A Couple Convert An Old School Bus Into A Light and Efficient Family Home
When Gabriel and Debbie Mayes decided to embrace the tiny house movement, they knew the transition would be anything but easy. For starters, they—along with their four children—were used to calling 5,000 square feet home. But they were intrigued with the idea of living in a much smaller space, so when they found "Skoolie," an old school bus, they knew the time had come to take the plunge and downsize.
Yet, before they could kickstart their adventure on the road, they had to conduct a major DIY renovation. After months of hard work, the Mayes Team successfully transformed the 250-square-foot bus into a comfortable home for their family.
Keep scrolling for all the fascinating "before" and "after" images.
Before:
In the redesign, the couple eschewed a common center aisle layout, as they did not want people walking into the bus and having a sightline to the sleeping area. Therefore, they decided to cluster the kitchen and bathroom together about midway through the bus's length.
By positioning the children's bunks and master bedroom toward the back, they were able to keep the social areas—such as the kitchen and living space—separated from the private sleeping quarters.
For finishes, they opted for a predominantly black, white, and gray palette, while also incorporating wood accents for warmth.
After:
Above is a look at the living area. The couches can seat the entire family, and can also be converted into a full bed, if needed. There is storage in the bases of the couch and a shoe shelf by the front door. "This has been such a blessing and has helped us to keep the bus organized," the Mayes Team explains.
There are four bunks for the kids' sleeping area, fitted over the wheel wells, and a door that separates the parents' bedroom at the back of the bus. Because the mattress is positioned over the engine, it sits high enough so there can be clothing storage below it. The couple writes on their blog: "Our bedroom has so much storage we haven't even used all of it!"
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