apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I must be too much of a city-girl to get this.

Wow. What beautiful home you have!

beautiful, really well done and what a great way to live...

That is simply amazing. And I am assuming its remote enough from people to be secure as-is? Or perhaps you live free of valuables in your home, which is simply more amazing.

i wish we could see more of the interior, for instance, the pie safe that's mentioned. i'm not sure what the chair with the towel on it is about.

it's pretty remarkable, the diversity of entries this year. trailers, tents and whatnot. very interesting stuff.

Whoa! This get the Fortitude Prize.

Wow, where do you live? I've always dreamed of setting up permanent camp in the woods. I'm assuming you live in a warm climate. There are places in the world where this would be an idyll, but Minnesota (where I live) is not among them.

Is this your full-time dwelling, or just a "get out of the house for the summer/weekend/a short break" sort of place?Seriously, I have been on African safaris where the accommodations were more accommodating than this appears to be. I can't imagine living like this full-time; you are much hardier and more fond of nature than I am. Certainly the most unique entry in the contest.

Also, the chair with the towel is their shower stand. That is their shower, the woven leaves and the spray of water. There's nothing quite as cool as showering in the woods, especially when hummingbirds decide to come see what you're up to.

I assume the area with the chair and towel is the summer shower in the lower left corner of the plan.

If they're living there year-round, I'm impressed at their fortitude. I grew up in San Antonio, and Flatonia is smack in the middle of the skeeter belt, IIRC.

Wow, as a former Texan I must say that you are much tougher than I am.
It gets over 100 degrees and humid in the summer time. In addition to the mosquitos, gnats, flies and assorted other critters you have to deal with. Sitting in the shade doesn't help either. Texas 7-8 months out of the year is misearable.

Oops! Sorry I now see its Texas! Sorry, should have read more closely.

I want to go to there.

Yikes. It's a nice tent, but I'm from Texas and it would be MISERABLE living like that. I wish there was more information about why this their home, etc.

Kudos to you for living outside in the Texas heat and humidity! I like the idea... just not full-time!

http://thebluepearlgirl.blogspot.com

awesome.

i bummed this year that we're not getting more pics of the interiors of all the entries. it's kind of frustrating to not be able to see everything.

wow, I am an avid camper, but don't know that I could do it year-round. You guys are brave and I love your space, would LOVE to see more!

This is really neat! But, yea, as some other posters stated- more pictures and an explanation, please.

This is not your fulltime home, is it? If so, why? I don't mean for that to come off sounding testy, I am just genuinely curious. Are you serious environmentalists? Has your home been foreclosed on? Are you part of a larger community? Do you have electricity? Where's your computer?

The reason for all of these questions, is I have read stories that due to the economic crisis, tenting communities have been springing up, but I have yet to see pictures so don't know if it's true.

I hope you will enlighten us. I know we are all curious. Thanks for sharing.

My roommate and I once went a summer in Houston without AC. It ROCKED...no actually...it was incredibly hot and uncomfortable. However, it would have been easier in a dryer part of Texas (the Hill Country?). This camp is lovely, and I would happily spend a summer in it. Provided that I was completely covered in bug spray at all times. Also: I would have to be madly in love with my co-camper.

Oh man, I have already turned on my AC a few times this year, and I try to hold out as much as possible because I am a cheapskate! I guess if you are out there all the time you get used to it.

But I echo everyone else - give us more information!

I'm so much a city girl the first thing I thought was are they worried about being robbed?

Joan52, haha, me too! however, um, first thing i thought was serial killers ;) and what about the zombies?!?

nah, this is awesome if you can do it. i knew a burly chick that lived in a hunting shack in the colorado mountains. no electricity, no running water, lived there THRU THE WINTER too. lost a few pets to mountain lions. mmmhmm. went down valley to clean rich people's houses all day.

it's an amazing lifestyle if you can sustain it.

wow, that is amazing. big thumbs up from me.

More background info on this unusual living setup would be helpful.

Like, is there electricity? Toilet is where? Too cold in winter? Moisture problems?

Maybe more info is not needed for the purpose of Small Cool voting (tho more interior pics would be), but this is just too curious.

I like the idea of the surround in the "shower room" Looks like it was built for the shoot? The green grass is soooo green that it will brown and wither and perhaps fall off or blow away in the TX winds? But I do love the idea of an outdoor shower room. with natural elements! Would love this as my weekend getaway. Great job!

Wow. The contest entries really have been all over the place this year--sleek lofts, posh pads, trailers, monk's cells, tents. Really great.

This is very intriguing. You'll have to post again after the contest with more details and pictures.

holy crap. thumbs up. way up. kudos for living in a tent and making it look envious!

great!!!

A whole post needs to be commited to this unconventional type of home design... we are all ridiculously curious about this lifestyle choice!
More please!!!

That's such a sweet picture of your kitty on the bed.

Whoa - Flatonia represent!
Awesome.

As a native Houstonian, you couldn't pay me to live without A/C....not even for 5 minutes.

This is a permanent home for the two you, or are you building a home out of something a little more durable than cloth on a different part of your property?

This defenitely deserve more detail. I'm intrigued! I love the idea of it, but I could never live like that full time. Maybe a few weeks at the most as a get-away, but that's all I can handle. I need my modern "unecessary" necessities.

yes, mas info, pics, etc. please.

re: "muggy", if one didn't have to trapse around in a stuffy office in a stuffy suit, etc. mE thinks "muggy" beats dry anyseason. mmhm.

This is freakin' awesome. Its really too bad you only get to put up 5 photos because like other people I'd love to see more of the interior.

AT - do a full post on this place please!

wow. i couldnt live like that!

Like Lisa Douglas I prefer Park Avenue and a penthouse view but if you're happy where you live -- good for you.

Amazing.

http://goingtothecountry.com/

Small world. I'm from Hallettsville, and about 20 min from you. I wasn't expecting to see anything interesting originate from the backroads of Texas, but hey, inspiration comes from unusual places. Nice outdoor design.

...just watch out for the coyotes. ;)

Lovely!
I suspect their computer is a laptop and that they go into to town to get online. So perhaps we shall have to wait til they get back to town to have our questions answered.

That thing looks 5 minutes away from being washed hundreds of miles downstream by a hurricane.

Yes. I agree. More info in a full post later!

Thumbs up for your courage alone!

What a wonderful and unexpected post! I like your peaceful home. Hi there kitty!

I have no idea what a pie safe is but I am interested. This is the most unique and inspiring entry yet. It really takes us all back to nature...the forgotten land. Thanks for sharing.

This reminds me of the tents I stayed in at summer camp.. but much, much nicer. I love it!

It flabbergasts me how isolated some people are, and I'm not talking about the couple who make their home in this tent. Don't people read anymore? I guess not. Are they at all interested in something they don't bump into on the way to work. Apparently not until it is figuratively thrust up their noses.

Being a "city girl" this lifestyle is a little outta my league, but you get a big thumbs up for being able to brave the great outdoors! I especially like your "privacy" wall around your shower :) My sister would love to live like ya'll do!

Please, more details as to why you chose this way of life!

Yes, more information, PLEASE!

I just wish something like this was possible on my latitudes too...

Now that's what I call livin' off the grid! You have true grit! Wow, just wow!!

Holy crap, it's a tent! Cool!

Went to the website and, wow! I would love to live this life. I admire what you are trying to do with your lives, really amazing.

I'm kind of curious what they would do with the prize if they won.

This is the coolest thing I have ever seen. This truly brings out the kid in me. I am so envious!

Hi Everyone,
Sorry we are just now responding. Thanks for all these awesome comments. In answer to one of the comments. Yes, we do have an office in Flatonia (it was the only way to get internet) Shaun is a graphic designer so it was essential to have a good connection. I think someone found our web site already and posted the link. We're not so good with keeping it up dated but we are in the process of a site revamp.
To begin, March 15th marked one year of the tent life. Yes, it is our full time residence until we can purchase a more solid antique farm house. There were several bathroom and shower questions so here is the scoop. Yes, the picture of the summer cat-tail shower was taken right when I finished it so it was green then eventually brown...but still held up well. During the winter we used a good old teakettle and basins for bath time. We have a SunMar NE composting toilet in the shed. I've seen the discussions on composting toilets on this site and just as everyone says, yes, they are functional but no they are not attractive.
The biggest challenge with no electricity is not having a refrigerator at home.
'We moved out to the farm to grow real food and have real community. So far, the growing of the real food has been tough but the real community came pretty naturally and has been awesome.
Let's see, what else do I need to answer...The tent is durable and no we haven't been blown away by any hurricanes and we love all wildlife including coyotes so the occasional non-pet animal inside or around is always fun...or at least makes a good story. It is dry where we live and there are no mosquitoes here (we are originally from Houston so we know all about that).
If we win we would like to get a couch for our new future home. We haven't had a couch in about 4 years now since we started purging a lot of our stuff. I thought we didn't need one but now I really miss having one. Of course a TV under no circumstances be planted in front of it. :)
Sorry for the randomness of this reply. it would be awesome to do a whole post on the AT site. I'll try to write more later...we are off to the farmers market then a night of polka dancing (our new favorite hobby!)
a s

Spooky!

I love Flatonia and I love your house!

In addition to having a wonderful home and living their DREAM, these are two of the most amazing people I have the privilege of knowing. Yes.

House tour please, please, please!