Review: Microshelters: 59 Creative Cabins, Tiny Houses, Tree Houses, and Other Small Structures

Microshelters: 59 Creative Cabins, Tiny Houses, Tree Houses, and Other Small Structures by Derek "Deek" Diedricksen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was expecting to see plenty of pictures that really explained what made these structures interesting. You get some of that here, with each structure getting from 2 to 5 or so pictures. But many were just glossed over with one exterior and one interior shot. Sure, some were pretty self explanatory, like the glass box treehouse that contained only a desk and chair, but that steamed up when running it as a sauna. There are a lot of odd little structures here. While it starts with most being “tiny houses” on the smaller end, it ends with treehouses, children’s playhouses, and sheds. Many of these structures were built by the author, who enjoys using found building materials and using items in new ways. For instance in various builds he shows using wine bottles, 5 gallon water bottles, and IKEA fruit bowls as windows cut into the sides or floor of structures. What I thought of while browsing through the pictures of most of these structures was how to keep insects and other critters out. I didn’t catch the author covering that… The book ends with some discussion of typical tools used, generally non-powered hand tools that the author says aren’t widely available any more. Seems strange. There are also more detailed plans of 6 of the units here, showing roughly how they are built and the kinds of materials needed. It’s a good book to get an idea of what to do with a small structure that may be used for purposes like a spare bedroom, a small and incomplete living unit, a lonely writers garret, or a play area. I would have liked to see some more info on practical things like installing indoor plumbing and electrical service, pest-proofing, storage, and building with purchased materials instead of found.

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