A Cute 264-Square-Foot Converted Bus Feels Just Like a Real House
Name: Rachel Binkerd and husband Joel
Location: Florida
Type of home: Bus Conversion
Size: 264 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, owned
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: We have lived with our kitty Monte full-time in our converted school bus for almost a year now. It took us three years to go tiny but our main struggle was creating mobile income first because we wanted the freedom to go where our hearts desire. Our Skoolie is a 1998 Bluebird International with a two-foot roof raise so our ceilings are eight feet high inside. Our goal from the start with our home was for it to feel like a house, and having mostly what we desired in a typical house.
We are still renovating, but most of the inside is complete. We have a full kitchen with a large fridge, coffee bar (that was a must for Joel), living room with a couch that converts into a queen-sized bed for guests, a bathroom with shower and small tub, and lots of storage under our loft bed. What we are working on now is adding a 1,100-watt solar system, and installing a deck and 100-gallon water tanks. We are possibly extending the bathroom to accommodate a full-sized clawfoot tub.
What inspired us to downsize and move into a tiny home was the exhausting lifestyle of working to pay rent each month. We were barely making it and we got tired of seeing others live adventurous lives, so we made some changes. Almost four years later we are about to hit the road full-time and start marking things off our bucket list.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Open, farmhouse, a hint of retro
What is your favorite room and why? Right now the coffee bar/kitchen is probably our favorite.
Any advice for creating a home you love? Our advice for creating a catered home to your likes and dreams is to take the time and do it right the first time. Don’t try and rush to get it done; make something that you will be proud of even if it takes longer.
This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.