Using a Barn for inspiration of the Tiny House Design

I first visited Gordon County about 8 years ago and fell in love with the landscape of rolling hills, the flowing rivers and streams, the close proximity to both Chattanooga and Atlanta all while being in the shadows of Appalachian Mountains. Driving around on the many miles of two lane country roads with one eye on the road and one on the landscapes, it was easy to see numerous old barns that dot the county landscape. I soon began dismantling these old barns and using the lumber to create custom furniture as The Rusted Nail. These same barns that have inspired and supplied material for the furniture have also inspired The Rusted Nail Tiny House.

Each and every barn that has been built over the years is unique for a number of reasons. These barns were designed and built by the farmers themselves, not a contractor with a repeatable set of plans with bland materials. Over the years each barn was modified and molded to fit the ever changing needs of the farm. Barns are often multifunctional; typically a barn must protect livestock and hay while also being a milking parlor, and a workshop. As barns are modified throughout the years to adapt to new uses often times new spaces are created within the overall structure of the barn to accommodate these new uses. Another characteristic of barns that have inspired the tiny house is that in every barn the light that passes through the spaces between the boards is a common and striking feature of each. This relationship of light and shadow creates a very distinctive and striking atmosphere throughout the structure. The light filtered through the gaps manages to fill the space while maintaining an amount of privacy and protection.

The design of The Rusted Nail tiny house will take into account many of the barns unique features. In the end The Tiny House will be as unique as each barn that we have torn down in a more refined sense. The House will remain flexible in its use by simply being on a trailer that can be transported and located nearly anywhere. The Rusted Nail Tiny house will have very distinctive spaces within the confines of the structure for each function of a home. The Rusted Nail tiny house will feature many high windows resting behind louvered panels that will filter and fill the interior of the tiny house with natural light.

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