Utah Stories

Mini Houses Offer Some Big Advantages

Utah Stories examines the growing popularity of the U.S. mini-houses compared to European dachas and cottages.

|

Mini Houses in Utah and around the country

Mini Houses in Utah and around the countryUtah Stories examines the growing popularity of the U.S. mini-houses compared to European dachas and cottages.

One hundred square feet of living space would cause McMansion owning suburbanites to cringe. However, urbanites who might already be accustomed to somewhat smaller quarters, are finding these little places quite appealing. The photos of these homes show a life surrounded by trees and the great outdoors, making the space an affordable weekend retreat. This trend is quite a shift from the typical American lifestyle which often places more value in square footage, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances. These mini-homes are all about the space outside rather than wowing visitors by opulence inside.

Owning both a city apartment and small country house retreat is actually not a new concept. Dachas (Russian for cottage or summer home), have been around in Europe for centuries. Many city apartment dwellers in Germany, France and especially Russia, own dachas in the country. Each country has their unique style and mode de vie. Russians dachas are typically used to grow large gardens full of potatoes, beets, and other vegetables that help sustain families. German Bavarian cabins are usually fancy garden homes. German summer cottages often have immaculately maintained flower gardens.

Compared to the European varieties, the United States’ version of the dacha is very small. Most German and Russian varieties I’ve seen are around 300-500 square feet, however the Tumbleweed mini-houses have seven models under 300 square feet and just one around 550 square feet.

Tumbleweed’s business has grown significantly since the housing crisis. Proprietor Jay Shafer built his first small house back in 1997 as a way to avoid being stuck in a mortgage. He now sells about 50 blueprints a year, which cost $400 to $1,000 each, up from 10 five years ago.

The eight workshops he teaches around the country each year attract 40 participants on average.

The Utah Connection:

Utah resident Lamar Alexander built a mini cabin on his family ranch in Roosevelt, Utah. This was his best option after a divorce left him with little money. Lamar now teaches classes how to build their own mini cabins and live off the grid like he does. His total construction costs for his cabin: were $2,000.



Join our newsletter.
Stay informed.

Related Articles


  • Utah’s Best Outdoor Burger Spots

    What do you get when you pair a juicy burger with a magnificent view? The best outdoor burger destinations in Utah! For burger enthusiasts across the state, Utah’s culinary scene has much to offer, from vibrant urban settings to quaint desert vistas. 


  • How Fentanyl Conquered Salt Lake City, Utah

    Salt Lake has made the transition from heroin to fentanyl. In fact, it is almost impossible to find heroin in the valley anymore. We used to have a heroin epidemic, now we have the fentanyl epidemic, and it is so much more dangerous.


  • Lamb Me Up!

    Any excuse to visit Manoli’s restaurant for chef/owner Manoli Katsanevas’ ethereal Mediterranean cuisine is a solid one. But for me, that’s especially true during the four evenings or so throughout spring and summer when Manoli cooks up an entire lamb on a spit outside the restaurant over hot coals.


  • The Hidden Danger: Are Processed Foods Making Us Sick?

    Are modern agriculture and chemical “solutions” causing chronic disease? Infertility rates have doubled over the past ten years and increased cases of chronic diseases such as juvenile asthma, juvenile, diabetes, Type-2 diabetes, and heart and lung diseases have increased ten-fold in the past 50 years.