This Couple Transformed A Bus Into A Stylish Dream Home For Less Than $25,000 – Take A Look Inside

Hopping onto a double-decker bus for a ride around town is one thing – but you probably can’t imagine living on one. That is, until you see what this couple did to create a stylish, functional abode out of a city bus they bought for next to nothing. The renovations were far from easy, but their hard work paid off in amazing fashion. In fact, their stunning work might just give you the itch to try out the tiny home life for yourself!

Looking for a real home

Because they were so dedicated to each other, Charlie MacVicar and her boyfriend Luke Walker knew that they wanted to live together. But it wasn't so simple. The young couple didn’t fancy paying high mortgage costs or rent in order to cohabitate. So, they started to think about alternatives to the traditional home-ownership route.

An out-of-the-box idea

Luckily, the pair had a unique option to consider. MacVicar’s father apparently had a stretch of open land in Essex, England. So, she and Walker proposed paying a small fee to him so that they could move onto the property. But the couple had another problem: there wasn’t an actual structure in which they could live!

A bit of TV inspiration

Turning on the TV one day gave MacVicar and Walker an idea of how to solve that issue, though. The duo told Metro.co.uk that they watched a reality program called Amazing Spaces, on which host George Clarke visits people who have turned unexpected objects into functional dwellings. And that spurred a big brainstorming session between the two of them.

The right foundation

There seemed to be so many options at first. MacVicar told the British publication in February 2021, “We went through different options, such as shipping containers, caravans…” But she and Walker eventually landed on a type of transportation with a bit more floor space – relatively speaking, anyway. In 2017 they bought a double-decker bus to make into their home together.

Two stories on wheels

Have you ever been on a double-decker bus before? If not, then it might be hard to comprehend just how big of a project this young couple took on! Not only that, but they committed to moving into a seriously small living space together. Yet all of those doubts would dissipate when they eventually revealed the stunning fruits of their labor.

The tiny house movement catches on

MacVicar and Walker’s project was not the first of its kind, of course. The tiny house movement has long inspired those in traditional-sized abodes to ditch their extra-large digs for something much smaller. Of course, that would require downsizing belongings along with space, but many involved have found it to be a simpler, happier lifestyle.

Minimizing their daily budget

Living in a tiny house is also much cheaper over the long haul. So, moving into an extra-small space would help MacVicar and Walker achieve their dream of living together without breaking the bank. Those who had downsized as part of the movement found that they were able to slash their expenses, too.

Initial expenses

There are, of course, some costs involved when it comes to moving into a tiny home – buying the property, for one thing. As we said before, MacVicar and Walker decided to make a double-decker bus into their first house together. It took a little while for them to find the right vehicle to buy and transform, mind you.

Many rejected vehicles

The couple told Insider that they toured several different double-decker buses that didn’t suit their vision. Some didn't have high enough ceilings for Walker, who stands at 6 feet fall. And many more options they saw required a bit too much work for the fledgling renovators, who couldn’t take on too big of a project themselves. They had to keep their own limits in mind.

A perfect fit

Luckily, though, Walker and MacVicar landed on the perfect option that was both the right size and in good enough shape for them to handle. It was a Go-Ahead London Volvo Plaxton bus – the bright red kind you see when you envision the English capital’s public transportation. In fact, up until the couple bought the bus in 2017, Insider notes that it had been carting passengers through the Big Smoke!

A real bargain

MacVicar and Walker were able to get the giant bus for a steal, though. They paid the equivalent of just over $3,400 to bring the vehicle home, according to Insider. But that was just the start of the project. Next up, the couple had to renovate it – and this would be a lot more difficult than they’d initially expected!

Limited experience

For one thing, neither MacVicar nor Walker had any experience in building or design. She worked as a logistics coordinator, while his speciality was insurance. The renovation’s initial stages saw them figuring out what to do with a bus still filled with rows of passenger seating. And MacVicar told Insider that it came as “a shock to the system.”

All hands on deck

At first, there was the undeniable feeling that they'd gotten in over their heads. “We got really overwhelmed,” MacVicar told the publication. “Like, it was my first time picking up a screwdriver.” Thankfully, though, things got easier as they moved forward. Friends and family pitched in to help, and the couple hired professionals for the specialized tasks – such as plumbing and electricity.

Breaking new ground

But MacVicar and Walker had to get their hands dirty once again when it came to designing the vehicle’s layout. Although the tiny house movement had kicked off long before they joined its ranks, not many people had converted buses into living spaces. So, the couple had a few blueprints to reference as they picked a layout for their new home.

544 square feet of paradise

Insider reports that the entire living space measures at approximately 544 square feet. Apparently, it’s 32.8 feet long, 8.3 feet wide, and 14.6 feet in height. MacVicar and Walker took about a year to transform their blank canvas into something truly spectacular. And it cost them a little over $20,000 to get the job done.

A picturesque yard

The couple did have the good fortune of parking their bus on a peaceful and private stretch of land. In front of their unconventional abode, they have a lily pad-covered pond to themselves. Sometimes, the pair also glide their rowboat out onto the idyllic body of water for a lap around it. The pond was certainly a nice escape from the toil of bus renovation.

Pet people

MacVicar and Walker have taken advantage of the fact that they have so much land, too. Yep, they’ve added a pair of unconventional pets to their homestead. The former told Insider, “When you live in a bus you live a weird life, so you might as well have two goats.” At least they help with the lawn maintenance!

Peace and quiet

The goats and pond make for great views from inside the double decker bus, though. In fact, the property allows Walker and MacVicar to enjoy a very serene way of life. There aren’t even any streetlights or neighbors around to disturb them. The latter told Insider, “At night it’s like a bonus, it’s really dark, and no one’s around, and it’s really quiet and peaceful.”

Outdoor living room

Those conditions have allowed MacVicar and Walker to explore the outdoor living potential on their property, too. Part of their renovation project has included a living room outside of the bus itself. According to their Instagram page, they built the deck out of “cheap pallets,” which the pair described as “a bit rustic.” That's pretty thrifty!

Cozy corner

For better or worse, there’s not much else rustic about the outdoor living room’s setup. The pair can cozy up on a sleek powder blue sectional sofa and watch a movie on their TV. Take a good look at this adorable corner – it gives you a hint as to what the inside of the bus looks like.

Fresh air

Though what about the rest of their outside space? Well, Walker and MacVicar have a slew of other additions that make their unique homestead even more functional. There’s an outside table that could double as a workspace for either one of them, as they both clock in remotely. An outdoor shed presumably provides additional storage since life on a bus doesn’t come with that much space.

Challenging dimensions in the bus

MacVicar and Walker did face quite a few challenges when it came to perfecting the interior of their new tiny bus home, mind you. Curves on the vehicle’s top floor made it impossible for them to buy stuff straight from the furniture store. Instead, they had to have everything custom-fit to their abode’s unique dimensions.

Still mobile

Downstairs, Walker and MacVicar had to raise the flooring so that they could fit all of the proper plumbing and gas pipes beneath it. But the couple did leave some elements of the original bus intact – they kept the driver’s seat and the floor curves that accommodate the wheels. That way, the pair can still drive their bus if they want to.

Cooking up a storm in the kitchen

For now, though, the pair have parked their bus in Essex, and they’ve made it into a cozy home. They've fit an impressive number of rooms into their two levels. Walking onto the vehicle’s first level, you’ll find yourself in the kitchen – one that has all of the bells and whistles you’d expect in a 21st-century abode.

All the appliances you could need

Beneath the countertops – which flaunt a marbled pattern – the couple has a washing machine and oven. The bus also boasts a microwave, stovetop and fridge so they can handle cooking that’s quick or more involved. And, once the pair finish up, they can sit at the table across from the counters, which seats three.

Warmth and charm

Peering down the hallway from the kitchen, you can see another piece of the first-floor living space. At the back of the bus, MacVicar and Walker managed to squeeze in a cozy sitting room. They have two cushioned benches that stretch toward a wood-fired stove – the perfect place to curl up on a cold winter’s night.

Open floorplan (with one exception)

Downstairs also contains the vehicle’s only closed-off room – the bathroom. MacVicar told Insider that they had to keep the layout open to make their tiny home feel as spacious as possible. As she put it, “I think the more stuff you build, it’s going to make the bus feel smaller.”

Going up the steps

You’ll see what she means when the bus tour takes you to the upstairs portion of the living space. A climb up the vehicle’s built-in steps will take you into the couple’s bedroom. Impressively, it features a free-standing tub, as well as a built-in double bed flanked by a pair of nightstands! There's no doubt it's way more comfortable than the old bus seats they ripped out.

Some heavy lifting

Even with their DIY enthusiasm, Walker and MacVicar did need some help to make their bus home what it is today. For one thing, they required a crane to lift the Victorian claw-foot tub through the vehicle’s emergency window and onto the second floor. And one of their grandfathers even pitched in to build the custom bed frame!

An impressive wardrobe

Surprisingly enough, that’s not all that the lofted living space has to offer. The couple managed to work a walk-in closet into the upstairs floor plan, too. There’s room for a full rack of clothes, as well as a full-length mirror for outfit try-ons. And ample natural light floods in from the vehicle’s side and back windows.

The full home experience

Along with each of its functional living spaces, the bus has all of the comforts of a modern-day abode: electricity, WiFi, running water, and gas. MacVicar told Insider, “Anything that we would normally have in a house, I don’t feel like we’re lacking in the bus. We’ve made it work.” Clearly, the DIY-loving couple isn't roughing it.

A nice soak

But there’s one feature of her unique living space that MacVicar ranks above the rest. And that’s the claw-foot tub, which sits right next to a second-floor window. Looking out over the idyllic landscape, she explained, “You just forget that you’re on a double-decker bus, and then you just have to sort of think, ‘Wait a minute, I’m having a bath on a double-decker bus.’”

Seasonal challenges

Life on the bus does have its downsides for the couple, though. The biggest problem is that the vehicle isn’t insulated like a regular house would be. So, Walker and MacVicar find it tough to keep the place warm in winter and cool in summer – in spite of having the heaters and A/C units required to do so.

Big plans

Though the couple has continued to add projects to their to-do list to make the bus even more functional than it already is. For example, they added the wood-fired stove after moving in – probably to combat the winter chill. They also plan to add to their home’s exterior features by building an outdoor shower over the summer of 2021, according to Insider.

No regrets

Neither MacVicar nor Walker feels any strain living in their tiny home, either. In fact, the former felt that their bus has more room than some traditional properties they’d toured in the past. MacVicar said, “I remember looking at some flats with my boyfriend, and to be honest, it feels like we’ve got a lot more space than some people that we know.”

Practicing for the bus life

The two did have a bit of practice before moving in, mind you. Each one had apparently lived at home with their parents before moving onto the bus, so they got used to confining all of their stuff to a single bedroom. The rest of the space was, of course, shared with their family members.

Best of both worlds

So, shockingly, the bus renovation made MacVicar feel like she hadn’t downsized her life at all. She told Insider, “It was upsizing, really. For me, it felt like we’ve got more space moving into the bus than when we lived at home.” Life on their quiet patch of green space has given the couple a chance to slow down, too.

What really matters

Peering out of the windows and seeing the countryside gave MacVicar a reason to pause and reflect. She said, “I love being able to look outside and see my goats and have a more country, outdoor living sort of space.” MacVicar added that change “has been the best thing” for them. It has given them an entirely new perspective.

"The best thing we’ve ever done"

And that’s why MacVicar and Walker have no plans to change their lifestyle any time soon. The former said, “It honestly has been the best thing we’ve ever done. Some days I sit here and I think, ‘Oh, why am I living in this bus, this is so annoying.’ But the majority of the time, I think we’re just so grateful…”