A Mobile, Eco-Conscious, Inspiring Small/Cool Space
A Mobile, Eco-Conscious, Inspiring Small/Cool Space
Name: Alex Jensen
Blog or website: https://www.manifest-it.co/
Instagram: @manifest_it_collective
Size: 128 sq ft
Home type: Converted small school bus
Location: Lakeville, CT
Years lived in: Since September 2020, owned
Household: My partner Graham and big puppy, Cosmo, our Bouvier De Flandres
Have any design professionals worked on this space: Myself, Alex Jensen, creative director of Manifest It Collective, a design studio
Describe your space:
We were inspired during the pandemic to acquire a safe adventure vessel and tapped into the "Schoolie" community. We gutted the bus and began to think about how to design the interior efficiently for our needs AND quickly because we were itching for an escape. Our conversion took only three weeks, and we've been enjoying it ever since. Our back bench area was the most complex and versatile part of the design, because not only does it convert into a large oversized queen bed, the interior of the benches house our solar electrical systems, water supply and extra storage.
Did you DIY anything in your space? And, if so, what's your favorite DIY?
YES! All of it! From the electrical to the plumbing and the framing to the interior design. Our favorite clever design aspect is the metal "gutter" behind our kitchen counter to house herbs, kitchen tools and more! And our little bookshelf accessed from our back bench/bed area for our tarot cards and other special goodies that make our space feel extra homey.
How do you make your small space work for you and feel bigger than it really is?
Our genius storage solutions are our back benches, and all that they house (see above). And the flexibility to use that space from sleeping, eating, entertaining to working. We chose not to crowd the walls with shelves to make the space feel larger, and we used cedar wood paneling on the ceiling to make it even more expansive. It even smells nice too!
How does your home reflect you?
It is colorful and fun (we're both creative professionals), and the fact that it's mobile allows us to fulfill our need for travel and exploration. We're both trying to live more sustainably conscious lives and designing and living in this space challenged us to downsize and consider our energy and water usage. The need to have the bus operate off-grid also led us down the path to exploring solar energy and the use of battery-power storage. It continues to be a great learning experience! We often rent our Moon Bus and hope others feel as inspired as we've been, while enjoying their stay.