A DIY-loving couple converted an old school bus into an incredible off-grid home and said it was the best thing they ever did.
Francesca and Nicholas, from Chicago, quit their 60-hour-a-week jobs to take up life on wheels full-time.
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Speaking to Living Big In A Tiny House on YouTube, the couple showed off their white bus that may not look like much on the outside but leaves guests blown away at their revamped interior.
Francesca and Nicholas revealed they were feeling as if they were stuck in a rut, with their jobs getting in the way of exploring new things.
They were on the hunt for adventure and a lifestyle outside the standard nine-to-five and decided to pour their money into the bus project.
The DIY-whizzes stumbled across the large school bus at an auction and immediately fell in love with the vehicle.
The large raised roof allows them to go completely off-grid whenever they feel like it thanks to their five 100-watt solar panels.
Francesca and Nicholas’ incredible bus also features a chimney and wood-burning stove, so when the temperatures drop while they’re off-grid, they can easily warm the home on wheels up.
An 80-gallon tank is also attached to the bus, meaning the couple does not have to worry about regularly running out of water.
Inside the completely renovated bus, stunning stonework has been built in on the steps leading up into the home and in the bathroom.
“I just wanted it kind of to all flow together and the first thing that you see I don’t want it to be bus steps,” Nicholas said.
He then moved through the long belly of the bus which had been turned into the living and dining areas.
A large couch was set up next to a massive window that
The DIY-savvy Nicholas revealed he had hand-built the couch out of the original dashboard so that the couple’s dogs could have somewhere comfortable to sit while they were on the move.
The sofa also pulls out into a massive bed with enough space for two lucky guests.
The ceiling of the bus was completely stripped and remade with panels of wood, giving the space a less metallic and more wholesome homely feel.
A plush chair sits in the middle of the room, where the living area meets the compact kitchen.
“We like to cook and we spend a lot of time in the kitchen and so when we were planning out we knew we needed a very long kitchen, lots of counterspace,” Francesca said.
They opted for a spacious fridge, underneath large cabinets, a massive countertop, and a big stove.
“Another cool thing about downsizing and doing tiny is we’ve never really settled into our homes and we’ve never really been able to show ourselves in our homes like this and get everything we wanted -and by going smaller we were able to actually make our dream,” she added, while admiring the kitchen.
The next room along, placed behind the wood-burning stove, is the impressive bathroom.
With stone flooring and tiled walls, the cozy shower has ample space for Francesca and Nicholas.
“We’re so happy with how it turned out, I mean we love the stonework, it matches the front of the bus and it kind of just flows with our entire theme of this house so now we’re really happy with how the shower did turn out,” Nicholas said.
A toilet, vanity area, and compost are located on the other side, and although the space is tiny, the couple said it works perfectly for them.
The area is filled with stunning feature pieces a small sink and cabinet, a big mirror, and little baskets to hold their towels.
Finally, the bus lifers step into their bedroom, located at the rear end of the bus.
A width-length bed makes up the space at the end, surrounded by four windows for maximum natural light.
Potted plants and wooden decorations adorn the walls, as well as material storage boxes and storage space beneath the bed.
Speaking on the cost of the renovation, Nicholas said: “So the materials if you could do everything on your own we’re about £24,000 all-in.
“Without a doubt, once this is 100% paid off really it’s just gonna be the open road for the two of us and seeing where we can take it,” he added.
It comes after another DIY whizz revealed he now lives full-time in an old school bus which he converted into a home with its own shower and kitchen for less than £10,000.
Read more on the Irish Sun
He not only installed a pristine new kitchen and bathroom facilities but also repainted the bus from its former yellow to a more muted shade between dark grey and blue.
Another mum-and-daughter duo revealed how they turned a school bus into an incredible tiny home after a family tragedy.
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