Living and traveling in a mobile home is a dream shared by many outdoor enthusiasts who long for that special time on the road watching the landscape change and the tranquil evenings spent in the middle of nature. The concept of van life has now turned into a mainstream lifestyle, so camper vans and motorhomes are now a common sight around us.
While converted vans, caravans, and travel trailers are perfect for camping and outdoor adventures, there is a category of vehicles that can easily be turned into unbelievably comfortable full-time homes. We're talking about buses. Wider than a van and providing more privacy, amenities, and floor space, an old school bus is a great platform for a mobile home or recreational vehicle, opening up a world of possibilities.
Sage the Skoolie is a great example of how a decommissioned school bus can be revived and retrofitted as a delightful tiny home on wheels. Skilfully crafted by the team at One5vans, this gorgeous skoolie draws you in with a homey ambiance, a thoughtful layout, and plenty of cool features that make living in a mobile home a breeze.
One5vans is a Dallas, Texas-based boutique builder founded by Paige Smiley, a professional interior designer with over 20 years of experience in high-end residential and commercial projects. The small company specializes in handcrafting custom camper vans, but they don't shy away from any challenge, taking on even skoolie build-outs and Airstream restorations.
Photo: One5vans
Sage is their very first skoolie project, and judging by the pictures, they did a tremendous job at turning a humble 35' Thomas School Bus into a gorgeous, comfortable, and highly functional home on wheels. Making efficient use of the available space inside, One5Vans included a cozy lounge/dining area right behind the cab, followed by a huge kitchen, a standing bar setup, a stunning bathroom with a soaking tub, and a bedroom for two at the rear. And the best thing is that the designers managed to incorporate all these and many other cool features while still making the living space open and spacious.
In terms of styling, features like white walls, a light color palette, natural wood, shaker-style kitchen cabinets, textured finishes, and vintage fixtures give this skoolie a farmhouse feel. A cool board and batten accent wall separates the kitchen and dining area, which provides space for more social activities, from the more private areas of the bus, while heated tile floors give the interior a luxurious feel.
Sage has not one but two entrance doors, one at the front offering access to the cab and a central one leading directly into the "hallway” towards the bedroom. As you step inside through the regular front door, you'll find two separate benches on each side of the bus, providing plenty of seating space to relax and entertain friends. Coupled with a round table, these benches create the perfect setup for dinners with friends and family. And if they want to stay the night, the dining benches easily transform into two cozy beds.
Pony walls create a sense of separation between the cab and the living space while also keeping the layout open. The custom-crafted benches are made of oak wood, which is the perfect tone to warm up the space, and they integrate large drawers for storage.
Photo: One5vans
The central kitchen boasts plenty of light army green cabinets accented by bronze handles, quartz countertops, a beautiful mosaic backsplash, and an oak shelf for pottery and plants. The designers went for a minimalist aesthetic, with no appliances on the counters for clutter-free ambiance, but Sage's kitchen does offer plenty of functionality with a large sink with rinser and cutting board, two hidden fridges, and other portable cooking appliances. An unexpected feature is the glass rinser integrated next to the sink faucet.
Opposite the kitchen, there is a sleek bar table with two fabric-wrapped ottomans that make up a nice home bar setup. Gaggles of windows on both sides of the bus make the kitchen and lounging area incredibly bright and airy, while also allowing those inside to feel truly connected with their surroundings.
In the hallway leading to the bedroom area, you'll find a set of three handcrafted closet doors that conceal the full bath, the soaking tub room, and the washer/dryer closet.
Photo: One5vans
The piece de resistance of this bus conversion has to be the swanky bathroom with a soaking tub, a beautiful oak vanity with ceramic sink, a stylish round mirror, and a delicate glass lighting fixture. The interesting fact about this bath is that it's divided into two areas, with vintage wood windows turned into custom sliding doors separating the tub from the rest of the bathroom facilities. Crafted from durable aluminum and surrounded by tiled walls and copper piping, the soaking tub offers a contemporary twist on the traditional bathing experience.
The bedroom at the rear of the bus is a haven of relaxation and privacy. A comfy full-width bed, accompanied by wall-mounted nightstands, reading lights, and an AC unit, fills out the space, while side windows let in enough natural light to prevent it from feeling cramped.
No details on the final cost of the Sage school bus conversion are available, but One5vans' builds typically range from $50,000 to $120,000 plus the cost of the base vehicle, and an off-grid conversion will obviously be on the upper end of that range.
All in all, the artfully designed interior and the abundance of modern amenities Sage the Skoolie includes make it a true inspiration for anyone dreaming of building their own home on wheels.
After spending a few years as a copy editor, Ancuta decided to put down the eraser and pick up the writer's pencil. Her favorites subjects are unusual car designs, travel trailers and everything related to the great outdoors. Full profile
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