Jessie Lipskin, a resident of Asbury Park, New Jersey, has always been comfortable with compact living spaces.
Growing up in a small space, she developed a knack for organization and a minimalist lifestyle.
She once shared with Apartment Therapy, “I’ve always been very organized and love the idea of holding onto only what you really need.
For me, that mainly includes things that hold sentimental value, particularly items that were handed down to me from my family.”
When Jessie discovered the tiny home mobile lifestyle, it instantly resonated with her.
She embarked on an adventurous project: transforming an old vintage bus into a tiny, mobile home.
The first step was simple – getting the bus insured and registered as an RV.
She found her perfect match on eBay, a bus that she instantly fell in love with, and thus began a three-year journey of renovation.
Jessie’s choice was a 1966 GMC Commuter Greyhound, which she bought for $7,000.
The total cost of the renovation soared to $125,000, but the results were astonishing.
“When I walk in, it feels huge,” she remarked to ABC News. “It feels even bigger than my New York City apartment.”
The bus, now her home, spans about 400 square feet and has clocked around 100,000 miles.
Jessie’s DIY spirit was high, but she admitted to needing help with the technical aspects of the renovation.
“I love DIY, however, I don’t have experience with plumbing, electrical, carpentry needed for this project,” she told Bored Panda.
The renovation posed unique challenges due to the bus’s nature.
“The big challenge was that it was very different from working on a home that’s fixed in one location. I constantly had to account for movement, on top of that the angles of the bus and slanted style windows made it challenging to design the best possible layout and curved woodworking. Levels were useless as the bus incline changes depending on location, it was all about calculating angles. This added a lot of time onto the project.”
Jessie gave the bus a sleek, modern makeover with a new coat of white paint.
She gutted the interior, selling the seats to a restaurant, and then meticulously framed out different spaces for the bedroom, bathroom, and closets.
The kitchen is a standout feature, boasting a large counter space and ample cabinets.
The home is equipped with a decent-sized sink and stove.
“Went with the IGLOO (33 in. W 5.5 cu. ft.) Side by Side Refrigerator in Silver, Counter Depth from Home Depot. It’s a fridge/freezer,” she explained.
The bedroom, located at the back of the bus, includes a bookshelf and hidden storage space.
Jessie also installed a custom-made bench and ensured decent closet space.
The bathroom features mahogany wood slotted flooring with a draining system for post-shower drying.
“The shower drain connects to the floor drain and they both lead to the gray water tank which is mounted under the bus,” she detailed.
Despite her love for her unique home, Jessie faced a significant hurdle: driving the large vehicle.
“I can’t drive it myself! I grew up in New York City and I finally learned how to drive in my mid-twenties. Unfortunately, I have yet to learn how to drive a stick shift!” she admitted. “I have made lots of friends with the ability to drive a manual 40-foot bus without power steering!”
Consequently, she decided to sell her tiny home bus, which was listed for $149,000 by ABC News.
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