• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sustainable Simplicity

Inspiring sustainable living with tiny houses, cabins, sustainable homes, renewable energy

  • Sustainable Living
    • Homes
      • Tiny Houses
      • Cabins
      • Shipping Container Homes
      • Traditional/Natural Homes
    • Water
  • Food & Garden
    • Gardening
    • Livestock
    • Food Preservation
    • Recipes
  • DIY
    • Homemade Bath & Body
    • Crafts
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Charming Cabin is a Floating Off Grid Summer Home

February 9, 2015 by Shannon 1 Comment

tiny-house-floats1

Foy and Louisa Brown of North Haven, Maine originally built this cozy, 240 square foot off grid cabin as a rental to make some extra money, but once the decade-long construction job was complete, they decided they wanted to keep it for themselves. They finished the cabin just in time for their wedding night in August 2010 and have been spending their summers living in it ever since.

tiny-house-floats2

According to the Browns’ interview with Maine Home Design, the cabin is actually floating – accessible only by boat – on a foundation of plastic floatation tubs, styrofoam, and pontoons. The foundation was built first on shore, then towed out into the water. Foy then proceeded to build the cabin on top of it, bit by bit. The building is made primarily of shiplap, the rough-sawn wood most commonly seen on barns and outbuildings. This choice of wood definitely adds to the beautiful rustic charm of the cabin, all the while keeping the building cost low.

tiny-house-floats4

tiny-house-floats5

The cabin is entirely off the grid – no electricity or water hookups. The couple hauls in water to supply the 55 gallon tank that feeds the shower and kitchen sink and rain barrels collect water for the flowers and plants outside. Propane tanks are used to power the on-demand water heater, stove, and refrigerator. Candles and oil lamps provide light inside the cabin after dark while small solar lights illuminate the deck.

tiny-house-floats6

During the week, the couple takes a skiff to shore to go to their jobs on the island and return to their cabin in the evening. On weekends, they grill out on their floating platform and enjoy the surrounding scenery and wildlife. Sounds like an off grid dream to me!

tiny-house-floats7

The best part is getting away from it all. There’s no TV, no one to bother you—and no property taxes or permits.

tiny-house-floats8

See the original story at Maine Home Design. Images by Nicole Wolf

Filed Under: Cabins, Sustainable Homes, Tiny Houses Tagged With: off grid cabin, tiny cabin, tiny house

Previous Post: « 110 Sq Ft Transforming A-Frame Cabin Built for $1K
Next Post: Refreshingly Simple 260 Sq Ft Home on a Dairy Farm »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Momma

    March 1, 2015 at 4:30 pm

    I have often wondered if you have to pay property taxes when you have a home on the water like this one?? I LOVE this concept! A very special Houseboat!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome! Self-reliance, back-to-basics living, sustainability, and homesteading on any acreage. If you are as passionate about these things as I am, you're in the right place! Read more...

Connect with me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Visit Sustainable Simplicity's profile on Pinterest.

Popular posts

  • cottage-cabin1 Beautiful 480 Sq Ft Prefab Cabin with Screened Porch
  • greenhouse from old windows 1 Build A Stunning Greenhouse From Old Windows
  • cob-house-england1 Stunning Cob House in England

Categories

  • Cabins
  • Crafts
  • DIY
  • Food & Garden
  • Gardening
  • Homes
  • Livestock
  • Recipes
  • Renewable Energy
  • Shipping Container Homes
  • Sustainable Homes
  • Sustainable Living
  • Tiny Houses
  • Traditional/Natural Homes
  • Water

Recent Posts

  • What We Should Buy Locally and Why
  • 22 Aromatic Plants to Keep by Your Patio
  • DIY Beaded Garden Plant Markers

Recent Comments

  • Ava B on What We Should Buy Locally and Why
  • Mary Kron on What We Should Buy Locally and Why
  • Kathy on Gorgeous Gypsy-Style Tiny House on Wheels
  • Diona K on Beautiful 480 Sq Ft Prefab Cabin with Screened Porch
  • ElArcaS.xxi on Sustainable 108 Sq Ft Student Living Unit

Footer

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Pages

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy & Disclosure

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework