Downsizing has never proven to be more positive than getting on the tiny homes trend. It’s proven to be a great way to make housing affordable without the need for a large mortgage. And because most tiny homes are mobile, you can change your view just about any time you want. Got a job offer in another city? Take your tiny home with you!
Andrew and Julie Puckett saw the advantages of tiny home ownership. And they didn’t just get on the bandwagon, they got on the bus by transforming one into their home.
Having seen an advertisement, the couple drove six hours, with all of their life savings, to buy an old but fully functional 1990 Bluebird school bus from a cattle farmer. The bus was previously used as a makeshift camper during calving season, hence the plumbing, electrical, wall build out and basic lay out were already in place. Despite the head start, the project was an ambitious one as they only had four months to convert the bus into a truly liveable space before moving into it. Bus conversions can take years to complete, a time-frame Andrew and Julie simply did not have.
Ambitious because, they had to make it more functional to serve their needs and beautiful, if they were going to enjoy living inside such a tiny space. And the work they did on it was indeed nothing short of remarkable. The before and after photos of the interior of the bus show how love, determination and a sense of style can make something extraordinary out of the ordinary.
A coat of white paint on the walls brightened what used to be yellowed-with-age white interiors. The windows were dressed with curtains made by Julie’s mom, which they use when the bus is parked.
Andrew and Julie’s dad fitted the interior with a multi purpose storage box, which is six feet long and doubles as a sofa or a day bed for guests. Yes, they have room for guests!
They spruced up the kitchen by repainting it and covering the cabinet with a curtain fabric.
The bus came with a bathroom and waterless toilet. They made it more cozy by lining the wall behind the toilet with cedar paneling.
The wood burning stove, which came with the bus, already lent the place a quaint and homey feel. They cleaned it up and placed candles and a vase of flowers on top of it to enhance the interior of the bus.
They fitted the rear end of the bus with a customised bed which lays on top of a platform that also serves as storage space. The shelves on the walls surrounding the bed were used as book shelves.
Andrew and Julie also had a small collapsible table top that they can set up as a small working space. Underneath is a space where they placed a bed for Starbucks, their dog, which can also be enclosed with a mesh panel to serve as his crate when needed.
Here are a few more ‘before and after’ photos. Click on any image to start the slideshow. There is a also a link to a video beneath the gallery.
While the tiny homes trend enjoys a growing popularity, one wonders if anyone can really live life in tiny spaces, comfortably and without driving each other crazy. Andrew and Julie have already celebrated their first ‘bus-iversary’. They remain committed to their – literally, ‘on the go’ lifestyle.
Given the nature of work today, it’s easy to see many more couples and perhaps, families, adopting a mobile tiny home lifestyle. With cradle to grave careers a thing of the past and the ability to work remotely from any location with an internet connection, we’re all for it. Both Julie and Andrew have chosen to become freelancers so as to have greater freedom. Julie is a writer/musician/designer, while Andrew is an actor/musician/writer.
If you’d like to follow Julie and Andrew’s adventure, you’ll find them waiting at http://houseb.us/
You can also check out their home and take a tour of the Puckett’s school bus home here:
