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Photos: Tiny houses seen at the Tiny Home Festival in St. Pete

 
The tiny house movement comes to Tampa Bay. Stephanie Henschen's tiny home takes up a total of 210 square-feet including the loft where she sleeps. A graduate of the architecture program at the University of South Florida in Tampa, she spent 10 months building the home for her thesis project. [SAMANTHA PUTTERMAN  |  Times]
The tiny house movement comes to Tampa Bay. Stephanie Henschen's tiny home takes up a total of 210 square-feet including the loft where she sleeps. A graduate of the architecture program at the University of South Florida in Tampa, she spent 10 months building the home for her thesis project. [SAMANTHA PUTTERMAN | Times]
Published April 3, 2017

The Tiny Home Festival held at the St. Petersburg Eco Village drew a large, sell-out crowd on Saturday, as people showed up to tour several "tiny homes," which are houses under 500 square feet. Tiny home enthusiasts are part of a movement toward smaller, less expensive and more energy efficient homes.

The Tiny Home Festival held at the St. Petersburg Eco Village drew a large, sell-out crowd on Saturday, as people showed up to tour several "tiny homes," which are houses under 500 square feet. Tiny home enthusiasts are part of a movement toward smaller, less expensive and more energy efficient homes.

If you weren't able to get tickets, here's a look at what you missed.

If you weren't able to get tickets, here's a look at what you missed.

USF grad has big plans for her tiny home

Charlie Kaijo | Times

Charlie Kaijo | Times

Attendees wait in line to see the inside of a "tiny home" at the Tiny Home Festival hosted by the St. Pete Eco-Village in St. Petersburg.

Attendees wait in line to see the inside of a "tiny home" at the Tiny Home Festival hosted by the St. Pete Eco-Village in St. Petersburg.

Samantha Putterman | Times

Samantha Putterman | Times

A graduate of USF Tampa's architecture program, Stephanie Henschen spent 10 months building the home for her thesis project.

A graduate of USF Tampa's architecture program, Stephanie Henschen spent 10 months building the home for her thesis project.

Samantha Putterman | Times

Samantha Putterman | Times

Stephanie Henschen's tiny home takes up a total of 210 square feet including the loft where she sleeps.

Stephanie Henschen's tiny home takes up a total of 210 square feet including the loft where she sleeps.

Samantha Putterman | Times

Samantha Putterman | Times

A graduate of USF Tampa's architecture program, Stephanie Henschen spent 10 months building the home for her thesis project.

A graduate of USF Tampa's architecture program, Stephanie Henschen spent 10 months building the home for her thesis project.

RELATED: USF grad has big plans for her tiny home

RELATED: USF grad has big plans for her tiny home

Charlie Kaijo | Times

Charlie Kaijo | Times

People wait in line to see the inside of a converted school bus that doubles as a home for travelers at the Tiny Home Festival

People wait in line to see the inside of a converted school bus that doubles as a home for travelers at the Tiny Home Festival

Charlie Kaijo | Times

Charlie Kaijo | Times

Tom Gardiner of St. Pete explores the inside of a converted bus that doubles as a home at the Tiny Home Festival. He said being inside brought up memories of the Partridge Family. His wife Macy Gardiner said she liked that she could see all the things that the inhabitants loved displayed in the bus.

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Tom Gardiner of St. Pete explores the inside of a converted bus that doubles as a home at the Tiny Home Festival. He said being inside brought up memories of the Partridge Family. His wife Macy Gardiner said she liked that she could see all the things that the inhabitants loved displayed in the bus.

Charlie Kaijo | Times

Charlie Kaijo | Times

Frank and Brittany Axelson of Naples look at the inside of a "tiny home" that is completely powered by solar energy at the Tiny Home Festival. "We're in the process of shopping around to get our tiny home built and saw the event on Facebook," Brittany Axelson said.

Frank and Brittany Axelson of Naples look at the inside of a "tiny home" that is completely powered by solar energy at the Tiny Home Festival. "We're in the process of shopping around to get our tiny home built and saw the event on Facebook," Brittany Axelson said.

Charlie Kaijo | Times

Charlie Kaijo | Times

James Harrington and Fredrick Colburn of Pinellas Park explore a "tiny home" at the Tiny Home Festival. "A tiny house is good because you don't have all the baggage that comes with a large home. If you have a tiny house you're going to keep a tiny capacity. If you have a large home you're going to fill it up. That's me anyway," said Harrington.

James Harrington and Fredrick Colburn of Pinellas Park explore a "tiny home" at the Tiny Home Festival. "A tiny house is good because you don't have all the baggage that comes with a large home. If you have a tiny house you're going to keep a tiny capacity. If you have a large home you're going to fill it up. That's me anyway," said Harrington.

Charlie Kaijo | Times

Charlie Kaijo | Times

Jeff Swim helps his wife Vicky swim step down from a ladder leading to a sleeping quarters in an unfinished "tiny home" at the Tiny Home Festival hosted by the St. Pete Eco-Village in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Saturday, April 1, 2017. "We're pretty outdoorsy. It fits our lifestyle," said Jeff Swim adding, "The biggest problems were finding out is zoning doesn't know what to do with these."

Jeff Swim helps his wife Vicky swim step down from a ladder leading to a sleeping quarters in an unfinished "tiny home" at the Tiny Home Festival hosted by the St. Pete Eco-Village in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Saturday, April 1, 2017. "We're pretty outdoorsy. It fits our lifestyle," said Jeff Swim adding, "The biggest problems were finding out is zoning doesn't know what to do with these."

RELATED: 'Tiny houses' help St. Pete tackle challenge to house homeless veterans

RELATED: 'Tiny houses' help St. Pete tackle challenge to house homeless veterans

Charlie Kaijo | Times

Charlie Kaijo | Times

Floyd Getzoff, 7, of St. Petersburg climbs a ladder leading to the sleeping quarters of an unfinished "tiny home" at the Tiny Home Festival hosted by the St. Pete Eco-Village in St. Petersburg

Floyd Getzoff, 7, of St. Petersburg climbs a ladder leading to the sleeping quarters of an unfinished "tiny home" at the Tiny Home Festival hosted by the St. Pete Eco-Village in St. Petersburg

Charlie Kaijo | Times

Charlie Kaijo | Times

People visit the inside of a furnished "tiny home" at the Tiny Home Festival hosted by the St. Pete Eco-Village in St. Petersburg.

People visit the inside of a furnished "tiny home" at the Tiny Home Festival hosted by the St. Pete Eco-Village in St. Petersburg.

Charlie Kaijo | Times

Charlie Kaijo | Times

Lia Rafaela talks to Mary Beth Mignerey and Gary McDow of St. Petersburg inside a "tiny home."McDow said he was interested in the portability of them and that he could live wherever he wanted to in different times of the year.

Lia Rafaela talks to Mary Beth Mignerey and Gary McDow of St. Petersburg inside a "tiny home."McDow said he was interested in the portability of them and that he could live wherever he wanted to in different times of the year.

Charlie Kaijo | Times

Charlie Kaijo | Times

An attendee visits a "tiny home" at the Tiny Home Festival hosted by the St. Pete Eco-Village in St. Petersburg.

An attendee visits a "tiny home" at the Tiny Home Festival hosted by the St. Pete Eco-Village in St. Petersburg.