Alternative housing is confidently conquering the modern market. It doesn't matter if enthusiasts and enthusiasts of experiments seek to avoid the bondage of mortgages or are unwilling to pay exorbitant rent, they all try to find a roof over their heads, creating unique dwellings. For example, a young American woman was so carried away by the philosophy of minimalism and an environmentally friendly lifestyle that she decided to turn a long-decommissioned bus into her dream home.
As you know, rental housing significantly limits our options, especially if you have to live in huge metropolitan areas like New York, for example. American Jesse Lipskin, who rented an apartment in Manhattan, also thought so. It was then that she decided to radically change her life in order to forever get rid of constant dependence and fear that at some point she would not be able to pay all the bills.
The girl, accustomed to being content with little, began to actively seek an alternative to living in the city, drawing inspiration from other people who left the noisy streets and rented apartments, creating a more accessible, sustainable, free and generally happier life. Jesse was more and more delayed by this movement, and she decided to arrange her own home. Moreover, her work as a project manager in the financial sector made it possible to move to a remote schedule, and not be tied to the area where the office is located.
After reviewing a ton of ideas and real-life reviews for this or that alternative accommodation, Jesse came to the conclusion that for her the best option would be to re-equip the tour bus. Its dimensions and mobility will allow you to create a comfortable and full-fledged house where you can live all year round. Despite the fact that the girl did not even have a driver's license, she nevertheless decided to buy a used Greyhound (GMC) 1966 bus, which, although in a deplorable state, was still subject to repair and transformation.
With the help of friends, who were also determined to help her in her difficult endeavors, Jesse bought a bus and took her to the seaside town of Asbury Park, where she planned to re-equip the vehicle. Considering that the girl had nothing to do with construction professions and did not know how to carry out engineering communications, install plumbing, make furniture, she had to resort to the help of specialists. For this reason, the construction process was long and exhausting.
To begin with, I had to disassemble the interior of the bus right up to the removal of the trim, then hand it over to a car workshop in order to carry out full maintenance of the vehicle. Only after that it was possible to start soundproofing and warming the entire structure. At this stage of the transformation, the communications necessary for the arrangement of the living space were laid.
The contractors were engaged in the arrangement of the internal space, but the girl tirelessly followed the progress of the work and corrected what she did not like. A carpenter was also required to assemble the built-in furniture. This was one of the most difficult processes. Rounded ceilings limited freedom of action, plus, in addition, doors and furniture drawers had to open and slide out at any parking spot (it is not always possible to stay overnight on a perfectly flat area), because a more or less significant angle deviation can limit this process.
After the walls, partitions and all the furniture and equipment took their place, the girl began to improve the interior space. To visually enlarge the space and make it lighter, she decided to paint all the walls, ceiling and furniture white, adding only small touches in the form of bright accessories, family photographs, colorful paintings. But I decided to make the flooring wooden in order to create home comfort and warmth.
White was also chosen for the exterior of the mobile home, because the creative girl did not want to live in a standard tourist bus at all.
When organizing residential areas, the girl tried to use partitions to a minimum, so as not to limit the already tiny space. The only exception is the bathroom and partly the bedroom, which is organized at the back of the bus. The bed is installed horizontally and, due to the built-in furniture, it turned out to create the illusion of privacy. It is worth noting that the bed and most of the furniture on the floor are part of the podium, inside which there are spacious storage systems. Such arrangement of living space is very practical in mobile homes, because when moving, you do not have to constantly fix every object.
Remarkable: The large glass at the back of the bus remained in place, providing the bedroom with natural light and the ability to fit a full-width bookshelf. This allows the bed to be used as a comfortable reading space that Jesse has always dreamed of. “It seems to me that the last few years I've been so busy that I haven't read as much as I would like. Now I have time to do it, - says the girl. "It's nice to be snug in bed and just read a book."
Living in a rented apartment for many years, Jesse is used to being content with little, being organized and neat, so she managed to create comfort and order in a limited area without problems. Moreover, for storing clothes, she has not only hidden drawers, but also a full-fledged wardrobe.
The RV, created from a 40-seat tourist bus, turned out to be quite roomy. There was also a place in it for arranging a bathroom with a shower, a sink and a toilet, so that the girl does not need to think about a parking place, because modern conveniences are always nearby.
Oddly enough, Jesse managed to design the house so that there was a guest bedroom, because her friends, who actively helped in the conversion of the bus, are not averse to experiencing the nomadic lifestyle. For these purposes, a full-size pull-out bed was made in front of the mobile home, with a mobile partition, which allows you to create a secluded place for guests to relax.
According to the editors of Novate.ru, Jesse Lipskin took three whole years and 125 thousand dollars. for the purchase, complete re-equipment of the bus and the arrangement of residential areas (including furniture and appliances). By American standards, this is a perfectly acceptable amount in order to have your own comfortable housing. Although Jesse decided not to stop there, she put her comfortable mobile home up for sale to start a new project. This time, she decided to take on the transformation of the van, because she thinks that the bus is too big for her alone.
Another way to acquire own tiny housing - create it yourself on a two-axle trailer. Places, of course, will be three times less, but the financial savings will be significant.