Who are these runaways?
Luise is a certified media designer for digital and print products and currently works as a full-time web manager for a local newspaper. Originally from Germany (she moved to the USA in July 2010) she’s blessed or cursed (depends on the point of view) with a nerve-wracking amount of meticulousness and determination of what she wants. She enjoys writing and photography and hopes to have more time to pursue these passions once our life in the tiny house begins!
Shawn is employed as a full-time arborist (tree climber) at a local tree care company. He does not only love plants, trees and animals, but also knows astonishingly much about them. After contemplating the idea of living simply for a long time, he started convincing Luise in 2012.
Last but not least, the most important member of our group: Sophie, the Australian Shepherd. She’s the most photogenic one of us, loves to explore the world and is always up for a new adventure. She’s pretty, cute, smart, clumsy, nosy, crazy, affectionate, fluffy and sneaky – just to mention a few of her characteristics.
None of us has any experience in construction, or carpentry, or roofing, or plumbing, but we are determined to get our Runaway Shanty completed one way or the other.
Our Tiny House Construction Since 2013 
What kind of insulation are you planing to use?
We are leaning towards open-cell spray foam. It’s a tough decision!!
How well does this tow? Is it being so tall a problem? Do you have problems at camping grounds due to its height?
Hi Josh, it was pretty easy to tow our house, but it’s not completed on the inside yet and therefore lighter. With 13’1″ it’s actually below the legal maximum and the first and only campground we stayed at so far did not care about the height at all. Hope that answers your questions!
Where can I learn more about your stove? I have a german stove for my small home but I think I need to go smaller and this design reminded me of a rocket stove I saw in England. What is Rogers company name. Thanks and I love the look of your tiny home! If you are in the Virginia mountains you are welcome to set up on our beautiful jackson River.
Hi Patrick, be careful what you say, we might take you up on your offer because Virginia has been on our list of states we want to visit. 🙂 Thank you!!! Concerning our woodstove: It’s the Kimberly from Unforgettable Fire, LLC. We have a link to it in our “Costs” section. It’s very pricey but worth it. You’re welcome to stop by and visit us any time you’re in New England.
Thank you so much for all your information and the pricing!!! I have seen smaller homes with nothing in them for about the price of yours and they are empty!!! Really appreciate your website. I might do what you did and go to a workshop.
Thank you, and good luck!
Hi, I love the look of you home.You mention that you were coming to Alaska. I live in a small village out side of Homer called Nilolaevsk. I also work in Denali National Park in the summers. I would love to see you shanty. Contact me if you are ever coming this way.
Hi Barr,
Thank you so much! We will definitely be in touch. Alaska has always been a dream of ours.
I’m very interested in seeing the kimbey wood stove in action before I buy one can I come to see it I live in new hampshire
You’re welcome to come! Please see our other replies…
VERY COOL!! Cant’ wait to read more… I will live vicariously through this as with two teenagers and 20+ years of stuff. I cant do a tiny house. But I admire these…
Haha, maybe one day you can!
I love your home! The windows are amazing.
I am in process of planning and stuck on roof style but love how you have more room in lofts.
So….Have queries, the gambrel roof.. how easy was that to assemble? How much weight in framing would it add? And how easy was it to get the chimney pipe through the steeper roof slope?
Thank you, Maree! 🙂
We worked with local contractors to build our house and they fulfilled our wish of having a gambrel roof. In retrospect, I’m happy I didn’t know what we were getting into… haha, not to scare you away, BUT building this roof has cost us a lot of time and money. Guess it’s money well spent. Our house weighed 7,340 lbs without anything inside (except spray foam). The chimney pipe is another crazy story… Due to the unusual slope we needed a custom made pipe. It’s difficult but not impossible to do. Let us know if you opt for the same style! 🙂
Hi RunAwayShanty. I’m so glad to find your blog. Saw that you were in Putnam last year. Sorry I missed that. When will you be show casing your house again? I would love to come see it. I finally got hubby onboard to build my tiny dream home. So far we have a trailer and some donated Windows. I’m still conflicted with roof lines on my design. I have been watching RelaxedShack as well as many others you listed on your inspirations. We even discussed Tiny House Jamboree coming up in August. Seeing local builds would be really helpful to start. Thank you for sharing your journey. -Tina
Hi Tina! No worries if you missed us in Putnam, you’re always welcome to visit us where we are and see our house. We are not planning to showcase it any time soon since it’s still under construction. Maybe we can inspire you for a certain roof design!
Hello! My partner stumbled across your blog and we would love to get in touch with you. He and I are interested in building our own tiny house. We also live in CT so we would love to see you house if at all humanly possible. Please let me know if this is a possibility, we would love to meet and talk with you!
Love
Jessica
Thank you so much for contacting us, Jessica! You’re more than welcome to visit us and see the house. Would you be able to send us a private message on our Facebook page?
Luise and Shawn,
Hi!
I am a Ph.D. student in sociology at Indiana University and I am studying tiny homes for my dissertation (people living in them, legalization efforts, etc.). I am writing to ask if you would be interested in taking my Qualtrics survey? It’s short (about 10 mins), will really help me produce high-quality research, and you have the chance to enter yourself in a gift card raffle if you’re interested.
Link: https://iu.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cBjkCE36OqRXVR3
Contact me at nesummer@umail.iu.edu or at 812-219-5214 if you have any questions or just want to confirm that I’m a real person and that the link is not spam. Thanks!
Nik Summers
Sociology Department
Indiana University
Hi Nik, we just completed your survey. Thank you!
Thanks so much! I really appreciate it.