December 31, 2012

Yurt On Wheels

Backyard Model on Wheels $4,999
Windows roll-up inside. Note the innovative dome, which is much more practical than the traditional sky-light type.

Flexible gutter can fit under the roof; connects on the topside of the roof rafters. Basically, a gutter can slide on the edge of the roof.

Oh by the way, a 30-foot yurt is now offered at $15,000. From Oahu; think about it!

September 19, 2012

Yurts Made in Hawaii

Backyard 12'2" Yurt
Hawaii is well known as paradise islands, so why not sovereignty?

There are many relevant sites to ponder that query and I'll be sharing some of those. For now, however, I'm very excited to discover a yurt manufacturer located on Oahu!

Nathan Toler, of Backyard Yurts, is a man of multi skills and endeavors. He knows the many reasons producing local is so important to achieve sustainable communities.

As islanders know, a fair price can turn sour when your order is shipped about 3,000 miles by sea. So locally made is a real "biggie" here. The bottom line is major savings.

Malama 16' Yurt
Shop and order BACKYARD 12’2″ yurt model, 119.9 square feet at $4,999 from here. Also see the MALAMA 16' yurt. Yet know that additional sizes and options are continuously expanding. So just ask!

Below are some FAQs and basic info. I am a sales rep for Big Island and would be happy to view your site and to determine the best options that will fulfill your vision.

You are also invited to tour my yurt in Pahoa, Puna District, that was made by The Colorado Yurt Company (which you can order online and pay enormous shipping). Visit my contact page to schedule an appointment.

Here is a video for you to witness construction details:
video
Mobile Yurt - ready for parade!
with aloha,




WALL
How tall?
Our lowest standard wall height is 7-feet tall (other manufacturers start at 5-feet). 

DOOR
One door included. You may consider constructing a deck, canopy, an additional door, or roof outside the door.  If you wish to provide your own selected door, $250 is deducted from the price.

WINDOWS
What’s included?
Two 9-foot long clear vinyl roll-up windows with sewn-in screen for the Backyard model. The roll-up can be interior or exterior. 
Can I have more than 2 windows?
Yes, you can even have a wall section roll up instead of the window, but there may be an upgrade fee.
Placement?
Buyer decides, but pay attention to typical wind and rain direction. Also note sunrise and sunset locations, which will vary per season. 

DOME
Clear sunroof dome with screen to vent air. No dome opener necessary!

LODGING SIZE
The smallest 12-foot, 2-inch (120 square feet) "Backyard" model can fit a twin or double sized bed. Drawers below the bed are recommended. Larger yurts can accommodate any bed size desired, pending on floor plan.

COLORS
Inquire for swatches to view. Oh, so many colors! Select for (1) roof, (2) main wall, and (3) base wall.

CONSTRUCTION
Plumbing with a water catchment is most common in Hawaii and a PVC flex rain gutter can be attached under the roof seam onto the rafters.

COMFORT
With solar, wind, or electric power, a standard 36-inch ceiling fan may be mounted under the dome. 

TERMS
50% of yurt cost order deposit; balance due plus shipping cost from Oahu upon manufacturer’s completion. 

SHIPPING
Shipping rates do vary almost on a daily basis, but expect between $100 to $250 freight cost from Honolulu to Hilo or Kona. 

TIME FRAME
30 days for standard production, from date of deposit to ship-ready completion.

Celebrity Yurt Video

April 8, 2012

Hawaiian Yurt Village Retreat

Looking for more luxury and services than the Chic Eco yurt in Pahoa?

Located on Big Island's Island's North Kohala coast is a full off-grid retreat. Five yurts offer a simple alternative to the boutique-style facility at Ahu Pohaku Ho'omaluhia in Kapaau.

See Green Lodging News story for details or visit the Hawaii Island Retreat site.

March 29, 2012

Weddings + Events Yurt-style

Fashioning Felt in Palace Yurt
Creative interior options for weddings and events are abundant in yurts.

Betz White photographed the Palace Yurt at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York City for the Fashioning Felt exhibit. The lace-look opened eyes to visualize a ceremony, ― be it wedding, funeral, reception, etc.

Laurel Nest Vendor Yurt
Laurel Nest Yurts of North Carolina shares their vendor yurt to distribute information at festivals and conferences. Can't you also vision a crystal boutique, ― or something with spiritual and meditation tools? Shopping with a cozy-charm sense!

The Alaska Yurt Village is filled with artsy vendors who treasure sustainable living. Find seasonal yurt-boutiques who offer handmade goods that range from yarns to jewelry and more.

How about dinner ambiance? The Viking Yurt in Utah's Park City Mountain Resort offers a fine menu with a pianist ready to take requests.

www.hooesyurts.co.uk
Reserve a yurt for intimate dinning, or for a small party, ― an idea for most any location, but especially here in Hawai'i where organic and raw local foods are available year-round!

RELATED POSTS:
Interior Decorating Intro
Weddings + Special Events

March 23, 2012

Awnings, Gardening + Yurts

Morning Glories Climb Awning Hardware
Before ordering or building a yurt, one must decide if and where there will be windows.
Tropical Vines Climb From Ground to Tree Stump,
to Awning to Lanai

First you study the property: ― sunrise, sunset, typical wind direction. Next it's the interior floor plan.

Then regardless of the kind of window/s you select, consider exterior awnings. Why go the extra expense? Because they're functional.


Yurt awnings provide privacy and weather protection. My particular location has windows open most the time, but seasonal high winds and heavy rains are common. Yet with an awning, the need to close a window is very rare.

Gardening is my thing and I get a kick out of seeing blooms climb up to my windows. Pictured below are morning glories germinated and grown with the help of awning-rainwater runoff.

Hence, I discovered the awnings very useful for starting plants. Those hard-to-germinate seeds come alive with this method. Not pictured are impatiens that thrive in the heat under another window due to the consistent moist ground. There's an inside blooming view from every window now.

My location is in the rain forest, so of course required maintenance will vary. But typically, the usual daily rain will bring beautiful benefits with minimal effort.

Last, but not least reason to love awnings, ―ambiance!

There are awning downsides illustrated below. All it takes, however, is some periodic mildew cleaning and rust preventive measures on your awning hardware. For yurt dwelling lovers, it ain't no big deal, ― just a little forewarning.
Rust Development on Right Rod

May 18, 2011

Red Kite Yurts in Scotland

Red Kite Yurts released a short video demonstrating their perfected wedding and event services. Think candles, linens, wood-burning stove, rugs, and imagination!

Daily hire begins at £200 GBP, the British Pound, for a 3-day event. That's equivalent to about  $325 USD at the time of this writing.

This company happens to be the largest hand-crafted manufacturer in Scotland with an abundance of out-of-the-box event services.

Check out the new "Barn Yurt" that's perfect for events. The Red Kite Blog is under creative development with details at the time of this writing.

October 11, 2010

Yurt Living: Solutions to Mold Fears

No doubt about it, the best mold prevention anywhere on anything is air flow and sunshine. Actually yurts have less mold issues than most conventional buildings.

Read more ...

June 16, 2010

Financial Help

You know the proverb, if there's a will, there's a way. And determination with will is certainly a required combo to produce creative financing. I guarantee, Colorado Yurt Company, (CYC) is at it.

It's exciting that Sam Kigar of CYC shares his findings of peer-to-peer and social lending options on the company blog. Since every loan differs, it's a challenge to summarize expectations. Yet Sam explains the process, requirements and precautions well.

"The Loans Marketplace" Prosper, is Sam's first recommended site. It's all about appeasing both lenders and borrowers. With today's frustrations, it can be a refreshing option to step out of the traditional bank lending process.

Also recommended is the Lending Club. Their motto is: "Investors earn better returns, borrowers pay lower rates." Both companies are headquartered in California.

The interest rates are typically better than a bank, but good credit is essential. Sam says your loan request can hang one to two weeks so you can comparison shop interest rates.

Cash payment is every wise person's preference, but credit card payments are most popular for yurts. When goods are shipped out-of-state, you can submit a credit card purchase order without sales tax. Another tip a financial comrade recently told me is that credit union banks honor better credit card interest rates than conventional banks. So if you do use a credit card, shop around for the best interest rate.

As you can imagine, there are advantages to not having a mortgage. Yurt makers are networking and realizing there are better methods for the industry. Additionally, buyers are finding alternatives to conventional insurance without a mortgage. They customize the security of their assets by improved means.

Financial structures are changing rapidly and globally this year. And this year will be the second annual yurt makers conference in Hawaii during August. Networking on this topic will be a good thing, so stay tuned.


February 12, 2010

Yurt Living: Book Review

Author Becky's thoroughness with excellent photographs is amazing. Hard to believe anyone knows more about yurt living than she does and I can't think of a detail she's omitted in this wonderful book.

Read more ...


January 26, 2010

Yurt Living: Solar Power Potential

John notes the solar panels are on a sled-type contraption. He created that so he could move them around during construction. He wants to find the optimum year-round location before permanently mounting them.
Read more ...