In an impressive and creative feat, a couple named Bre and Dev transformed a 39-foot school bus into a luxurious beach house for just $35,000. Documenting their journey on their YouTube channel “Basically Nomads,” they offered a detailed tour of their unique tiny home on wheels, showcasing the blend of practicality and comfort they achieved. Here’s a look into their innovative living space and the journey of turning a bus into a cozy and stylish beach retreat.
The Entrance: Clever and Practical
As the tour begins, Dev highlights the practicality of their entryway. The space is equipped with ample shoe storage and a spot for keys, ensuring that everything is organized and easily accessible. They even incorporated a cat door and hidden litter box area for their feline companion, Tillo, showcasing their attention to detail in creating a functional home.
Living Room: Multifunctional Space
The living area features a double couch setup, which is not just for seating but also transforms into various configurations, including a guest bed. Dev explains how they’ve maximized storage by utilizing the space under the couches and how their table can convert into different modes to suit their needs. This multifunctional approach ensures that the limited space in the bus is used efficiently.
Tech Haven: A Gamer’s Paradise
Dev’s gaming and workstation is a highlight for tech enthusiasts. Featuring a 34-inch ultra-wide monitor and a custom-built ITX mini gaming PC, the setup is designed to cater to Dev’s passion for gaming and content creation. The area also includes smart storage solutions and thermostatically controlled fans to maintain comfort, showing that even a tiny home can support high-tech hobbies.
The Heart of the Home: A Fully-Equipped Kitchen
Bre takes over to showcase the kitchen, which rivals many traditional homes. It includes a four-burner stove, an oven, and a deep sink, making it perfect for preparing meals. The custom-built drawers provide vertical storage, maximizing the use of space and keeping everything organized. The kitchen’s functionality is further enhanced by clever storage solutions for spices and utensils.
Cozy and Efficient Heating Solutions
One of the standout features is their cubic mini wood-burning stove, which provides warmth during cold winter nights. This addition not only adds a cozy ambiance but is also an efficient heating solution. The couple’s focus on making their home comfortable in all seasons is evident in their thoughtful design choices.
Bathroom: Compact and Functional
The bathroom features a composting toilet and a fully tiled shower, with a rainfall showerhead that even extends outside for rinsing off after a day at the beach. The space also includes a bench that doubles as storage, highlighting their clever use of every inch of space. Their bathroom setup ensures convenience without sacrificing comfort.
Bunk Beds and Electrical Setup
The bus includes bunk beds, which provide additional sleeping space for guests. Underneath the lower bunk is a sophisticated electrical setup, including 600 amp hours of Dakota lithium batteries and a Victron inverter. This setup ensures they have enough power to run all their appliances and gadgets, making off-grid living feasible.
The Bedroom: A Private Retreat
The bedroom at the back of the bus is a private retreat featuring a comfortable bed with storage underneath for a 100-gallon water tank. The area includes a mini-split system for heating and cooling, ensuring comfort year-round. The couple has even managed to fit in a washer-dryer combo, making their home entirely self-sufficient.
Rooftop Features
The rooftop is equipped with 2000 watts of solar panels, which power the bus. They also raised the roof in the bathroom area to provide extra headroom, a thoughtful modification that adds to the comfort of their living space.
“Cleverly Fitted Out”
People in the comments shared their thoughts: “This one of the best builds I’ve seen, I love the woodworking around your house also the bathroom has not been compromised. I know you said no kids but at least if it does happen you don’t have to move on.”
Another commenter said: “This vehicle is so cleverly fitted out. Whilst the timber ceiling is lovely, I think it closes the area in.”
Some shared their experiences: “Got a 40 foot bus, parking it on land I bought in Costa Rica. It’s already been “built” as a live aboard, but I have lived the van/rv life some some years in the past so I already have many visions for improvements, of course. Nice work y’all.”
A Testament to Creativity
Bre and Dev’s transformation of a school bus into a luxury beach house is a testament to creativity and resourcefulness. Their detailed tour showcases how they have maximized every inch of space, turning it into a functional and stylish home. For anyone considering a similar lifestyle, their journey offers valuable insights and inspiration.
Principles of Tiny Living
What are your thoughts? What challenges might you face when converting a bus into a livable home, and how would you overcome them? How can the principles of tiny living be applied to traditional homes to improve space efficiency and sustainability? What are the benefits and drawbacks of off-grid living, as demonstrated by Bre and Dev’s experience?
Watch the entire video on Basically Nomads’ YouTube channel for more information here.
