Cozy makes a comeback: Living tiny in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Bigger isn't always better when it comes to where you live. Instead, some people are going tiny as a new way of living to make a big impact.

Emma Hutchens just broke ground on the "Derby City Tiny House," Louisville's first permanent tiny home.

"This home will actually be about 450 square feet once it's complete," said Hutchens.

The tiny house movement is sweeping the nation and caught Hutchens' attention about two years ago.

"For me it was about living responsibly, not over consuming. So many of my friends have beautiful homes that they only use about a fourth of throughout the years," said Hutchens.

She insists that just because she's building a hobbit-sized habitat, she's not sacrificing comfort.

"The bathroom's actually going to have a full-size tub, a walk in shower, of course a toilet and a large vanity," said Hutchens.

With that smaller space, comes a smaller price tag and no mortgage.

"This is going to run about $35,000 so it's at the higher end and it is larger in terms of the tiny house movement," said Hutchens.

Weather permitting, it takes about four months to build a typical house. This house will only take a month to build, which means a move-in date at the end of June.

A little house does not mean little problems. It took about a year and a half to navigate Louisville's building codes, before Hutchens could finally break ground.

"There are minimums when it comes to square footage of a structure, how small a bedroom can be, what a bedroom must have in order for it to count as a bedroom," said Hutchens.

While she plans to permanently live in her tiny house, Hutchens will be renting it out periodically for those interested in the tiny house movement so others can gauge whether they're interested in tiny living.

Nancy Bohannon has her own tiny dream home that's even smaller than that of the Derby City Tiny House.

"It's 144 square feet, so most bedrooms are bigger than my whole tiny house," said Bohannon.

Instead of navigating the hurdles facing the next big thing in housing, Bohannon's building her tiny house on a flatbed trailer, which means she can take it with her.

"There are DOT regulations, but not permits or anything like if you build a house on a foundation,"said Bohannon, who launched "Tiny House Project Louisville" to create a collaborative build effort where people can donate time and resources.

In exchange, Bohannon will teach them how to design and build their own tiny homes.

"I've met lots of people wanting to do the same thing and a few people have gone on and started their own," said Bohannon.

While she doesn't have a timeline for when the house will be complete, she has big plans.

"I want to travel and you always have to give up something for something else. So I would just assume live in a tiny spot and do the other things I want to do in my life," said Bohannon.

A perfect example of living the American Dream on a smaller scale.