Cozy Home Entertainment Systems
Even if your house is tiny or small, you might want to have an area or space that’s specifically for entertaining purposes. This can include a TV, stereo system, computer or laptop space and maybe even some cool speakers. With technology getting smaller every year, even the tiniest house can have a great place to watch movies or listen to music without taking up too much room. Several Cozy Homes have a space for a flat screen television including the 384 square foot Crested Butte and the 505 square foot Mount Kiska. With a little ingenuity, a small entertainment space can be integrated into a living room with a flat screen TV area.
A small cabinet or shelf from IKEA can hold a DVD player, a compact stereo, a cable box and even some movies in a small corner. The key to keeping space uncluttered is to install as many things on the wall as possible. This includes the TV, the speakers, shelving and wiring. Speakers for a small house can stay in one area or can be installed in various places around the house. An unobtrusive style of speaker system from Bose is only around $160 and comes with custom mounting brackets. They are only about 4 inches high and about 11 inches wide. If your main source of entertainment is your computer or laptop, this and its components can be tucked away into a desk or shelf or even inside an ottoman with an inside storage area…only being brought out when you want to watch a movie or your favorite show.
If you have to share your small space with other people and you don’t want to watch or listen to the same thing, a good pair of headphones can be a relationship-saver. A pair of wireless TV headphones allows one person to listen to the TV while the other sleeps or reads. A Sennheiser set of headphones runs about $70.
By Christina Nellemann for [Cozy Home Plans]
The El Capitan with a Fireplace
One of the first stock small house plans to be offered here at Cozy was the El Capitan; it’s also available in a simple outdoor shed too by the way. The exterior look and style was influenced by a picture of a garden shed that I saw on the internet and immediately thought “how cool is that”. However, the inside is 100% pure Cozy Micro, Little, Tiny or small living at it finest.
At only 307 sq. ft. the El Capitan’s layout never ceases to amaze me on what can be done with it. We now have 4 different configurations for the inside, depending on your needs or wants in a small house. All versions have your basic full-time needs covered with a great place for sleeping, cooking, relaxing, bathroom and laundry facilities.
The original El Capitan is a perfect mixture of Pool & Guest House with bathroom access from both outside and from within.
307 sq ft “El Capitan Pool House” Floor Plan View
307 sq ft “El Capitan” 3D Outside View
We changed things up a bit by creating the perfect writer’s retreat, that also serves double duty as a private guest house called the “Studio”.
307 sq ft “El Capitan Studio” Floor Plan View
This layout shows off my love of cooking and perhaps is Cozy’s smallest and most perfect “Gourmet Kitchen” granny flat to date. This one has two different layouts offering both a Full and ¾ Bath option. Both designs work well in my opinion and it would be tough to have to choose between them. I guess it would boil down to the loss of 12” of closet space.
307 sq ft “El Capitan Gourmet Kitchen” Floor Plan View
307 sq ft “El Capitan Gourmet Kitchen w Full Bath” Floor Plan View
Last but certainly not least is the “Fireplace” layout, which was just created last night and coming in at #2 just behind the Humble Pie for smallest Cozy Home with a fireplace. This version has just about everything for making it the perfect backyard or full time Casita; I think! 
307 sq ft “El Capitan Fireplace” 3D Top View
307 sq ft “El Capitan Fireplace” Floor Plan View with Grid
My Essentials for the “Fireplace”
The Kitchen has all the basics covered.
Rendered with a Full size Bed but a Queen could still fit in the space.
The Bath has a 48” shower, storage closet and a nice sized vanity.
Storage areas are provided by closets, cabinets and furniture.
The stackable Washer/Dryer fits nicely into the Bath, but if not needed could easily provide an additional closet space or a full sized tub.
Space is my 6th “Floor Plan Essential”. This particular layout has seating for 3 with the desk chair making it 4. The backdoor also provides another way of combining in and outdoor living.
The only negative thing I see is… 
The act of actually eating what you have cooked at a table is somewhat compromised, it could be accomplished at the desk area, flip-up dining table or the old stand-by… TV trays.
This brings up the point that my renderings are precisely that, my vision of what it could be and how the furniture “could” be laid out inside. Your version could have two recliners with room for a table and no desk at all.
Our design Motto is “Let our signature be yours”, all of these plans are 100% customizable. Let my vision be your inspiration, we can then meld them together and create the perfect Cozy home… just for you.
Cozy, Kevin B Harrington
Small Patios for Cozy Homes
Now that the weather has warmed up around most of North America, the garden centers and landscaping stores are full of people pushing around carts laden with pavers and patio stones to build that perfect outdoor patio. A Cozy, small or tiny home can also benefit from an outdoor patio. They offer a great refuge to sit and enjoy your garden as well as an extension of the indoors. Patios can be placed anywhere in your yard: right off a back door, tucked in a secluded corner or they can even encompass the majority of your yard.
For a Cozy home, a smaller patio might work best. Not only will it be less expensive to construct and you could do the labor yourself, but it will not overwhelm a smaller home. With a good design you can also fit an eating area, some plants, a barbecue and maybe even a small water feature. Pre-cut paver stones or bricks make a good patio and they can be laid down in a variety of patterns and styles. Natural stone pavers create a more organic look, but will need to be adjusted a few times to fit together – like a puzzle. Both types of pavers can have sand, small pebbles or “gator dust” pour in between them to create a smooth, seamless patio. Also make sure that you create a level and stable patio that can support foot traffic, chairs and tables. Transition areas between the yard and the home should also be smooth and should not have sharp corners or places where you can trip.
Here are some additional design tips for building a small patio for a small home (from Better Homes & Gardens):
• Make the design attractive: It should complement the house and landscape, as well as provide a comfortable living space.
• Don’t be square. Add slabs at the corners of paver patio, for instance, to make a unique geometric form. Curves often make the best use of space.
• Create a hidden or enclosed patio away from the house. It is one of the simplest outdoor rooms you can make. All you need is level ground, comfortable seating, and the shelter of trees and shrubs.
• Extend a patio’s usefulness with a roof or partial cover. Position the patio to be warmed (but not baked) by the sun; a southeast or southwest location is ideal.
• Keep in mind the costs of maintenance over the anticipated lifetime of the paving material, when figuring the patio’s cost initially.
Photos by Wonderlane and Houzz
By Christina Nellemann for [Cozy Home Plans]
The New & Improved A B See 2 Bedroom Small House Plan
Anyone who looked at the “old version” of the A B See a year ago saw a very plain small house, devoid of any 3D love that most of my designs typically get. This was because it needed something, the layout just felt unfinished. A year later… it got the attention it needed with the addition of 54 sq. ft. This made all the difference and made this a truly Cozy home.
592 sq ft Small House “A B See” 3D Top View
592 sq ft Small House “A B See” 3D Outside View
New Features!
Larger and more open Kitchen & Dining area.
It now has access to the backyard like all homes should have.
A door now separates the W/D from the hallway for a cleaner more finished look.
Larger closet in Bedroom #2, for holding more stuff!!! Because stuff is not a four letter word here at Cozy HP.
Adding the one car garage now makes this an ideal paired home choice too.
Including the 6 essentials is quite a bit easier when we have this much square footage to play with. Of course, most people think under 600 sq. ft. make’s a good sized Kitchen & Gathering room but not us! You could fit 3 Cozy Cubes, 2 Thimble Peeks or a Crested Butte and a half in this foot print.
Now my “6 Must Haves”; decent Kitchen, room for a larger Bed, Bath that will fit two in a pinch, Storage, Washer & Dryer & Space to move around a bit.
#1 The half Galley & “U” Kitchen has 9 cabinets, plus a pantry with extra room for a built in buffet adding additional counter top space & appliance storage.
#2 Room for a Queen mattress in both bedroom #1 and #2.
#3 The full Bath includes room a standard 5’ tub or 60” shower pan, whichever is preferred.
#4 Lots of big closets for Storage.
#5 The stackable Washer/Dryer centrally located in the hall.
#6 The open Kitchen, Dinning & Gathering room creates a more Spacious feel and a great first impression.
Cozy Home Plans now has 20 different two bedroom small house plans in Flickr to choose from.
I was shocked by this number too! Had no idea that we had so many to choose from now and we will be adding a 20th one next week.
Our #1 goal is to make living the tiny lifestyle a reality for everyone. Offering realistic downsizing choices for singles & couples wanting a Cozy home, plus small families needing 3 or even 4 bedrooms.
It really is all about Living Large, in a Cozy Home.
Cozy, Kevin B Harrington
Small Home Security Systems
We all hope that when we simplify our lives into a tiny, small or Cozy home that our world will become a little more ideal. Unfortunately this is not the case in most locations these days. No matter what the size of your home, you can still be burglarized and what little items you do own could end up in someone else’s hands. Many tiny home owners these days are looking into home security systems and there are some great systems that are suitable for smaller spaces.
A two-camera wireless system will cost around $250.
What type of system you buy will depend on how much you will want to spend and also how much coverage you want. It will also depend on how often you will be away from your home. You could go simple with a home security camera that sends the feed directly to your computer or TV, or a motion detector alarm system from an online store like the Home Security Store. Their one to two camera systems cost around $200 for wireless DVR security system and their hard-wired alarm kits are around $150. They also offer other burglary deterrents like warning window stickers, simulated cameras and small door alarms for around $30. Another inexpensive way to add your own security is to install outdoor motion lights that turn on when movement is detected around your home. You can also get a reliable watchdog from the local shelter. Also, remember to have good locks on all your doors and windows.
If you want a full security system, the Protection 1 company offers a full system with a 24-hour UL listed monitor, touchscreen keypad and a pet-friendly motion detector. This system also includes a remote arm/disarm option and a remote lock/unlock doors option. You can also get text alert and email notifications if your system is compromised. The cost of this system will depend on the size of your home and other options you may want.
Photo by Home Security Store
Looking for the Perfect Small “2” Bedroom Cabin Retreat
Look no further than this one of a kind layout from Cozy Home Plans. The 432 sq. ft. Firefly’s design creates an amazing 2 bedroom compact cabin, with all the amenities you would typically find in one of our small houses. As a matter of fact, this home would be a perfect full time tiny house for anyone needing a 2nd bedroom or private office.
432 sq ft Small House “Firefly” 3D outside View
432 sq ft Small House “Firefly” 3D Top View
The Firefly’s 8’-6” x 9’ seating area comfortably seats 3 or 4 and has room for a built-in entertainment center too. The large Kitchen and Bathroom makes cooking and getting ready for more than one person really easy. The Bedrooms are a little snug, but with the utilization of built-in storage options and room for a private TV, their perfect for sleeping & relaxing in. We also added an extra door in Bedroom #1 for easy access to your backyard oasis or garden.
The “6 Must Haves” are included in 98% of our small house designs; it’s what sets us apart from other micro & tiny house designers. This one is no exception…
#1 The half Galley & “U” Kitchen has 9 cabinets, plus a pantry with extra room for a built in buffet adding additional counter top space & appliance storage.
#2 The custom storage beds have enough room for a Queen mattress in bedroom #1 and a Twin in #2.
#3 The full Bath includes room a standard 5’ tub or 60” shower pan, whichever is preferred.
#4 Storage areas include the custom beds; linen closet, cabinets, coat closet and bedroom chifferobe’.s
#5 We added room for the optional stackable Washer/Dryer centrally located in the hall or it becomes over 4’ of additional storage without it.
#6 The open Kitchen & Gathering room creates a more Spacious feel and a good first impression.
Cozy HP is all about making unique Micro, Tiny & Small houses completely full-time livable. Even the ones we would consider more of a guest house, weekend retreat or getaway cabin like the Firefly.
We now have 121 sets divided into 14 collections or ascending square footage starting at 64 sq ft. and going up. Flickr has almost 2000 3D renderings of what Living large in a Cozy Home would look like. Proudly offering 1 to 5 bedrooms and 1 to 3 bathrooms, all under 1000 sq. ft. with 76 of them under 500 sq. ft.
Cozy, Kevin B Harrington
Cozy Small Home Plans are Divided into 14 Collections
One way that we make discovering the perfect Cozy Home so easy is by separating the 120+ sets that are currently in Flickr, into different collections. The “pro” is this narrows your search into more specific categories, eliminating the wasting of time looking at something that won’t work for you. Of course the “con” is that you will be missing out on some of what makes Cozy Home Plans so unique. These 14 different categories break them all of our mini-micro, little tiny & our small cozy homes down by size, bedroom etc…
Some are in more than one collection but this is still your best bet to narrow down the search.
#1 Cozy’s Most Unique currently has 20 sets in it. I wouldn’t necessarily call them my favorites or Greatest Hits! But they certainly won’t disappoint you with their uniqueness.
384 sq ft “Tree House” 3D outside View
#2 Cozy 1 Bed 1 Bath Plans have a separated bedroom behind a wall with 25 to choose from in that one.
#3 Cozy also has 20 different 1 Bedroom Open Plan
#4 Has 19 sets of Cozy 2 Bedroom
#5 Cozy’s 3 Bedroom
#6 Believe it or not, Cozy also has 6 designs that are 4+ Bedroom
800 sq ft “Big 5″ Shipping Container Floor Plan View
#7 Has 13 sets of two story plans ranging from 240 -781 sq. ft. Oh by the way, one of those is a three story small house called the Beacon Hill. Three guesses why I chose that name?
We also break them down by square footage. This is just in case you have a budget or are working with a minimum or maximum size restriction.
#8 Our micro section of 200 sq. ft. & Under has 16 sets like the Cozy Cube.
#9 Between 201-300 sq. ft. has 18 sets to peruse.
#10 Homes from 301-400 sq. ft. has 19 sets.
#11 Small Cozy homes between 401-500 sq. ft. has a plethora of 22 to choose from like the Sawtooth Mountain.
#12 “Bigger” small Homes from 501-600 sq. ft. currently has 11 sets like the Glen Ivy.
#13 If 601- 700 sq. ft. is your target, we have 16 in that one.
We save the biggest for Last…
#14 Cozy Home Plans over 701
781 sq ft Small House “High Point” 3D Outside View
These numbers are constantly changing due to adding new plans, deleting ones that show minimal interest and my constant desire to modify them as new ideas spark changes in the layout. I don’t mind changing them; it’s all about making them Cozier while becoming even more functional.
Cozy, Kevin B Harrington
Overhaul Your Bedroom to Create a Dreamworthy Space You’ll Love Relaxing In
What are the 6 most important elements in creating the most calming, peaceful, harmonious, soothing, relaxing, dream-worthy space for your slumber?
Comfort
The cardinal rule to a soothing bedroom? Comfortable bedding. You don’t have to be basking in the lap of luxury with rich and extravagant sheets, pillows and comforters. Do what makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Begin with a mattress that fits your needs then layer away. Cover that with a fluffy feather bed. Continue layering with a nice pair of sheets, jersey or flannel in the cold winter and light cotton or sateen in the warmer months. Top the sheets with a quilt, blanket or down comforter. Toss pillows, again fit to your liking and you have just created the best bedroom sandwich ever.
Trend alert! Throw a chunky cable-knit blanket across the end of your bed to add that cozy feeling.
Color Palette
Limit the number of colors you bring into your bedroom to three, buffered by a neutral hue. For example, pair a coral duvet over your new Macy’s mattress with a navy headboard; or consider painting an accent wall navy, with a cream comforter and Kelly green rug. Don’t know where to begin? Thenest.com recommends you start with a neutral base and then add color, texture and pattern from there.
Textures
Play with texture in your bedroom by adding a classic white sheepskin rug next to your bed so it’s the last thing your toes feel as you climb into your comfortable grotto of joy. Also, although a mirror might not the be the first thing that comes to mind when you consider adding texture to a room, the depth found in a mirror or group of mirrors is actually quite organic. Images of texture reflected back out in the room. Unique!
Add Personal Touches
Whether a piece of antique furniture, family photos or monogrammed pillowcases, keep your bedroom personalized with your charm. It helps with the cozy feeling you are attempting to perfect. Keep the balance by not cluttering the room with too many trinkets or anything too large. If you have a character-filled piece like a massive, dramatic headboard made of stone, or a piece of art, tone down the rest of the room so the piece shines bright and isn’t overpowered by anything.
Shut the Door to Technology
Anything that diverts your attention away from rest needs to be removed from your bedroom. While some people enjoy television in their room, leave it in the living room, den or even on the patio (protected, of course). Also, try to leave work exactly where the word itself indicates – at work. At least keep it out of the bedroom. Same goes for social media like Facebook, which can keep you up all night thinking. Stick with a good book, gentle music or simply pet your cat in order to calm your soul as you drift off into the night.
Go Au Naturale
Add elements of nature to your room to soften the feel. Bring in a few plants in creative ways, create a wooden headboard or hang tree-themed wallpaper on an accent wall. Might as well go big and cover all of walls with nature-themed art.
Guest post for Cozy Home Plans by…
Victoria James
Daughter of a designer and home ec teacher, Victoria learned everything she would ever need to know about being a successful designer from her mother. Victoria loves passing her mother’s secrets on to readers.
The Grand Three-ton “BIG” Cozy Home
This so far it’s our largest floor plan, but after checking it out… we think you will still give it the Cozy seal of approval though. The Grand Three-ton is the new big brother of our Stock plan Grand Teton. This home is an amazing combination of owner comfort with privacy, plus generous open spaces for the family getting together. All this in 1000 sq. ft. and we even put another first into this one, a two car garage!
The open and spacious main area includes the Gathering with fireplace, Dining and Kitchen with breakfast bar. If you enjoy cooking, this Kitchen has room for 4 burner cooktop and a double oven set-up with plenty of room for two. The main Bedroom is still separated, but this time we add an additional sink area next to Bathroom #2 so everyone can get ready at the same time. This is a Cozy version of the Jack & Jill bath. Bedroom #2 & #3 are both configured to accommodate a desk are and provide plenty of storage nooks. Bedroom #1 is all about luxury with its own desk area too. It includes a private bath with over-sized shower, hers and ours closets; “any married man will understand that one”… plus separate access to the backyard. We’ve rendered it with a semi-private hot-tub area to show one possibility for this space.
1000 sq ft Small House “Grand Three-ton” 3D Front View
1000 sq ft “Grand Three-ton” Floor Plan View
Our “6 Must Haves” make this home perfect for any small family.
#1 This gourmet Galley Kitchen would make the “inner chef” in all of us thrilled. It includes 13 cabinets; large pantry, space for an over-sized fridge, four burners and two ovens, not to mention being an eat-in one too.
#2 Enough room for a King Size mattress in Bedroom #1 and a Twins in Bedroom #2 & 3.
#3 The home includes one full Bath, large 3/4 and an additional sink.
#4 Storage areas include the coat; Bedroom closets, linen, washer/dryer area, plus a double garage too!
#5 Space for a Washer/Dryer in the hall can accommodate a full sized set.
#6 This Cozy home has some great Spaces…
Gathering room with vaulted ceiling and FP.
Corner nook just perfect for a china hutch.
Rear and Side patios for BBQing and entertaining.
Regardless of what you’re looking for in a small house, we may have it here at Cozy Home Plans. Offering 121 choices for vacation getaways; country retreats, hunting lodges, rustic log cabins to full time cottage homes for single, couples and small families. This is just one of 8 sets in Flickr that have three bedrooms to choose from.
It’s all about Living Large in a Cozy Home! Even if there is more than one of you.
Cozy, Kevin B Harrington
Tankless Water Heater Located in a Wall Cavity
The blog, Backyard Home Pros, recently posted an article about the Noritz Tankless water heater that saves room by fitting snuggly into the exterior wall studs of your tiny or small home. Most tank water heaters can take up approximately 8-10 square feet of space and even a regular tankless water heater needs space for accessibility and will usually be installed on the outside of a home, which on a small home, is less than pretty.
The Noritz Tankless water heaters are eco-friendly and energy efficient and can provide up to 40 percent in utility cost savings. The water heaters come in several different sizes and models including the NRC83 with a maximum of 157,000 btuh and weighs about 60 lbs. One of their smallest water heaters is the indoor/outdoor NR50 which has a maximum of 120,000 btuh and only weighs 33 lbs. Each of the water heaters come with a tiny enclosure that protects the studs, insulation and the interior walls from leaking and damage. A small cover or door can be placed over the unit for access from the outside. The one disadvantage I see is that insulation cannot be added in front or behind the unit.
According to Noritz, a tankless water heater also reduces carbon emissions. If every U.S. household installed a tankless water heater, it would equate to the CO2 savings of taking about 6.7 million cars off the nation’s roads. In addition, Noritz instant hot water units last up to twice as long as traditional water tanks and use recycled components and replaceable parts which keeps older water heaters out of landfills.
All of our micro, tiny and small home designs anticipate using both a tankless water heater and a mini-split ductless heating and cooling system. Space saving and efficiency go hand in hand here at Cozy Home Plans.
Photos by Backyard Home Pros and Noritz
By Christina Nellemann for [Cozy Home Plans]
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