Jay Shafer Builds a $5,000 Tiny House

Bryce Langston visits Jay Shafer in Sebastopol, California and tours Jay’s newest tiny house design. Jay is considered by many – including myself – to be the godfather of the modern tiny house movement.

His latest design weighs less than 2,000 pounds, cost less than $5,000 in materials, and measures just 80 inches by 100 inches on the exterior. It’s diminutive size allows it to be towable by almost any car.

Jay started with a trailer that cost only $800 and had a maximum capacity of 2,000 pounds. This small foundation helped shape and inspire the final form of the home, because nothing larger would have fit.

Jay’s designs stand apart from most. He focuses on simplicity, authenticity of materials, beauty & aesthetics, and the balance of the overall composition. But I think it’s his ability to restrain adding too much to the design that makes them look so pure and perfect.

Foam board and thin pieces wood were used to create the ultralight shell. On the interior Jay carefully placed built-in storage which meets all his storage needs while keeping a sense of volume and function. The bed doubles as a sofa. The desk doubles as a bench. There’s even a loft which can be used for sleeping or storage. The house is heated by a tiny fireplace powered by candle – or propane for convenience.

The home doesn’t have a kitchen or bathroom. Jay is able to share a kitchen and bathroom on property where he lives… and like he says… he’s not always in the bathroom, so why not share it?

I also want to congratulate Bryce for surpassing 1 million subscribers to his YouTube channel, Living Big in a Tiny House! Photos & video credit to Living Big in a Tiny House.

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