Favorites

This pool has been build into a decking area and features a divider between the pool and a hot tub area.

The bus in action. For cooling, the couple purchased a $720 Coleman air conditioner, and there’s a $189 Fan-tastic Vent for circulation. They also prepared for outdoor adventures with a $240 awning and $60 bug screens. The bus comes equipped with solar panels ($120), a Victron inverter/charger ($1,280), as well as gray and fresh water tanks ($518).

The couple got Mr. Gorbachev—aka Gorby—a couple months into the renovation. "He spent much of his puppyhood rolling around in sawdust and insulation crumbs," says Timothy. Here, he takes in the view from the Dutch door window, which was previously a side door used for wheelchair access.

"Because our whole life had to fit in about 160 square feet of livable space, and because that life had to endure bumps, bounces, and vibrations, it was incredibly important to have good organization," says Timothy. Overall, containers and racks totaled $350.

"[The couch is] built in three sections, and all three sections are on 300-pound drawer slides," adds Timothy. "So, you can pull it out either into an L-shape or a U-shape, or into a full double bed."

Meryl designed the couch to be big enough to lie down with their dog, Gorby, who is not a cuddler. "He really likes to have his space," she says. "So, I thought if we made the couch big enough, then my dog will snuggle with me." (This, she reports, was a successful tactic.)

The sink was chosen to accommodate their largest fry pan for dishwashing. Both it and the faucet were sourced from Amazon for $190.

After saving up for several years, Timothy and Meryl Miller converted a school bus into an off-grid home, tackling the work on the streets of Brooklyn.

The materials for the couch totaled $710, and included baltic birch plywood for the carcass, oak trim and slats, upholstery, and drawer slides for the storage units underneath. The IKEA globe ceiling light in the kitchen was $20, while recessed overhead lights from Amazon cost $60.

The rear of the bus holds the platform bed, warmed by a Cubic Mini Grizzly Woodstove ($900) enclosed by a terra-cotta tile heat shield ($90). When the bus was snowed in at a campground in Nederland, Colorado, the wood stove came in handy. "It was actually a wonderfully cozy, delightful experience. For three days we lived in our tiny home, cooking, reading, and hiking with our adventure pup," says Timothy.

A floor plan of the 222-square-foot Jayco after the transformation.

The couple also updated all of the faded lights, which dramatically freshened up the exterior.

“Most RVs are huge, white beasts with loud graphics, and we wanted to do something different,” Taylor says. The couple settled on painting the body Behr Brooklyn and the cab Behr Midnight in NY. They used a sprayer to apply the exterior latex house paint, and Taylor says “so far it’s holding up great!”

The couple painted the cabinetry a soothing blue, adding just the right pop of color to the white and wood interior.

A before shot of the kitchen and the corridor leading to the bedroom.

Taylor and Mike kept the Jayco’s original footprint, with the bedroom located in the back.

A before shot of the bedroom. The dresser was replaced with a desk.