Do I understand that you plan to install a toilet inside the shed, but sink and water access is planned for outside?

And your climate has lots of rain, wind and snow?

Who will be incarcerated in this building?

This is iowa, I plan to have some retreat space during the year. Family from out of state can use it for visits. My family does not mind sleeping primitively. Our DD spent 6 months in Senegal sleeping in the open with only a thatched roof over head and a couple of dogs sleeping with her. She was a research assistant. The main house is near by. Showers and such can be had easily in he house. Sink will be inside and is a soapstone sink that I built 6 years ago. It is the second sink I have built. We live on a farm and the sink could drain through a a pvc outlet onto the ground. This is not a space that is planned for rental. The cattle lot is 60 feet down hill from where I wanted the gray water to drain. The small amount of water would never make it into the cattle lot.

Our climate is continental US with about 20-30” annual precipitation. Lows in the winter can get as low as -20f, but that is rare. Highs in the summer can get 100+f but that is rare too. We can get high winds of gust +50mi/hr. Tornado country. This building has stood in it’s location for 60+ years and some years before that in another location 2 miles away. This is rural Iowa, and historically buildings got repurposed, moved, and recycled. We have old granary recycled lumber from the early 1900s. I used it to place extra joists into my remodeled bathroom in 2011, so I could lay slate stone tile. The extra joist brought the deflection number inline to meet the needs for stone.

i have had plenty of help over the years on Garden Web to do many projects and I hope some folks can walk me through this project. If you don’t have the time for this that’s ok. But to let readers know, I can make just about anything.. if I don’t have the strength than I ask for help. DH is a farmer and work as an engineer before returning to farm in the late 70s. He has made many things over the years and has been very helpful to me. He will be helpful on this project if it is a go.

I think it sounds interesting! I suspect it would end up being more of just a retreat then a place people slept too often. But if I had the time and space I would do it. Especially now with people home more often. Would be lovely to have a getaway spot.

I like your ideas. I would frame in a bathroom area or at least The area where the composting toilet would go. It sounds very much like the summer homes I grew up with as a kid.

Also make sure the foundation is level as the human brain is very good at noticing those things.

I would also consider an overhang of some kind over the doors to protect from weather and maybe a little porch to sit outside in a rocking chair. The overhang would help keep rain away from the door and help keep things dry inside when opening the door.

I think your son was right. Have you thought about an RV? It would be cheaper to buy an RV than fixing up the shed, and it would be more comfortable to live in an RV.......

Thanks A S. My youngest son and his girlfriend have lived in a tiny house and loved it. I could see them taking up residence for a week or 2 during their visits. Our daughter is living with us now and I could see her moving in for a while. We have a small home and with her own space she’d be pleased. It is small though.

Lyfia, I like the ideas you have with the extension and there is room for that. The porch is a very good idea too. I’d have to look at those options and how that could be made to work. The old chicken house foundation is 24’ long and 16’ wide. I think a 4’ addition for a porch at the tall side or one end would be very functional and the front door would be protected like you said.

Summers, thanks for you input. I thought of an RV, and I’ve been looking at those too. This shed has been on my dream project list for 15 years and it’s so fun making some plans and getting some high value entertainment out of the project.

My goodness! It has been your dream for 15 years?! Do it then! :-) One life to live, do all the things you want to do, and be happy! May be add a couple skylights? :-)

I heard Amish builds tiny houses for $20,000. I am thinking about to put one on a piece of land. I saw tiny cottages down south being rented out to college kids.

I think you can do it! After watching you remodel your kitchen and bathroom I think you can do anything. :)

My younger DD remodeled a metal garage into a dwelling, with no inside bathroom (she does have electric, water in the kitchen, and gray water drain). The bathroom is a shed I gave her for Christmas a few years ago--until then, the bathroom was a tent. They have a composting toilet, a stock tank bathtub, and a vintage kitchen cabinet which belonged to her great-grandmother (my grandmother), my mother, and me, at different times in our lives, for towels and other storage. I just mentioned that for the charm factor, and I think your shed will be charming.

Shed living and composting toilets aren't for everyone. After a couple of years of 'primitive' amenities as a guest, DD's mother-in-law bought a tiny house, which she had delivered to DD's property. MIL gets first dibs when she comes to visit, but they can use it for other guests at other times. I remember attending a summer church camp where we slept in un-insulated wooden cabins, with one door, a single window in the back wall, and bunks lining the long walls. You had to walk all the way to the chow hall/meeting area to use a bathroom, and there were no showers. We thought it great fun!

Live Oak, yes my intention was to put windows in on all sides, and actually another small door for egress. Initially did consider no insulation, and no power. So that scheme is not off the table. So a glorified tent could be useful for our needs too. I want to replace all the sheathing on the floor, walls, and roof. But the frame is good. The power to the place would run a few lights, and enough amps to run an electric radiator, for the winter. And possibly a small air conditioner in the summer. The building is on skids, so is not a permanent building, according to code in our area. But your safety concerns are well taken, I am all about that. I will find out more on the codes in Iowa for the county regarding cabins and electrical power options. I had also thought of solar panels a an option.

When I go around the countryside looking at Amish builds in our area, they all have the option of having their buildings wired, ready for service. I don't see how this would be different. The buildings are advertised as shops and cabins. I want to make this a "cabin", or possibly a pottery studio instead. But either way, climate control is essential. So insulation or not, I would want the option of running a heater for cold weather use.

I can't afford $20,000. My budget is more like $5000. I could get new, though small for that, and with short walls and door, that is under 6' high. All my family are over 6', lol.

Mama Goose, thank you so much for posting. I remember your lovely kitchen and other projects over the years. I love your DD story. It is an inspiration. Our son and his girlfriend loved living in their tiny house, and that is where I first used a composting toilet. Not an issue for me, though I didn't have to empty it. The gray water would be minimal with washing up dishes, and hands. The farm can easily dissipate that small amount of water. Mama G, you have brightened my day, thanks.

ETA, MamaGoose, I remember my camping days like that too. In fact about 7 years ago our camp had a 100 anniversary celebration and offered old timers an opportunity to camp again in the old cabins. 2 of my 3 sisters and I did just that! Going to the bathroom in the middle of the night wasn't something I had to do as a youngster, LOL. It was great fun.

I personally don't like living in an RV due to the movement when anybody moves. I think I would prefer the shed over that. My parent's summer house is larger than what you have and has an addition on it from about 15 years ago, but before that was just a tad larger, but the toilet which burns the waste is in a separate "shed", but it has sinks (kitchen and bath) and a shower in the house. I don't think not having a shower is a big deal. Having a sink and toilet would be very nice. Only thing is the toilet should be in a framed space with walls surrounding it. It can be within the footprint of the shed, but not being able to see it and for privacy and containing smells a framed in space. Maybe it could be put under the storage the loft area.

Keep us posted on this, please! I admire your moxie! This could be a fun, challenging, but rewarding project! You Go Girl!

Don't forget to check with your building inspector about what you can or can't do with that building.

A portable water heater ($150-$200) could be useful. Since you and your hubby know how to build. In the future you could build another shed just like the one you have. Let two sheds facing each other, add a glass room/sun room in between ( french doors on both sides and skylights). One shed is a bedroom, the other is kitchen and bath, the sun room in the middle is the living room. That would be really cool. :-)

A potential problem I see is maintenance of the unit. If it is not continuously temperature controlled there may be moisture, mold, dirt, and rodent issues. More work for you may be welcomed, but on a farm there is usually enough already.

And I think $5000 is not much, unless you truly shabby chic it, with discarded unmatched windows, and used insulation, etc.

I talked to the county assessors office to find out some details. For our county, anything over 120sf needs a permit to be moved onto your property. If the building is already there its ok to do what ever I want other than afterwards, they want to be updated on the condition, so they can make a tax assessment. This is ag land so the taxes are different than residential. Also they don't do inspections for electricity. The office I spoke with directed me to contact the Planning department to discuss the compost toilet regs. The county contact was not concerned about using the building as a cabin for sleeping.

Ulisdone, I get the potential for rodent issues. We get field mice in our home seasonally. We have a cat and she is somewhat helpful, but sometimes I have to run a trap line.

Summersrhythm, DH loved your idea about the 2 buildings and sunroom, with a smile he visualized it. But we won't be doing it, lol, but it was nice seeing him with a brightened smile.

Maybe for beginners, I will just rough the exterior walls in without insulation, and do the electric. I do want to insulate the floor. I am drawing up elevations and floor plans now.

Re mice... I'm getting mice in my regular house now. I've caught one (yes, with my bare hand), my cat swallowed the second, and we are still figuring out how to get rid of the third, who seems brighter than the first two.

I hope you are able to get your cabin together!

OH MY catching a mouse with your bare hands! And that smart mouse? He will be a test for sure.