch the trailer, you could do so here It’s only 10 minutes I think?

Check out the Tumbleweed blog or Faircompanies for videos and photos of more tiny houses. They also give you tips on how to “save space” from your homes.

Jay Shafer is also the founder and owner and architect and… well he built the first “tiny house” like this. Check out his tour. Thought that I should mention him here because he’s kind of the “pioneer” in the States.

Updates when I update!

29 Comments

Krystal

What a great post! I actually do have a Pinterest account, but it’s been on a hiatus for awhile now. Though, I do love your board!

I didn’t get my own room until I moved back into the house I currently live in. When I was younger, I slept on the floor with my parents and a couple of my siblings who didn’t have a room either. Then when I used to live in the house before moving back into the house I currently live in, I shared a room with my sister. I guess it’s better that I have my own room and I should be thankful for it.

Also, I’m glad you mentioned about the tiny house movement! You may know that I am a HUGE tiny house fan – mainly after seeing Jay Shafer (owner of Tumbleweed Tiny Houses) featured on the front page of Yahoo!. I was mesmerized by his tiny house creations and I have kept tabs on the movement ever since. I’m glad to see that it’s growing strong and that more and more people are realizing that less is more and is BETTER! x) You should check out Tammy over @ Rowdykittens.com. Her posts are enlightening and her tiny house is so cute!!

[Reply my friend]
jynxypanda Reply:
May 17th, 2012 at 10:09 am
Aww thanks soo much for liking this post! You have to check out the documentary of Kirsten Dirksen (I posted it here!) even for just a while because she features SO MANY of them! Or just go over to her youtube channel. And they’re not just about Jay Schafer’s tiny houses. There are tons of them!

Thanks for recommending Tammy! Going over there now

[Reply my friend]
Krystal Reply:
May 17th, 2012 at 10:26 am
Heh, yeah, I’ll check out the video soon! I love that Kirsten features so many people a part of the tiny house movement – new and old! I really like the shotgun house (or whatever it’s called) because it proves a family (even though their family is small) can live in a tiny space. In fact, a family with more children was on the Anderson Cooper show recently and their tiny house was amazing!

[Reply my friend]
jynxypanda Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Really?? GOTTA SEE THAT! It is so interesting to see how families can also live in a tiny house 8D
Liv

I have had Pinterest for about a year now. If I were to describe it in two words, they would be “organized Tumblr.” If you think about it, all people do on Tumblr is spam it with photos. Pinterest is meant to be spammed with photos and no one will get annoyed about it.

I never really know who to follow so I guess I’ll follow you! I’m livperspective. =)

I think most people have a board about houses, or where they want to live. Admittedly most of us do not have the budget for dream houses, or sometimes dream houses are more of fantasy land like inside that hill. Is that actually real? 0/_

However I must admit that a year ago there was a lot more interesting things in the feed to pin. Nowadays I have to scour the internet myself. Too lazy!

[Reply my friend]
jynxypanda Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
Agree with your description on Pinterest!! I also followed you too. Haven’t updated mine in a while. I think that’s actually real! hahaha Really? Whoah I must have missed a lot last year

[Reply my friend]
Hyeoni

I just finished watching the documentary AND his short clip. Both very interesting and amazing things. Thanks for the video! They were very worthwhile and entertaining. While I was watching the movie…I instantly felt claustrophobia through the film. But I guess one would get used to that. I wouldn’t mind a small place, I’ve actually always wanted to live in a small house BECAUSE I had to clean every single morning as a kid….with my mom in my huge two story house. My mom was an OCD back then, lol. It’s funny how most people state how they just don’t want to do extra chores. LOL. That’s exactly my reason why as well and the fact that I love cozy places. One thing that I don’t like about these small houses is plumbing. Other than that the idea’s awesome. It gave me soooo many ideas on how to make use of your space. And encouraged me even more to strive to be a minimalist. Awesome post.

[Reply my friend]
jynxypanda Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
Oh yeah plumbing! But you could still have good plumbing with a small house right? There has GOT TO BE A WAY! hahaha. AND AWESOME YOU WATCHED EVERYTHING!! Haha. I hate to have to dust every now and then haha! Thanks for liking this post

[Reply my friend]
UMI

Wow, I thought pinterest was just another social networking site, but because of this post, it made me feel that I MUST HAVE AN ACCOUNT THERE. Hahaha.

[Reply my friend]
jynxypanda Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 9:13 pm
Hey Umi do you want one? I COULD GIVE YA?? what’s your email?

[Reply my friend]
Justin

Regarding the social networks, I’ve yet to join pinterest or instagram. I’ve just gotten overwhelmed by all these different networks, and every time something about me changes, I have to go and update it like a million times. Meh. It does seem really cool though, and I loved your house board, but I can’t imagine living in a hobbit house. Haha.

The lazy river might be the best idea I’ve ever heard. I wonder how long the one in the picture is. I mean, if it’s not long enough, I’ll just feel like I’m going in circles. I’ll get really dizzy and barf or something. But you could always throw the kids in there if they start to trash the rest of the place.
Great blog as always!

[Reply my friend]
jynxypanda Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Haha but a hobbit house’s so comfy! HAHAHAA that could be an idea, throwing kids in a lazy pool, or a whirlpool? HAHA

[Reply my friend]
Rachel

I watched the preview of the Tiny House People documentary. It seems interesting but definitely not how I would want to live my life. I’ve lived in some small places because uni dorms are pretty small, but they’re still not as small as what’s in that video. I like to have room to walk around and I like to have different places to sit, so I definitely couldn’t live in a tiny space like those.

[Reply my friend]
jynxypanda Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 9:16 pm
I’ve also lived in a dorm and it was a bit small but maybe it’s because it hasn’t been designed well. And the houses featured there have lots of ways to maximize space and it appeals to me. Sort of. Haha! I do want to have a garden! I can walk there

[Reply my friend]
Georgie

I remember seeing a video of a man in Hong Kong living in a tiny apartment, but he had folded compartments and sliding doors to open up the kitchen sections or bedroom or bath. It was honestly amazing, but looking up at the ceiling you could see the architecture of the tracking of the sliding door framework. Your post reminded me of that.

It would be lovely to live in a small house, it would be honestly amazing. While I like to have a lot of space I guess it would make me feel kind of alienated? But it would just make it easier for gatherings, I guess. :3

I remember seeing a tree house in the shape of a sphere, it was pretty neat as well. I guess all this tiny house stuff is like living in a caravan, but better.

[Reply my friend]
jynxypanda Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 9:23 pm
OH I’VE SEEN THAT!!! It’s been a long time so I forgot to feature him here.

[Reply my friend]
Nix

I do have Pinterest! I use it to pin crafts I want to do and recipes I want to try and other inspirational things. But I use Springpad to keep a track of what movies I’ve seen and checklists of what I want to see. My reading checklist is also there. I don’t know if we’re connected in Pinterest yet. Lately, I haven’t spent time there because browsing through take the whole day for me and I end up not doing anything else. LOL.

[Reply my friend]
Dorine

I do have Pinterest, though I don’t use it often. The house thing seriously sounds awesome, though. The most creative ones are probably the mountain and the cave houses. The Lego one looks good, but seems really confusing. The river seems a bit creepy, though. Fun, but swimming in your own house and with that atmosphere is just plain scary. Brrr.

[Reply my friend]
jynxypanda Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 9:26 pm
Really?? I find it relaxing haha! but it could be…

[Reply my friend]
Mariel

Hello Ate Tiff! Invite me on Pinterest! It looks fun <3 Cool houses, dati I've watched a house made of container van, it's so cool and cheap and I kinda want to have a house made of it in the future and much more cooler. Haha living in a cave seems to be the weirdest and fun of all =)) I don't have my own room too, I share it with my sisters anyway I bet it's fun having a room on your own because I can improve my creativity.

[Reply my friend]
jynxypanda Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Invited you dear! Pls check your email That’s true dear!! hahahaa

[Reply my friend]
Krisel

Oh shucks! I can relate. Me too want to have my own room since I was in high school. But since we were just renting I have to share room with my siblings. We also don’t have our own house, but I hope someday I can have my own house. My dream house is just simple but it must have a backyard & garden.

I heard pinterest, but don’t have an account there yet. twitter and FB makes me busy already. But will try take a look that pinterest.

The house on the mountain is kind of weird but cool. I wonder how it looks inside.

[Reply my friend]
jynxypanda Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 9:34 pm
YES DEFINITELY GARDEN! i forgot about that! I’d love to have a garden!

[Reply my friend]
Jen

I just made a Pinterest account, and I’m still learning how to use it. :P Haha. I agree that building small houses is way better that having a big house. I know that everyone (or almost everyone) of use wants to live in a mansion or in a huge house (or in a castle. :P). It would be like a dream come true for the most of us, but of course, the negative side of it is that you need to clean and maintain every corner of your house so that it will look pleasant. Now, that’s a hard job, especially if you have a huge house.

So I guess a smaller house will always be better and cheaper. Less land area and less costs in cleaning and maintenance.

[Reply my friend]
Angelica

I’m not a member on Pintrest since I don’t feel that I have the time for more social networks. Also in the past I’ve joined so many only to get tired of them pretty quickly so these days I only join networks which have a huge WOW factor.

Small space living is awesome. I don’t have a tiny house but I live in a 29 square meter small apartment and that’s pretty small, at least in Swedish standards. Living like this works well for me and even though my home is small I fit all my things in it and it’s far from cluttered. I hate clutter so I try to keep to my “one thing in, one thing out” rule. If I buy something for my home, generally that means something else has to go. It’s a great philosophy because that means I think twice before buying something and also saves money.

[Reply my friend]
jynxypanda Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
SUPER GREAT PHILOSOPHY! I am starting to become a shopaholic and I need to stop. Maybe this philosophy will help me. Thanks for sharing dear!

[Reply my friend]
tiffanyk

Hahaha omg I think I’d die in such cramped quarters :P sort of due to my incapability to keep a place neat. hahah, I haven’t watched the documentary but I’ll probably do a month later after my exams. :P Ohh and I love lookin at houses haha so fascinating how others live!

[Reply my friend]
jynxypanda Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
But isn’t that the point of cramped quarters? You don’t have to be neat! AHEHEHEHEHE Oh good luck with your exams!!

[Reply my friend]
Shiri

I’ve seen a few “cribs” shows where people show their alternative way of living (homes). It’s very interesting =)

[Reply my friend]