Tumbleweed DIY Book of Backyard Sheds & Tiny Houses

The Tiny House Guru is Sharing His Ideas for Little Buildings that Make Great Guest Cottages, Offices, Studios or Workshops

New book includes detailed, architectural plans for 6 styles just 107 sq. ft. or less

(LANCASTER, PA) Jay Shafer is a man who lives in a house that's just 89 square feet. And no, that's NOT a typo. He is the founder and mastermind behind The Tumbleweed Tiny House, where he designs very small bungalows for the eco-minded and spatially-challenged. With his new book, Tumbleweed DIY Book of Backyard Sheds & Tiny Houses (Fox Chapel Publishing, October 1, 2012), Shafer is sharing detailed, architectural plans for small house designs that do-it-yourselfer's can build from.

At no more than 107 square feet, the six designs inside this inspirational book can serve a variety of purposes. Shafer explains, "What one person would enjoy as a quiet studio in their backyard, another couple might choose to inhabit as a full-time residence. What some people see as the perfect weekend hideaway in the country, others will use as a beautiful free-standing addition to their existing home for accommodating an elderly parent, an adult child, guests, or as office space."

Each design includes detailed plans for elevation from all sides, floor plans, and window options - enough for a skilled builder to get right to work. For the beginner or less experienced builder, the book also includes an appendix that lays out the necessary steps to building a home - like preparing the land, laying a foundation, erecting a floor and more. And as a bonus, readers who purchase the book may download a free, complete 21-page set of plans for the beautiful Zinn model, by logging onto Shafer's website, www.tumbleweedhouses.com and entering an exclusive code.

"My houses have been composed with meticulous attention to light, warmth, energy efficiency, and proportion. I have made the most of each cozy interior by minimizing transitional areas like hallways and stairwells and by using otherwise unusable space as storage. The simple, formal designs that have resulted are the best way I have found to order most any space and make it beautiful," says Shafer. Whether used as a sustainable residence, or as a much needed extra functional space, the small bungalow designs inside Tumbleweed DIY Book of Backyard Sheds & Tiny Houses are proven to work in real world conditions. They are 100 square feet of genius, and now readers can experience them first-hand.

About the Author:

Jay Shafer is internationally recognized as an expert in small living, and wrote the book, The Small House Book. He is a designer specializing in sustainable architecture and urban planning. He has lectured extensively on these subjects for such venues as the Eco-Dwelling program at New College, the Boston Architectural Center, and the University of Iowa's School of Art and Art History where he served as Adjunct Assistant Professor for more than a decade. Jay's designs and essays have appeared in a number of periodicals, books, and television shows including "Fine Homebuilding", "The Wall Street Journal", "The New York Times", "CNN", "Oprah", and "This Old House". He currently lives in an 89 square-foot home of his own creation in Sebastopol, California.