"Dolly" Is a School Bus Turned Tiny Home/Recording Studio With a Funky, Retro Interior

Meet Destiny and "Dolly," her self-converted tiny home on wheels, a 1996 BlueBird TC2000. In fact, it's not just an awesome abode but also a recording studio on wheels, as Destiny is a full-time musician.

Frankly, if I were based in North America, I'd seriously consider a school bus camper conversion. But here, in Europe, the road infrastructure is not really suitable for rigs that large. And even if it were, it's hard to come by school buses like in North America, as we use different, smaller vehicles.

Anyway, if you'd like to learn more about skoolies, I have dedicated an article to why skoolies (as well as ambulances) are worthy camper van alternatives.

Before we start this skoolie's tour, let me tell you more about the costs. Destiny broke them down for us all to see. She bought the bus in early 2022 for $4,000 (€3,715), including RV registration costs. She then did some repairs and replaced all six tires for another $4K.

What makes this camper project even more impressive is that Destiny did the conversion all by herself except for the roof rack, spending $2,000 (€1,857) on the tools she used.

You might be surprised to find out that the most expensive part of this conversion was the solar and electrical system, which set her back an additional $10,000 (€9,287) - you'll understand why in just a bit. Finally, the materials and appliances cost $8,000 (€7,430).

Add up all these expenses, and we get to a total cost of $28,000 (€26,000) - this is an excellent investment considering how aesthetically pleasing and practical this rig is. A conversion from a specialized company can set you back even double that price without including the base vehicle's price.

There's no way you'll miss this bus on the road, not only because of its sheer size but also because it's finished in white with bright pink touches. Up top, at the front, you'll notice its name, "Dolly," written in big and colorful letters. What's more, like other buses, it comes with various exterior storage compartments on both sides.

Among the many advantages of converting a school bus into a mobile home is the vast space you have on the roof to fit solar panels. Just so you can get an idea, most van dwellers fit solar panels with a capacity of 600 W or less, while most buses have 1,500 W or more.

In Destiny's case, she made the major investment I mentioned earlier to install solar panels with a whopping capacity of 3,200 W. This ensures she doesn't run out of power, especially since everything inside is powered by electricity, meaning she doesn't have any propane canisters.

Step inside the bus, and you'll be greeted by a stunning retro living space. The colorful interior perfectly matches Destiny's personality. But besides the colorful aesthetic, Destiny made sure to make her tiny home on wheels as functional as possible.

In the driver's cabin, you'll notice Destiny created a large overhead bookshelf and added various decorations, such as a mirror and an LED light mimicking the infamous "Check Engine" light. Coincidentally, I have the exact same light at home, and I love it because it provides a warm, not-too-bright tone.

The first area past the driver's cabin is the living room. On one side, it has a sizeable couch that can be transformed into a chaise or a dinette and other configurations. The other side is occupied by what seems like a brick wall – of course, it's a tile imitating bricks, and it integrates a TV.

This feature has a double purpose, making full use of the available space. The "wall" is, in fact, a large door that hides a huge closet. What's more, the space above is used for storage.

Next, we have the kitchen split into two parts. Regarding its design, it boasts a retro theme with eye-catching mint green cabinetry and butcher block countertops. Moreover, the kitchen features a large sink, a standing desk with a countertop extension, a dual-burner induction stove, a 10-in-1 oven/toaster/etc., a microwave, and an enormous fridge/freezer.

When it comes to storage, Destiny made sure to devise many spaces. She has many cabinets, drawers, shelves, a pull-out pantry, a hidden slide-out spice rack behind the fridge, a pantry, toe-kick drawers, and more. It's definitely more than enough for one person, even if she wants to stock up for an entire month or more.

Walk deeper inside the rig, and the kitchen's open space narrows down into a hallway. You'll find a large closet with two rattan doors on your left. Open them, and you'll reveal the electrical system.

I'm very impressed with Destiny's work. Yes, she devised and connected the electrical system herself with guidance from professionals. Its highlights are a 200 Ah, 24 V battery, an inverter/charger, and charge controllers connected to the 3,200 W solar panels on the roof.

On the opposite side, you'll discover the bathroom. The retro theme continues here, as the bathroom comes with white, black, and pinkish tiles for the walls and hexagonal tiles for the floor. Moreover, it boasts a composting toilet, a mirror, a window, and a shower.

By the way, the water inside this bus is provided by a 75-gallon (284-liter) tank, then draining into a 65-gallon (246-liter) greywater tank.

The recording studio and the bedroom occupy the interior's rear. They both fit nicely in a huge space – the studio is on the driver's side and consists of a desk integrating an electric piano and a slide-out table, two monitors, a chair, and two file cabinets. On the other side, you'll notice a bench with an instrument rack above.

Finally, the bedroom features a queen-size bed, wrap-around shelves, a nightstand, and a 12,000-BTU mini-split. Moreover, I love that this entire space is very well-lit due to the many windows around it. Many decorative touches add a ton of personality to the room, including a funny pillow with Danny DeVito's face and even a disco ball.

All in all, Destiny did a stellar job with this tiny home home on wheels. It's cozy, has a one-of-a-kind living space, and the best part is that it didn't even cost that much to make.