Shelton Huts
Last summer, during a small interior remodel, we lived in a tent in our back yard. Yep, you read that right. After 18 years of scuffing up the floors and running into the walls, our house had turned into the Annie of the street. Cute, but in need of a blow-out and a new pair of Chucks. Searching the internet, I bought a small house of a tent, we walked 10 steps into our backyard and moved in. Friends would stop by under the auspices of checking on the remodel but really, I think, wanting to see the tent. They couldn't believe it. The number one comment we got from men checking things out, "My wife would never go for that." And from women, a variation on the theme, "Not in a million years."
We packed up our belongings, except for our mattresses which landed in the tent, and put everything else in storage. The plan was to refinish the floors, paint the walls, update a small bathroom and quickly wave a wand over our modest kitchen. All of the above was going to be a costly undertaking, so sleeping under the stars for free in the middle of summer was, for me, one of my best ideas ever. For the rest of my family, camping outside however was not so brilliant. Nearby howling coyotes and even closer trespassing skunks, waking us deep into the night, was challenging for them. And eating outside at a picnic table breakfast, lunch and dinner? They'd prefer to pass. But me, I kind of loved it.
Here's a quick tour of our tent:
A few months later, after the remodel wrapped up and we moved back inside, I came across this article about these elevated, canvas wrapped, steel huts made in Santa Barbara by a company called Shelton Huts and thought to myself - yes, I'd like one of those please: a permanent tent, that doesn't blow away or soak up the rain. How great would that be? I could sleep outside whenever I want! So check these out, designed by Mattie Shelton. The idea of living outside might grow on you.
If you'd like to test drive and spend the night in one of the four structures offered by Shelton Huts, they are available through AirBnB at the Blue Sky Center in New Cuyama, California.
We packed up our belongings, except for our mattresses which landed in the tent, and put everything else in storage. The plan was to refinish the floors, paint the walls, update a small bathroom and quickly wave a wand over our modest kitchen. All of the above was going to be a costly undertaking, so sleeping under the stars for free in the middle of summer was, for me, one of my best ideas ever. For the rest of my family, camping outside however was not so brilliant. Nearby howling coyotes and even closer trespassing skunks, waking us deep into the night, was challenging for them. And eating outside at a picnic table breakfast, lunch and dinner? They'd prefer to pass. But me, I kind of loved it.
Here's a quick tour of our tent:
A few months later, after the remodel wrapped up and we moved back inside, I came across this article about these elevated, canvas wrapped, steel huts made in Santa Barbara by a company called Shelton Huts and thought to myself - yes, I'd like one of those please: a permanent tent, that doesn't blow away or soak up the rain. How great would that be? I could sleep outside whenever I want! So check these out, designed by Mattie Shelton. The idea of living outside might grow on you.
If you'd like to test drive and spend the night in one of the four structures offered by Shelton Huts, they are available through AirBnB at the Blue Sky Center in New Cuyama, California.
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