Q&A with Tiny House Owner, Drew Crawford

We are hard at work getting all the details in order for the BIG Tiny House Festival on September, 20.  Thank you all for your patience as we work to make this the best event we can!

Here is the first post about one of the wonderful Tiny Houses that will be at the event.  Drew Crawford, from North Carolina, has been taking his home all over the east coast and we’re incredibly excited that he’ll be landing, if only for a moment, at our festival. Check out the photos and his answers to the Q&A and get excited about seeing the tiny house for yourself!

 

When did you first get interested in tiny houses and what caused the interest?

My grandfather built his own home and I loved visiting growing up. The spaces he created were not large but personal. And when I bought my first home I decided to do much of the renovation work myself with the assistance of professionals. I learned just enough to be dangerous. Combined with my desire to live simply, with less things, and travel, building a tiny house was more of an exercise in finding the when no if I would build it.

 

What were your biggest obstacles while building?

The lack of a coherent stepwise process for ordering billing materials and knowing exactly what should be the next step. Lots of trips to the hardware store. Always be thinking three steps ahead!

 

What’s your favorite part about your new home?

Working with my father and learning both from him and with him. He is very detail oriented and my mother is very action oriented, just do something. I’m a pretty good balance between the two.

 

What were you surprised about when you started actually living in your tiny house?

Just starting this phase of the process. I’ve taken a 3 week “camping” trip in it and a coupe other weekends. I’m struck how bit it is. I think the next one designed for traveling will be smaller!

 

What kind of reactions have you gotten to your tiny house?

Every rest area or grocery store I stop at brings some attention to the house and the process of living simply. These are some lovely conversations when I allow myself the time to engage fully in them.

 

If someone wanted to start building a tiny house, what would your first piece of advice be?

Take your time in reading and preparing yourself mentally. It is a marathon not a sprint. Enjoy the pondering, it is good for you!