Images via A Room of One’s Own
Author, editor, and self-taught woodworker Charles Finn spent the better part of his 30’s simplifying his life for “economic, aesthetic and quasi-spiritual reasons”. In doing so, he gradually began downsizing his living spaces until he ended up in a 7 x 12′ gypsy wagon built by a friend. Soon after, he landed a house sitting position in Potomac, Montana where he was given unlimited access to the materials the homeowner had on hand from dismantling barns. He used that reclaimed lumber to build his first microhome, an 8 x 12′ cabin that he placed on a corner of the same property, where he was able to live rent-free.
The following winter, Finn built another similar cabin that he hauled to a farmers market to show, and it sold it to the first person who cycled by. Finn has since designed and built several micro cabins on commission, all beautiful, completely custom works of art made with reclaimed materials. The “Potomac Cabin” pictured here is one of his creations. It is 8 x 12′ with a staircase leading up to a 5′ loft. The interior is finished with beautiful wood planking of various hues and widths, while the exterior is clad in rusted metal siding.
The main living area has a wood burning stove, a small kitchen area with counter space and a propane cooking stove, seating areas, and several storage shelves. None of Finn’s cabins have electricity or running water, though he claims that over time you will relish not having these features. This cabin has several windows that allow in plenty of natural light, and at night light is provided by oil lamps.
On his website, Finn explains how he came into the micro building niche:
Back then I’d never heard the term microhome. I didn’t know I was part of a “movement”. It just made sense to me to live as I did. It gave me great satisfaction and joy. My definition of success I inherited from my father. “Be happy.” I was. I went on to design and built more cabins, eight in all, all in the 8′ x12′ ballpark and all with 100% reclaimed materials.
Visit the website, A Room of One’s Own, to see more of Finn’s cabins or to contact him if you are interested in having one commissioned for yourself.
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