The Sullivans are a family of five who live in a bus converted into a home full time. But far from being cramped and uncomfortable, their unique home is quite cozy and functional. Besides, they hardly spend all their time indoors, and they can take their home on wheels anywhere they like. The home gets all the needed energy from a solar power array.
They call their new home Big Bertha and it was created out of a used 40-foot 1996 Blue Bird bus. Dad Brian and mom Starla designed the interior themselves. It took them about one year of weekends to finish the home. And they chose a bus over another form of a tiny home, because it’s much more mobile than most other offerings on the market. Since they registered it as an RV, they don’t even need a special permit to drive it.
Entering the home, there is a small mudroom where the family’s shoes are stored. This area can also be used as an office if needed, and it is separated from the rest of the home by a thick door, which helps keep the interior temperature consistent.
The interior features a central corridor that was kept clear to make it easy to move from one end of the bus to the other. A sitting area is located on one side of this corridor, and it features two benches under which there is a storage area. Both of the benches can also be transformed into full-sized guest beds.
The kitchen is quite spacious, and features lots of counter space, as well as many appliances, such as a portable induction stovetop, which can be stored under the counter, as well as a oven-microwave-toaster combo unit, a fridge, as well as a sink with a built-in drying rack.
The bathroom is quite roomy too, and it is fitted with a composting toilet, a shower and tub, as well as a sink and a high-efficiency washing machine. This space is separated off from the rest of the home by curtains.
The Sullivans have three toddler boys, and they sleep on bunk beds, which were designed and built with safety in mind. The bunk beds are accessible via ladders, and they all feature a window, as well as a baby gates to prevent falls. Their beds are all full length, since they are planning to live in the bus for a along time to come. The master bedroom is located at the end of the bus, and looks quite cozy and spacious, with room to spare.
The bus cost them $2,800 to buy, while the renovations, including tools, materials and appliances, cost a further $25,000. So a family of five now lives in a home that cost less than $30,000.
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