Tiny Living UK AUGUST

ISSN 2631-326X

AUGUST 2019

Van Decor Venture!

Life on a Boat

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AUGUST 2019

Contents Send Us Your Photos!!

Are you living in a tiny house, a narrowboat, a studio or other small space? Your story can help inspire others to follow their dreams!

Email us at info@tinylivingmagazine.co.uk

“ Living Narrow” With Wide Open Eyes … Page

3 7 11 13 12

A Tailor-Made Adventure … Page

Ode to an Owl … Page

Big Facts About Small Spaces … Page

Published by: Tiny Living Productions Ltd, Glasgow UK Editor: Pamela Palongue Design by: Gilmour Graphics Email: info@tinylivingmagazine.co.uk On the cover: VW Camper Van picnic by the sea Photograph by Fokke Baarssen Needle illustration www.vecteezy.com

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“ Living Narrow” With Wide Open Eyes

Kirsty and James live aboard a narrowboat with their dogs, Heidi and Rosie. How this happened no one really remembers. Kirsty says they truly can’t remember what first made them consider boat living, but she’s fairly certain it must have been her idea, since James is far too sensible to have thought of it. Surprisingly, he went along with her seemingly off the wall idea. He may have been at least partially persuaded by the fact that their options were buying a small city centre studio, or spending 50% of their wages on rent. Originally intended as a temporary solution, they now can’t imagine their lives any other way.

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They actually had room to spare, which is amazing, since their previous address was a three-bedroom semi-detached house! Fortunately they have recovered from their purging frenzy and have filled the extra space. Kirsty also recommends a separate storage shelter for off-season clothing.

One thing James and Kirsty would like to stress to others considering this way of life, is that it isn’t always easy. They recommend lots of research in advance of making any big decisions about narrowboat living. “It can be absolutely idyllic and offers a tranquillity which is hard to match…but it’s a full-on life adjustment…It’s a busy way of life, whether it’s filling up the water tank, carrying out some engine maintenance, or moving [your mooring] to ensure you comply with licensing regulations”.

To prepare, they hired a narrowboat on New Year’s Day 2017, to make sure they could stand the motion of the boat without getting sick.

It turned out to be one of the coldest, wettest days in recent years. Despite this, they loved it!

They also researched narrowboats and visited some boat dealers where they were allowed to explore the boats’ interiors on their own.

This helped to establish what their ‘must-haves’ were in order to live comfortably and efficiently.

There is also the issue of living so closely together spatially. They’ve learned how to move differently so that it works within the narrow space, but the occasional collision is unavoidable.

It’s also important in such close quarters to get out separately and enjoy some individual activities.

They say there’s no question that narrowboat living will change your mindset. Although James and Kirsty were always environmentally conscious, they now live in a manner where they are almost seamlessly connected to the natural world around them.

Once they made the decision to buy, they gathered their courage to share the news with…The Dads.

Actually, both fathers were very supportive, and James’ dad has since even subscribed to a boating magazine and is considering one for himself!

Kirsty advises, “Once you buy a boat, you will be asked weekly, ‘Is it cold?’. Next you will be asked about the toilet situation. And when being introduced to new people, the fact that you live on a boat will instantly become the most interesting thing about you with the introduction going something like, ‘This is Kirsty and James, and they live on a narrowboat’ -at which point they will immediately ask you if it’s cold and how the toilet works.”

Remarkably, when Kirsty and James moved to their new home on the water, they may have gotten a bit carried away with the downsizing.

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“…Watching otters hunt or fox cubs play while you relax with a drink at dusk is a highlight.

-Swans knocking on your window to be fed at dinner time, or amorous fish hammering into the side of your boat at 4am - not so much! Having all of this literally at your window makes you hyper aware of the eco-system that surrounds you, and the direct impact you have upon it”. The seemingly small choices they make every day, can have a huge impact on the waterways, such as using eco cleaning products rather than harsh chemicals.

Another concern when leaving dry land were their dogs, Rosie and Heidi. Surprisingly, the lively dogs became much calmer once living aboard. This may be because in the city, they would get a 30 minute walk on a lead, whereas now James and Kirsty may explore for hours, meandering through the natural areas. When the dogs aren’t out walking, they can most likely be found hanging out on the front of the boat, watching the world go by. There is the occasional barking at the swans ritual, but overall the dogs seem very happy to live on the water.

There are some safety situations involving the dogs when the boat is moving. Heidi had a bad habit of seeing something she liked on the towpath

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and simply hopping off the boat at a narrow bridge section for a closer look. Kirsty says they’ve since curbed her Houdini antics by putting the boat on lockdown on the towpath side. Rosie, the terrier, initially would hide under the sofa when the boat was in motion. But after she became more confident, she was once discovered trotting along the gunnels on the side of the boat! She was quickly retrieved, and buoys were installed at both ends of the gunnels to prevent her “walking the plank”.

Kirsty does admit that she occasionally worries if they’ve made the right choice when they see their friends pursuing more traditional housing goals.

“I worry that we’ve made home in a floating steel box which is depreciating in value whilst those around us are investing in the ever appreciating housing market. It’s one of those fleeting thoughts that hits you at 1300 on a drizzly Sunday afternoon… then you see the swans teaching their cygnets to fly and you’re brought back to the reality of life aboard, and how we actually have everything we need in this depreciating steel box. And in a couple of short years we’ll be debt free and the possibilities that enables is really exciting.”

Kirsty and James have a blog and website entitled, ‘Living Narrow’. It details their process from when they began their research to their current experiences on the boat as seasoned live aboards.

It is both entertaining and extremely helpful and encouraging. It’s a brave step to share your personal experiences, but they have graciously done this in the hope of helping others to better understand the real experience of living on the water. Kirsty says, “…much to our surprise, people seem to want to read it! And for that, we’re so grateful!”

You can find them hereBlog: www.livingnarrow.com Twitter: @living_narrow Instagram: @living_narrow

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A Tailor-Made Adventure

Nicole Herridge is the multi-talented, creative force behind a new company called Stitcha that seeks to create beautiful things for the home, while protecting and appreciating the environment.

As any entrepreneur will tell you, starting a new company is an adventure in itself. And for Nicole, whose company just formally launched in April, it has been a long road of research, experimentation, and tenacity to bring her dream into reality.

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Stitcha specialises in home interior items that are created especially for small spaces, such as tiny houses, narrowboats, caravans and van conversions, made with sustainable materials here in the UK. An avid fan of small-space living, Nicole noticed that there were no curtains that were specially fitted for the small windows in a van for example. And many lamp shades were massively huge. So she designed a line called ‘The Adventurist Collection’ with curtains, wall art and lamp shades – all scaled down to fit into a small space. The curtains can be custom

fitted to any window size. And perhaps best of all, Nicole designs them herself, and they are printed onto the organic fabrics at one of the few sustainable printing facilities in Britain. The Limited Edition items are hand-stitched, so that each one is a little piece of art. All of her designs are clean and crisp, but with a bit of whimsy and fun.

business with combining the efforts of several different suppliers and manufacturers to create a single product.

The items are a little more expensive, but the costs reflect the fact that they are handmade, and produced in the UK from quality fabrics, such as organic cotton which is free from the harsh chemicals that are often found in most organic cottons. When you’re breathing in a small space and in frequent contact with your surroundings, this becomes a very important consideration. Even the threads used are organic and produced by a company that uses bamboo spindles, rather than plastic. It’s important to her personally to support other small businesses in the UK, and to care for the planet. Soon she will launch an exciting new product line which will benefit the world’s oceans. Watch her website for the release of this extraordinarily innovative product.

Next year she hopes to buy her own van (which will no doubt be kitted out with Stitcha décor) to attend trade fairs and shows. Nicole believes her company and its way of doing business is important. “We’ve become a throw-away society… instead buy something that’s good quality that will last longer and is more sustainable. With this company, hopefully I’m sort of doing my bit.”

As with many creatives, Nicole’s path started in a very different field with studying Devised Theatre at Falmouth. This particular type of theatre is sometimes referred to as ‘collective creation’ because it involves several individuals working together to improvise a script. This early foray into collaboration has helped her in starting her

She’s also received a great deal of help from The Prince’s Trust, by attending workshops and receiving personalised guidance and training.

You can see more of Nicole’s designs at: stitcha.co.uk

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A Tiny Living Promotion

Land Ahoy!

One of the biggest questions when considering a tiny house, is land! You only need a small patch of ground, but sometimes this can seem like an insurmountable task if you don’t know where to look.

At Tiny Eco Homes UK, you won’t be left adrift to find a place for your new home. This is all part of the process of getting the right home design – and the right location – for your house.

Emma, who is herself a tiny house dweller, acknowledges that finding a pitch was one of the most difficult parts of transitioning to a different living style.

By going through this process herself, she is now knowledgeable on finding pitches that will work

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for your need to be close to family, employment, and personal preferences.

If you’re looking for an excellent way to earn extra income by providing a holiday let, you’ll want to choose a special, inviting place that will entice guests to choose your location first.

Emma can help you find the perfect setting for your investment.

She works exclusively with Tiny Eco Homes UK, and will find up to two pitches for your new home’s location for £400.

So, if you’ve been hesitant to consider tiny home living because you needed a pitch for your new home, wait no more! Contact Tiny Eco Homes UK for more details at www.tinyecohomesuk.com

“New

” ! ! o e Vid

The Glamping Show!

Tiny Living

Loco!

For a look at the funny side of tiny living, visit our YouTube videos at Tiny Living Loco: www.youtube.com/watch?v=igj-k5udq4I

Tiny Living AUTUMN! In PRINT

Our Autumn issue (a combination of July, August & September) will be on sale mid-September at these locations: LONDON Charlotte Street News, Fitzrovia, W1T 4QE LONDON Rococo News & Magazines, Notting Hill W11 2HX GLASGOW Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) Aye-Aye Bookstore, G2 3JD GLASGOW Tell It Slant Bookstore (in The Project Café), G3 6ST - And online everywhere at www.Newsstand.co.uk

One of the biggest shows of the season will be taking place 19th -21st September, At Stoneleigh Park!

There’ll be plenty of caravans, shepherd huts, yurts, holiday homes, and lots of accessories for small space living!

To find out more, click here…

www.theglampingshow.com

EVEN A SUPER HERO NEEDS A HAND NOW AND THEN!

At Tiny Living Magazine UK we’re here to help! That’s because quality housing and minimising our impact on the natural world is our passion too.

When you advertise with us, our print magazines are distributed to over 90 locations across the UK every quarter, and our online version appears every month! We offer one low price for all of it, to give you the most success.

Call us for more info – 07715888981 or email infotinylivingmagazine.co.uk The impossible is possible – Just build!

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ODE TO AN OWL Though the Barn Owl is often described as the “common barn owl” it’s actually anything but common or ordinary. These mysterious, enchanting birds were the symbol of the Greek goddess Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, which may explain where their sage reputation came from originally. They’re also frequently pictured with Merlin of King Arthur legends, which is no surprise, since there is truly a mystical quality about them.

They have a strong relationship to Halloween in the U.S. Their association with Fright Night may be because they are more active in October. -It may also be because their big eyes seem to glow in the blackness of the forest night. And their call is also enough to startle on a cold dark night, with a weird little scream that can sound a bit like a small child in distress.

Barn Owls are found all over the world, but the British birds are somewhat unique. They are not exclusively nocturnal, and can be seen hunting during the day for their prey - usually small mammals.

The Barn Owl usually mates for life. (perhaps we should be asking them for advice) They’re protected in the UK, and if you spot owls nesting, do not disturb their home! This can lead to several unpleasantries, including fines.

These adorable birds need all the help and support we can give to help them thrive in our rapidly changing world.

Right- a charming Barn Owl, painted on a bit of wood by artist Ali English. See more of Ali’s artwork at her Etsy shop here: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Eldwolf

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" When blood is

nipp'd, and ways be foul, Then nightly sings the staring-owl, "Tu-who; Tu-whit, tu-who!" -a merry note..."

From 'Love’s Labours Lost ’ - W. Shakespeare

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Big Facts About Small Spaces The average size of a home in the UK is 76 square meters, which is the smallest national average in Europe Over 15,000 people in the UK live on the water on narrowboats and canal boats, with several thousand in London alone A shipping container home can be converted into a permanent dwelling with building regulation compliance for around ÂŁ15,000 + VAT There are now over 80 companies building shepherd huts in the UK, with an increasing number of them used as granny (or grandpa) annexes for aging parents According to the British Property Federation, a record 8,000 ‘micro homes’ were built in the UK in 2017

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We’re not naming names... but a celebrity dog was recently spotted reading our magazine.

-Tiny Living is fun and inspirational!

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