What grade are you in and when is this project due? There are tons of free and easy to use websites out there that can make your project look more professional. For example, I once used this website. You'll probably not be able to recreate what you were going for here, but you can make a good design. It just that Minecraft shouldn't be used unless the teacher tells you to. It doesn't allow you to put too much detail into your builds and also seems childish. If you truly want to use Minecraft than go ahead, but I wouldn't recommend it.
A: If you are willing to or can manage to put it on wheels, I know in many cases this is a way to get around building requirements, such as minimum sqft and other regulations.
B: FloorPlanner.com is a good design software that offers a free version as well as a PRO version. It is good for details and customization. You can set appliance and furniture and edit the size of each object to match the actual dimensions.
C: If you're living in rural AL, I would say you need a washer/dryer of some sort (I imagine Laundromats aren't convenient to you). To save the most space you can get a ventless washer/dryer combination and place it under the kitchen countertop. A ventless dryer will take about twice as long to dry clothes than a conventional dryer, so you may want to install a dryer connection in your home if you desire a conventional dryer.
E: Those wall units are ductless mini splits . They are a lot more quiet than window units and depending on the model could be more energy efficient.
Random Advice: Solar panels. If there are not too many trees blocking the sunlight, definitely invest in one or two solar panels. You could install them in the rooftop or near your home.
Don't let anyone tell you that you don't need a toilet. Toilets are great.
Ok, AutoCAD is great for 2D. it's free for "students," however you want to define that. You'll have to learn some basics, though, like how to set units and limits, how to draw and edit simple shapes. SketchUP is a better bet. It's a 3D environment that you can use to make 2D (plan) views. There a ton of content online already made, so no creating things from scratch if you don't want to. My favorite is Chief Architect- look it up and try the free version- it's quite a kick, and a LOT easier to use than commercial-grade BIM software like ArchiCAD or Revit. I also found a couple of free floor plan tool with a simple google search: https://www.cadpro.com/cad-pro-uses/floor-plan-software/ AND http://www.floorplanner.com/about I'd avoid both Solidworks and Inventor: they are for mechanical design and do not lend themselves to interior design projects very nicely.
SketchUp is great, but a steep learning curve and can be quite frustrating. I do recommend getting a graph paper notebook, and fill out at least a dozen pages before you hit the computer. I know it was said before, but I'll reiterate. This is a classic point my design teachers and architect friends hit on again and again, you can't beat the flow and ease of pencil and paper.
Once you get to desiring some more visual aides, give http://www.floorplanner.com a try. It is free and truly simple, drag and drop. It'll produce 3d renders too. Just use multiple floors in one project if you want multiple layouts.
Here are my skoolie renders:
https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/fpdata/exports/project/2d/44654543/designs/68298563.jpg
https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/fpdata/exports/project/3d/44654543/designs/68298563.jpg
Ja, was echt irritant. Ik had een aantal verschillende indelingen gemaakt, compleet met 3D modellen en zo (floorplanner is echt nice), maar moest alles compleet opnieuw indelen. Had wel hier rekening mee gehouden, heb al het meubilair dus ook pas nadat het was opgeleverd en ik alles had opgemeten besteld.
>800 sq ft is a full size home to me
Hmm, yeah the average home size in my area is about 1400sq feet. I think its a larger tiny home, since its over 600sq feet but under 900.
>Think about how you entertain people, and what you would like the flow of people through the space to be. Usually people either hang out in a lounge (living room) or they mill about in the kitchen because the host is cooking.
I agree that removing that wall helps open it up further. I added an island so that the counter/work space wasn't reduced as dramatically.
For a really easy, web based solution that hits all of your bullet points, check out floorplanner.com. You can even scan a floor layout, tell it how long one wall is, and it'll generate a scale model for you :)
I used floorplanner to plan out my characters house. Basic account(free) is only limited to one project per account but it's pretty nice. There is a 2D and 3D way to look at it. Pretty cool.
Personally, I think for what you are trying to do, the best bet is Floorplaner. It's simple enough and will let you do mock ups easily.
If you are looking for a full CAD suite, AutoCAD or Inventor will do, granted you are willing to learn them and have the time.
You can get a 30 day trial for these, which is usually enough time to put something like this together. If you have a *.edu Email, you can get the student version (13 month license) for free. There are some HUGE parts libraries you can get for both of these software (my parts library for Inventor is a couple of GB).