Four Lights Tiny House Company was founded on 6th September 2012 by Jay Shafer. Jay Shafer has however had a fascination with tiny houses for almost two decades now. In fact, Shafer moved into his 1st tiny house 18 years ago. Ever since, Shafer has always loved making beautiful and functional little dwellings for other people. In 1999, he published his first ever article about the tiny house living experience. The publication was in an effort to speak out against an ongoing legislated ban on tiny houses in America at the time. Shafer believed and still believes that people should have the freedom to live simple lives. Four Lights Tiny House company focuses on driving this agenda by selling tiny house plans which Shafer has spent almost two decades refining. The house plans stand out for meeting the needs of tiny house occupants perfectly minus common wastage and/or excesses associated with home ownership.
Four Lights Tiny House Main Products
Four Lights Tiny House company has a wide product variety that included tiny houses, small houses, books (about small houses), component furniture for small homes as well as tiny house building workshops. The core business of the company however revolves around selling tiny house plans. Four Lights Tiny House sells house plans for 6 tiny houses namely; the Zinn, Gifford, Beavan, Weller, Marmara and The Marie Colvin tiny houses. Below is a brief discussion of each of these tiny houses and their respective plan details.
Coming together At 14 by 7 feet, the Zinn is the smallest, most affordable and easiest to build of all Four Lights tiny houses. The tiny house also stands out for having two beefy purlins which flank the front door supporting a gable awning situated on the tiny house’s long side. The Zinn also offers a sense of fortification and mass inside making the tiny house one of the most favorite among traditional craftsmanship fans. The knotty pine interior of the tiny house also stands out as well as the 9 feet, 8 inch tall peak.
The Zinn also has a signature seam metal roof and a skylight situated over the bed. This makes the tiny house feel bigger. Other notable inclusions are: the stainless steel fireplace (by Dickinson Marine), lots of storage space as well as another fold-out bed downstairs. The Zinn is available as a furnished house plan as well as a shell. The plan comes with a special bonus price of $499 comprising of component furnishing plans and access to all the blueprints you need to build all DIY furnishings as well as room components which will fit perfectly into the house.
Buy The Plans For The Zinn House
- The Zinn Tiny House
- Description: Four Ligts Zinn Main Specs
- House Width: 14 feet, 2 inches
- House length: 6 feet, 10 inches
- Trailer size: 7 by 14 feet
- Road height: 13 feet, 11.25 inches
- Porch: 1 by 4 feet
- Main room: 7 feet, 9 inches by 6 feet, 3 inches.
- Kitchen: 3 feet, 7 inches by 6 feet, 3 inches
- Bathroom: 5 feet, 6 inches by 2 feet.
- Ceiling Height: 6 feet, 6 inches
This Gifford is the actual design of the tiny house that Shafer lives in today. The Gifford measures 7 by 16 feet and takes American tiny house Craftsmanship to very high levels. This tiny house features a metal roof, standing seam, a cedar board and batten siding, as well as a tiny integral porch that is perfect for resting. The interior is also knotty pine like the Zinn. The Gifford also has a cathedral ceiling measuring 9 feet, 8 inches tall (at the peak).
On the inside, the Gifford has a relatively narrow space which opens up aided by the cathedral ceiling to offer an increased sense of fortification and mass. Other key features of the Gifford include two skylights (over the pillows) which make the tiny house appear much bigger than it actually is. The Gifford also features a desk which can double up as a dining table and a stainless steel fireplace just like the Zinn. The fully furnished Gifford house plan comes with a complete set of furnishing plans as well as access to all the blueprints you need to complete the house. The Gifford house plan also costs $499.
Buy The Plans For The Gifford House
- The Gifford Tiny House
- Description: Four Lights Gifford Main Specs
- House Width: 6 feet, 10 inches
- House length: 16 feet, 2 inches
- Trailer size: 7 by 16 feet
- Road height: 13 feet, 4 inches
- Porch: 6 feet, 10 inches by 2 feet, 6 inches
- Main room: 8 feet by 6 feet, 6 inches
- Kitchen: 4 feet, 6 inches by 4 feet
- Bathroom: 5 feet, 6 inches by 2 feet
- Ceiling Height: 6 feet, 6 inches
The Beavan stands out for having an oversize exposed truss located above the integral porch. This feature displays unmatched structural integrity, utility and sustainability derived from bungalow traditions that inspired the tiny home. The Beavan’s lodges and cabins are also more rustic. Like the Zinn and Gifford, the Beavan also has a seam metal roof, knotty pine interior and cathedral ceiling. Other unique features include the batten and cedar board siding as well as a small integral porch. The Beavan also has a fireplace and two skylights situated over the pillows that make the house feel bigger. The tiny house also has double steel burner above a 3-inch cabinet (in the kitchen). The Beavan house plan comes fully loaded with component furnishing plans at $499. This bonus price also included DIY furnishings as well as room components that fit perfectly.
Buy The Plans For The Beavan House
- The Beavan Tiny House
- Description: Four Lights Beavan Main Specs
- House Width: 6 feet, 10 inches
- House length: 16 feet, 2 inches
- Trailer size: 7 by 16 feet
- Dry weight: 5000 lbs
- Road height: 13 feet, 4 inches
- Loft Height: 2 feet, 8 inches
- Porch: 6 feet, 10 inches by 2 feet, 6 inches
- Main room: 6 feet, 3 inches by 5 feet, 8 inches
- Kitchen: 6 feet, 3 inches by 4 feet, 4 inches
- Bathroom: 5 feet, 6 inches by 2 feet
- Ceiling Height: 6 feet, 6 inches
The Weller tiny house is undoubtedly the most popular of all Shafer’s tiny home Road Bungalow designs. This tiny house is a true representation of an inviting tiny house front. The asymmetrical and craftsman style porch details make the Weller very attractive and inviting from the front. The interior also stands out for being well lit. The house’s windowed corner also creates a perfect sitting area or dining nook, whichever you prefer. Like all the other tiny houses above, the Weller also features similar American Craftsman principles. The interior and exterior are dominated by mass, volume as well as organic forms.
The Weller utilizes the same anthropometrics, classical geometry and archetypal form used to create all tiny houses. There is special focus on natural materials and simplicity in the Weller. The tiny house can be distinguished by its broad eaves, exposed structural elements as well as mass. The Weller house plan includes a washroom, great room, kitchenette and sleeping loft. Like the Gifford, the Weller also has two skylights that make the tiny house feel/look bigger. The Weller also has a fireplace. Some of the most unique features include a twin-sized bed. The Weller also has a loft that offers more ample sleeping space.
The Weller furnished house plan also comes fully loaded with component furnishing plans as well as access to all DIY furnishing blueprints and room components capable of fitting in the tiny house perfectly. There is a 50% discount on the Weller plan. It costs $249 instead of $499
Buy The Plans For The Weller House
- The Weller Tiny House
- Description: Four Lights Weller Main Specs
- House Width: 6 feet, 10 inches
- House length: 16 feet, 2 inches
- Trailer size: 7 by 16 feet
- Dry weight: 5000 lbs
- Road height: 13 feet, 4 inches
- Loft Height: 2 feet, 8 inches
- Porch: 3 feet, 5 inches by 2 feet, 6 inches
- Main room: 6 feet by 6 feet
- Kitchen: 4 feet, 6 inches by 4 feet
- Bathroom: 5 feet, 6 inches by 2 feet
- Ceiling Height: 6 feet, 6 inches
The Marmara tiny house is slightly bigger than all the above Four Lights Tiny Houses. This tiny house caters to individuals who don’t necessarily want to live in the tinniest tiny house available. The Marmara measures 262 Square feet downstairs and 250 square feet upstairs (proposed loft space). This makes the Marmara almost thrice the size of your average tiny house. Besides the overall bigger size, the tiny house also stands out for its full sized bed located downstairs as well as a larger washroom and great room featuring a cathedral ceiling. The tiny house also has ample storage space (more than seventy square foot of storage space). The Marmara also comes with two sleeping or storage lofts which can accommodate four people comfortably. The tiny house also has a gas fireplace. Because of the house’s size, the furnished plan is more expensive at $699. The plan however comes fully loaded with electrical, loft floor, main floor and foundation plans as well as trailer specifications and pertinent detail elevations not to mention the furniture blueprints.
Buy The Plans For The Marmara House
- The Marmara Tiny House
- Description: Four Lights Marmara Main Specs
- House Width: 10 feet, 2 inches
- House length: 29 feet, 3 inches
- Trailer size: 10 by 29 feet deck over
- Dry weight: 12, 000 lbs
- Road height: 13 feet, 4 inches
- Loft Height: 4 feet, 1.75 inches
- Porch Width: 10 feet, 6 inches
- Main room: 9 feet, 6 inches by 10 feet
- Kitchen: 7 feet, 5 inches by 7 feet, 5 inches
- Washroom: 2 feet, 6 inches by 6 feet, 6 inches
- Bathroom: 6 feet, 5 inches by 4 feet, 7 inches
- Shed: 1 feet, 9 inches by 4 feet, 7 inches
This tiny house is also part of Shafer’s larger home designs. The Marie Colvin stands out for having an attractive bump-out dining nook, two large lofts, a downstairs bedroom, ample kitchen storage space, a large washroom, a great room as well as an open cathedral ceiling. The Marie Colvin furnished plan comes with; main floor, loft floor and electrical plans. The plan also comes with trailer specifications. Pertinent detail elevations as well as all integral component plants including furniture blueprints designed to fit perfectly. Like all other plans, the plan comes with a special bonus price of $699 which includes all component furnishing plans and access to all room components and DIY blueprints you need to build your own perfect Marie Colvin tiny house.
Buy The Plans For The Marie Colvin House
- The Marie Colvin Tiny House
- Description: Four Lights Marie Colvin Main Specs
- House Width: 10 feet, 2 inches
- House length: 29 feet, 3 inches
- Trailer size: 10 by 29 feet deck over
- Dry weight: 12, 000 lbs
- Road height: 13 feet, 4 inches
- Loft Height: 4 feet, 1.75 inches
- Porch Width: 4 feet
- Bump-out Nook: 5 feet, 5 inches by 4 feet, 5 inches
- Great room: 9 feet, 6 inches by 10 feet
- Kitchen: 7 feet, 5 inches by 7 feet, 5 inches
- Washroom: 2 feet, 6 inches by 6 feet, 6 inches
- Bedroom: 6 feet, 5 inches by 4 feet, 7 inches
- Shed: 1 feet, 9 inches by 4 feet, 7 inches
Top pros of Four lights Tiny House Company building plans
There are many advantages of buying Four Lights tiny house plans. The main advantages include:
The plans have been prepared by a true tiny house expert. Jay Shafer has almost two decades experience in the tiny house industry. He has unmatched experience and skill in building tiny houses not to mention the fact that he has lived and still lives in one today. There is therefore no doubt that Four Light Tiny House plans have been prepared by a true tiny house expert.
High quality assurance: Jay Shafer has been perfecting the house plans for years now to match his vision for innovation, sustainable and simple living. Unlike most tiny house plans available today, Shafer’s plans haven’t been made in a hurry which is a testament of quality.
Four Lights Tiny house plans also stand out because they are accompanied by workshops which help guide tiny house enthusiasts exactly how to plan as well as build their own tiny houses.
Four Lights Tiny House Company customers also get access to important updates on Four Lights tiny houses as well as industry news via the company’s blog. Unlike other tiny house plans which come as one-off packages, you get access to many useful resources and updates when you buy tiny house plans from Four Lights.
Some Tiny House Company building plans review concerns:
Most online customer reviews have nothing but positive feedback about Four Lights Tiny House Company products. There are however a few customers that have raised the following concerns
- The plans are a bit costly: Some reviews indicate that there are some people who find the plans a bit expensive.
- Lack of variety: Some reviews also indicate that the 6 tiny house plans don’t offer much variety.
Summary/verdict
Four Lights Tiny House Company clearly stands out as one of the best tiny house companies today from the above information. The company has great products made by a true tiny house professional. The company’s plans are also detailed, high quality and discounted. Customers can also earn money promoting the company’s products as well as get guidance and updates on their plans as well as industry news. Although there are a few cons about the company’s products, majority of the reviews are positive. Nothing more needs to be said. Four Lights Tiny House Company products come highly recommended.
