This Off-Grid Skoolie Will Blow You Away With Its Open, Warm and Tasteful Interior Design

I recently wrote an article about why skoolies and ambulances are suitable alternatives to camper vans. There are multiple reasons why you'd choose a skoolie over a camper van – one of its greatest advantages is that it offers so much real estate to build your dream interior. You have enough space to devise separate rooms, or you can go for an (almost) open layout like the owners of this bus did.

What we have here is an International school bus converted into an off-grid home by Nicholas and Francesca. It measures 38 feet (almost 11.6 meters) in length and 7.5 feet (2.3 meters) in width and also boasts a roof raise of 20 inches (51 centimeters).

The couple's story might ring a bell – after being career-oriented for a long time, they realized they didn't really want this hectic lifestyle that prioritizes work. So, they quit their old jobs and life in Chicago, and after watching another couple's skoolie adventures, they were inspired to build their own.

Before heading inside, let me tell you more about the rig's exterior. It's finished all around in white paint, a drastic change compared to the previous black-and-yellow combo we're all used to seeing. On the roof, the couple fitted five 100 W solar panels.

Typically, bus dwellers prefer having more solar capacity, especially since there's so much room on the roof to install solar panels. However, that means investing more money, and Nicholas and Francesca explained that their setup is suitable for their needs.

Other notable exterior elements are two storage compartments on the passenger side, which the bus came with. That's where the couple devised the electrical system – unfortunately, we don't know the battery capacity.

As soon as you step through the door, you'll notice this mobile home no longer looks like a bus inside, starting with the stairs. The couple opted for a unique stone look for the stairs instead of keeping the dull original aesthetic.

Every single bit of this bus's interior was transformed. Regarding the design, the couple chose a warm and modern look, blending dark vinyl planks on the floor with many white elements, such as the walls. The look is topped off by the wood ceiling. I'm no wood expert, but that looks like pine to me - feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

In the driver's cabin, Nicholas and Francesca added two shelves holding various decorations and a TV. Moreover, the dashboard was converted into a couch, where the couple's two dogs love staying.

One issue with full-time bus living is that it can be challenging to see the interior as your home rather than the back of a bus. Some adventurers solve this by completely separating the driver's cabin from the living space – out of sight, out of mind.

In this couple's case, they wanted to cover everything in the driver's cabin, which hints this is a bus. Specifically, the dashboard became a couch, and they covered the seat. Even the steering wheel has a wicker basket as a cover.

The next part of the bus is the seating area. It comes with one of the largest couches I've seen in any camper, measuring a staggering 10 feet (3 meters). Furthermore, it can be transformed into an additional sleeping space for guests by pulling out a wooden frame and rearranging the cushions.

Typically, in skoolies, the space underneath the couch is used to house the electrical system. But since their power system is in an exterior compartment, the space underneath holds the plumbing system, comprising a massive 80-gallon (303-liter) freshwater tank and a water heater.

Next up, we have the heart of this bus, the couple's most important part: the kitchen. It's impressive, akin to those you can find in conventional homes. It's located on the driver's side and features a long butcher block countertop, many cabinets and drawers both above and below the countertop, a regular oven/stove combo, a beautiful farmhouse-style sink, and a big fridge.

Opposite the kitchen, you'll find what I consider the best-looking part of the bus. It's a massive wood burner stove the couple added in a corner. Lots of plants surround it, while a mirror on the wall behind helps create the feeling of more space.

Nicholas and Francesca described that the wood burner quickly heats up the entire interior, often a bit too much since it's so powerful. Moreover, for cooling, the duo installed an A/C in the ceiling.

Other notable elements in this area are an armchair, a small table, and various decorative items, such as wicker fans and more plants.

After the kitchen, the open layout narrows into a hallway. This is where you'll discover the bathroom, split into two parts. The one on the left serves as a shower space – it's very spacious and comes with a striking finish, blending the same stone look we saw on the entry stairs earlier with grey subway tile walls.

The right side houses a vanity area with a window, sink, drawers, mirror, and a Nature's Head composting toilet.

And finally, we have the bedroom, separated from the rest of the living space by a sliding door. Even though the bed occupies the entire bedroom width, the space still feels roomy because of the tall ceiling. The bedroom features many pull-out baskets for storage, a small shelf, a window, hooks for hanging clothes, and some decorative items.

I love this school bus conversion – it's definitely in my top 10 list. It looks terrific inside and provides all the creature comforts most people need to live full-time on the road. Moreover, it allows you to go off-grid, your only limitations being food and water, although the 80-gallon tank will surely help you last several days.