Don Vardo: A guest suite, writing studio or rolling weekend hide-away
The Don Vardo is a great starter tiny house project, perfect for a detached office, guest quarters, or a weekend get-away or hide-away. It’s a beautifully designed, inviting space, but better for occasional use than as a full-time residence (unless you’re Dee, that is). Here are some details about both designs:
- The shorter design is built on a 10 foot utility trailer with a single axel that can hold up to 5,000 lbs. It weighs appropriately 3,200 lbs depending on interior finishes. The design includes a two-foot-deep exterior covered porch built over the trailer frame, so the interior square footage is 56 square feet.
- The longer design is built on a 12 foot utility trailer with two 5,000 lb axels or two 3,500 lb axels. The design weighs approximately 5,000 lbs depending on interior finishes. The design includes a two-foot-deep drop-down porch that can be attached to the end of the trailer but is not build directly over top of it. The interior space is 88 square feet. The design includes an outdoor shower that is used above the drop-down porch. The shower head, mounted to the left of the door, is removable and screws in as needed. The shower curtain is, of course, optional.
PAD’s first Don Vardo was designed and built by Katy Anderson in 2010, and is now the home base for a sea-faring couple when they come ashore along the Oregon Coast. Katy’s creative craftspersonship and strategic, elegant integration of built-in design elements is an inspiration to any tiny-house lover. It has been offered on the Mother Nature Network and in Oregon Home Magazine. Dee Williams liked the design so much that she had Katy build her another Don Vardo as her new, tinier home.
Don Vardo Photos
Portfolio could not find attachments for category = donvardoWhat The Plans Include:
Our plan packages are focused on helping you build your own Vardo, so our plans are packed with photos, illustrations and diagrams, including detailed:
- Floor Plans
- Trailer Plans
- Floor Framing
- Wall Framing
- Roof Framing
- House to Trailer Connections (Bolting and the Use of Tension Ties)
- Materials Lists and Detailed Section for Floors, Walls and Roof
We’ve also included detailed instructions for how to construct beautiful rafters, something not commonly offered in a plan package. We do not include electrical and plumbing diagrams, appliance specifications, and interior sections to show cabinetry details and counter heights. Why not? Because we believe each Vardo is unique and we want to encourage you to install the sink, stove, refrigerator and toilet that will fit your unique needs.
Price: $35 for Don Vardo 8 Foot and 12 Foot Downloadable Plans
Please note that all sales are final on digital products and returns are not available. Because, let’s be honest, there’s really no such thing as “returning” a digital product. We offer quality products at a great price, and we think you’ll be happy with them. If you have specific questions or concerns about a product before purchasing, just contact us and we’ll do our best to answer so you know exactly what you’re getting.