Jamaica, Vermont
Design: Domenic Mangano, President/Senior Designer, Jamaica Cottage Shop, Inc.
Welcome to the 802. In Vermont, it’s a whole different ballgame in building, from the region’s rough terrain to its harsh winters. The Apple Blossom Cottage from Vermont’s Jamaica Cottage Shop is more proof that a tiny house doesn’t have to be on wheels. This 13 × 26-foot cabin kit has been a huge fan favorite in the Domenic Mangano line for some time and not only comes in kit form or as a plan set but can also be delivered, turnkey, within New England. Dom is no new jack to the game, either. The Jamaica Cottage Shop has been around for well over 20 years and has cranked out thousands of high-quality sheds, garages, tiny houses, and backwoods cabins.
In addition to the usual requirements of comfort and utility, tiny houses here have to take into account that Vermont is, well, cold as all get out. Spray foam insulation is a key ingredient not only in the envelope of the living space but also within shed add-ons where all the electricity and water come in. Neglect to protect your water up here and you’re in for a world of expensive problems.
This cottage has all the comforts of home: a spacious 5 × 8-foot bathroom, an open-plan living room with a kitchenette, a separate bunkroom, two storage closets, plenty of standard-size windows, a 4-foot porch with steel balusters, and even a “transforming table” that effortlessly raises from “coffee” to “dining” height.
Inspiration: “Practicality and simplicity.”
In Retrospect: “I would have switched the location of the toilet and the sink to make the bathroom space easier to use and navigate. Some of these things aren’t realized until you’ve lived with a space for a while.”
The open-plan living room and kitchenette is both roomy and cozy.