This Young Couple Transformed a School Bus Into an Incredible Motor Home
When Francesca and Nicholas grew tired of traditional homeownership, they bought a school bus and turned it into a tiny home. From the spacious living room to a cozy bedroom, take a look at the transformation.
Meet Francesca and Nicholas
When Francesca and Nicholas met, their connection was instant. It wasn't long before the couple decided to spend the rest of their lives together. In June 2016, the pair became Mr. and Mrs. Drez.
The young lovers got married in Cancun, Mexico, surrounded by loved ones and the sea. Once back home, Nick and Francesca moved into a 1,400 square-foot home in Illinois's Chicago area. But it turned out the townhouse lifestyle wasn't right for them.
Their House Was Too Big
After living in their home for two years, much of their belongings were still packed. Nick and Francesca realized that they owned way more stuff than was actually needed. Not only that, but the 1,400 square foot house had too much space for just two people.
"The kitchen and one bedroom were all we used," Francesca explained. When the duo watched a documentary about a couple living on a converted school bus, they felt inspired by the on-the-go lifestyle. But living in a tiny home could be complicated because Nick and Francesca weren't actually alone.
The Housemates
The 27-year-olds lived with their three dogs: Sullivan, Magoo, and Murphy. So the tiny home would have to be big enough for two adults, their belongings, plus three canines. Could they do it? For Francesca and Nicholas, the answer was obvious pretty quickly.
"It started with a documentary we watched about a couple that was traveling around the United States," Nicholas recalled. "Late one night, on the couch, we kind of looked at each other and said, 'Hey, could we do that?' and after sitting on it for a day or two, we were all in."
The Bus
Only a month after seeing the inspirational film, the young partners found a vehicle. The 20-year-old school bus had 168,000 miles on it and was being auctioned out of Greensboro, North Carolina. Lucky for Nick and Francesca, the vehicle's location was beneficial to its maintenance.
Although two decades old, the bus had much less rust than one from a coastal area would, as salty sea air deteriorates the vehicles faster. Once the tires, alternator, and oil filter were changed and the oil and fluids checked, the future tiny home was good to go.
The Roof Extension
The homeowners spent $5,000 on their purchase and allocated another $55,000 for the conversion. According to Nick, the total cost was "much cheaper than a house, an RV, or an RV mortgage." The Blue Bird model bus is 38 feet long and 7.5 feet wide, with a 22-square-foot interior.
Seen here is the bus after its windows were gutted, and the roof was raised by 20 inches. While extending the ceiling's height is not mandatory in bus-to-house transformations, it's the more comfortable choice for tall residents. Francesca and Nick went the extra mile to make their new home as pleasant as possible.
The Beautiful Exterior
Francesca has an eye for all things design and wanted the bus to be just as beautiful on the outside as it would be on the inside. So after raising the roof, the pair painted the exterior white and added some tinted windows. The old cheese bus became unrecognizable.
The exterior also has prebuilt storage space, a big plus for the family of five. "Instead of storing all the solar and the batteries and everything else on the interior of the bus, it's all out here, which left us a lot more room on the inside," explained Nicholas.
The Handy Helpers
Inside the bus, the old seats, walls, ceiling, and floor were stripped off. Seeing the naked vehicle for the first time and thinking of all the work that was yet to be done may have been intimidating. Thankfully, Francesca and Nick had some very handy helpers along the way.
As they researched for their school bus conversion, or "skoolie," the homeowners found Luke and Rachel Davis: another couple who turned a vehicle into a home and now ran a business called Skoolie.com. The site provides customized bus conversion services, which Francesca and Nicholas took full advantage of.
The Floor Plan
As they brainstormed floor plans for their new home, Francesca and Nick used tape to outline the space on their old townhouse's floor. "We did a million different designs," Francesca said. Throughout the process, the couple evaluated "what are our necessities."
When they finally decided on the perfect blueprint, it included a living area, a spacious kitchen, a split bathroom, and a private bedroom in the back. With the bus's interior stripped away, construction began. Custom-built frames and furniture slowly came into place.
Living Expenses
Once the old bus became a livable space, Francesca and Nick sold their townhouse and moved into the tiny home. According to Mr. Drez, the major down-sizing decreased their monthly living expenses to about $800 a month, including fuel and food. The $55,000 conversion was worth it.
When the duo ditched their old home, they also left Chicago. They moved to Colorado with their mobile house. "That first year, we were just learning about the bus," recalled Nicholas. "Mainly traveling around the Denver, Colorado area because I still had a full-time job in an office downtown."
The Home's Centerpiece
Since the homeowners love to cook, they wanted the kitchen to be "the centerpiece of the bus," as Nicholas said. Thanks to an ingenious design, the motor home has enough space for a big kitchen. It holds a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer, standard-sized cabinets and drawers, a propane-fueled oven, and four burners.
"Going with the fridge underneath gave a lot more cabinet space," Nick explained. "The original design was going to be... a traditional fridge. But, as you can see, we have a massive countertop, a big stove, basically a regular, apartment-sized one."
"Our Dream Home"
Knowing that they would save plenty of money in the long-run, the young couple splurged on some of the skoolie's appliances. For example, they got a gorgeous butler sink for the kitchen with plenty of space for dirty dishes. Although expensive, it was worth it.
"That's another cool thing about downsizing and going tiny," Francesca said. "We've never really settled into our homes, we've never really been able to show ourselves in our homes... and get everything we wanted. And by going smaller, we were able to actually make our dream home."
Kitchen Hacks
A lot of thought went into the space's design, as Francesca and Nick knew they would be cooking often. "When we were doing our layout, we knew we needed a very long kitchen," Francesca shared. "Lots of counter space... And we wanted a spacious one, and so this is kind of just our dream kitchen."
The couple created a kitchen hack for when the long counters aren't enough: they place wooden chopping boards over the sink and the burner stove. And just like that, a few more feet of counter space is added! Next to the roomy kitchen is the living room area.
The Living Room
The living room is closer to the bus's entrance. On the right, the couple installed a custom-built 10-foot couch. Across from it, they placed a smaller bench for even more seating space. Once the sofas were in, the bus became a pretty great hangout spot.
In this tiny home, the beauty is in the detail: white shiplap placed over the original metal walls, recessed LED lighting, and wooden ceiling panels made from the Blue Ridge Mountains. Altogether, the special features make for a breathtaking living area.
The Beautiful Decor
The bus conversion was a team project, but Francesca focused on much of the decor. The 28-year-old is a content creator with an eye for design and aesthetics. To contrast with the dark grey of the couch, she chose light-colored throw pillows with subtle patterns.
The darkness of the waterproof vinyl flooring compliments the lighter tones of the walls and ceiling. Francesca placed rustic pieces on the white walls, including a small, decorative ladder and some weaved art. Although the initial decor was gorgeous, Mrs. Drez updated it several times since.
Beauty & Functionality
In such a small space, functionality is arguably as important as aesthetics. This is why Francesca and Nick wanted a couch that could double as a guest bed. The 10-foot bench pulls out, and the cushions fit perfectly to create a sleeping cloud big enough for two.
But that's not the sofa's only special feature. On top of doubling as a bed, it triples as a storage unit. Under the cushions are sizeable storage bins where the couple puts their 80-gallon freshwater tank, along with games, clothing, and other items.
Cozy Nights In
For the family of five, the tiny home provides plenty of space. When Francesca and Nicholas get tired of staring at the amazing views outside their windows, they can close the curtains and turn on the television. The TV sits on a custom-built shelf above the driver's seat.
The 10-foot sofa has plenty of space for them both, but little bean bags and extra pillows make the space comfy for visitors, too. The dogs get the best of all the worlds, as they enjoy lounging on the floor, the couch, and sometimes even the dashboard!
Their Jobs
But the young couple does more than watch tv in their tiny home; from the moment they moved in, the skoolie became Francesca's living space and office. Mrs. Drez worked remotely as a Communications Manager until she quit her job and started her own content creation business.
"During that time, Nick worked full time in an office downtown in Denver, Colorado," Francesca shared. "We lived at an RV park, and he commuted to the city every day." The space was perfect for one person to work from home. But it became more difficult when Nicholas changed jobs and stayed home, too.
Working From Home
About a year after the partners moved into their skoolie, Nicholas got a new job working remotely as a Sales Manager for a software company. "We always have to make sure we are parked in a good cell service Monday-Friday for his job," Francesca said.
But with Nick working from home, other changes had to be made, as well. The couple initially used some wooden creates to eat on. But those were replaced with a wall-mounted folding table. The new arrangement provided a desk for Nicholas and took up little space.
Room for the Furry Friends
The tiny home fits two young professionals working from home and three stay-at-home canines. "If you were wondering if we designed the layout around the dogs, the answer is yes," the couple shared on Facebook. "The more open floor space, the better!"
But as the couple continues sharing their skoolie adventures, some people have voiced concern over the three dogs living in such a small amount of space. Others argue that the dogs are happy and loved. According to Francesca and Nick, their pets love the tiny home.
The Split Bathroom
The living room and kitchen space are so gorgeous, it's hard to believe this was once a 20-year-old school bus. And the transformation doesn't end there, as past the cooking area lies the split bathroom. The sink is visible on the left, and the spacious shower on the right.
"The shower is probably my second favorite part [of the house], right behind the wood-burning stove," said Nicholas. Some social media followers even say this part of the house is nicer than many restrooms found in city apartments! Let's take a closer look at the unique bathroom.
The Sink & Toilet
Inside the first part of the bathroom is a full sink and vanity. On top of the sink and above the toilet are two mirrors that, as Francesca said, "make the room even bigger." The two shelves built into the vanity and the baskets hanging on the wall provide storage space.
Across the sink sits the compostable toilet. "It's kind of tiny, but it works for us," Francesca said. "We've never done the black water, and we didn't really want to do a black water tank, so we just thought, 'Everyone's doing the composting toilet. Let's try this out.'"
The Shower
Across from the toilet room is the shower. Nick found a pricey but worthwhile eco-friendly showerhead from Nebia. The tiling on the floors and walls was completed during the winter months. This made it more difficult, as tiling sticks better in heat.
"We had a struggle with it, but we're so happy with how it turned out," Francesca said. "We love the stonework; it goes with the front of the bus, and it kind of just flows with our entire theme in this house." The stones on the shower floor were also used on the stairs at the home's entrance.
The Bedroom
In the seven feet of space at the back of the bus is the welcoming bedroom. The bed is tucked behind a brown barn door, which provides plenty of privacy. But while the separated space provides a perfect solution for needed alone time, Francesca and Nicholas don't use it much.
The happy couple said they spend most of their time at the front of the bus. They love cooking in the kitchen and working in the living room. But Nick added that "When we do need free time, it is nice to have your own room or room to put the dogs in."
They Wanted Freedom
One of the many benefits of living in a converted school bus is mobility. And that's exactly what Nicholas and Francesca had in mind when they chose to sell their townhouse and build a tiny home. The duo was tired not only of mortgage payments and utility bills but also of their stationary lifestyle.
"We liked the freedom to explore and go adventuring, and I think we were kind of just feeling like we were in a rut... with the job and life, and this was kind of a way out to go and try a couple of new things," Nick explained. The Drezes wanted to make their travel dreams come true.
Traveling
Once Nick got a remote working position and left the 9-5 office life, he and Francesca started traveling on the weekends. They've traveled all around the United States and even road-tripped from Florida all the way to Oregon. RV resorts throughout the country provided pleasant parking spots.
"When we first met, it was all career-oriented. I mean, 60 plus hours a week, saving money for what?" Nick recalled. "I think we had the adventure in us the whole time. We would love to go for hikes, walking the dogs... But if we could make that the social point in the center of the lifestyle, I think we were both in for that."
The Wood Stove
Their travels often take them "off-the-grid," to places with no access to electricity. So aside from plenty of cozy blankets, how do the tiny homeowners stay warm during the winter? A wood stove in the living room provides plenty of heat no matter where they're traveling.
The wood stove might look small, but it sure is mighty. "Not only does it bring cozy vibes and allow us to cuddle by the fire, but it also really warms the place up, probably better than a heater could," the couple shared. For other off-the-grid power sources, the couple turned to nature.
Powering the Home
While most of the home's systems can run on gas and electricity, the five solar collectors on the roof create enough watts to power the bus for up to four days! Each solar panel is 100-watts, which, according to Nicholas, "is more than enough" for them.
"The only energy sucker is the refrigerator, and it's not even that much," Nick added. The house also has a portable generator to power the air conditioning in the summer. As long as their 80-gallon water tank is filled up, the Drezes can basically travel as far from civilization as they please!
Other Special Touches
At the front of the bus is, of course, the driver's seat. While the Drezes use this feature often for their weekend travels, they wanted the dashboard to look nice when it's not in use. Nick explained, "We try to hide it when it's just the homey feel so that it doesn't actually look like the bus again."
But that's not the only reason for the dashboard decor. "We were just driving, and our dogs kept going up there," shared Francesca. "They would sit up there, look out the window, and I was like, 'Well, they need something comfy to sit on and so I just did a DIY cushion, threw it up there, and draped the blanket on top."
A Magical Thanksgiving
The mobile house may be small, but that doesn't stop the Drezes from celebrating any and all occasions inside their home. Unable to join the rest of their family for Thanksgiving this year, the loving couple had an intimate feast in their makeshift dining room.
"We made the best of our little Thanksgiving this year," they shared on Instagram. "We cooked up some of our favorite sides, put on our matching Christmas pajamas, and had a cozy night in." With fairy lights hanging off the bus's windows, their celebration looked magical.
No Regrets
So how does the couple feel about tiny home living? So far, they have no regrets. Living on-the-go provides the freedom and adventure they yearned. "Most people work their whole lives saving up this big nest egg of money with hopes of... traveling when it's finally time for retirement," Nick said.
"We've seen our grandparents get to that point where they have the money and have the time but no longer have that energy," he continued. "We may not have the money right now, but we definitely have... the energy, and we have the time. The money will come and go, so we'll find it as we go." As they say, carpe diem!
One Young Woman Is Transforming a School Bus Into Her Ideal Tiny Home
Cassie dreamt of a tiny home she could travel around the country in. After buying a school bus, she put her carpentry skills to work and started making that dream a reality. Here's the transformation so far.
Meet Cassie
Cassie Furlong grew up in the Upper Midwest of the United States. She lived mostly in Minnesota, but her family was not one to stay put in one place. The Furlongs loved to travel around the country.
"I spent my childhood in the backseat of my family car road tripping around and outside the great state of Minnesota," Cassie shared. "My most beloved place was a seven-hour drive from the cities to the northern border of the state."
She Was Raised a Handy Gal
Road-tripping was not the only form of quality time Cassie spent with her family. The young girl's dad was a carpenter, and she often watched him as he worked and built. When in need of help, Furlong's father usually called to his daughter for assistance.
"From a young age, I developed the skills to make useful items with my hands," Furlong explained. "The art of woodworking takes trial and error of which I developed by age 12." These skills would prove invaluable for fulfilling one of Cassie's biggest dreams.
Big Dreams of a Tiny Home
There was hardly a thing Cassie loved more than exploring the great outdoors. She dreamt of a way to travel comfortably around the country, getting to stop in gorgeous destinations. With the rise in popularity of tiny homes, Furlong suddenly had an idea.
Cassie wanted to mix her love of nature with her carpentry skills to create the ideal on-the-go house. "I have always loved traveling and spending time in the outdoors," she said. "I decided to combine these passions into a project converting [an] old school bus into a camper."
Her 2007 GMC Mini School Bus
The innovative young woman was not the first to turn a school bus into a tiny home. Using the school vehicle as a base for a tiny house was likely an appealing idea because it already has four walls, a roof, and it's on wheels! Plus, it's usually cheaper than an RV.
So when Furlong came across a bus for sale, she knew it was time to get started on her passion project. "This dream recently became a reality when I found a 2007 GMC mini school bus for sale in my hometown," Cassie said. "So, of course, I had to buy it!"
Picking a Name For Her Home
The first thing on Cassie's to-do list after receiving the minibus was to choose a name for her future home. She took to Instagram and asked friends for suggestions. Petunia, Tedy, Marguerite, Thomas, and Lightning Bug were some of the recommendations Furlong received.
Ultimately, Cassie went with something totally different. "The bus was a challenge I took on to fulfill my childhood nostalgia," she explained. "It only felt fitting to name my tiny home on wheels after what I was referred to as a child, Sassy." Now it was time to turn Sassy into the dream mobile home.
Starting From the Outside
First impressions are important, and Furlong wanted her bus's exterior to match the gorgeousness that would soon be inside. That meant the future mobile home needed a major paint job. Cassie looked to the outdoors for color ideas and settled on a beautiful shade of green.
"Inspired by spring to find the perfect exterior paint color," Furlong said. "I started this transformation so one day I can travel the world and see beautiful places. It only feels right that I find a color that reminds me of nature!" A few more outer details needed attention next.
Deciding What to Get Rid Of
Furlong removed the big, bulky mirrors found at the front of school buses since they weren't necessary for solo travels. The young carpenter couldn't decide whether to remove the vehicle's STOP sign and asked her followers, "Should it stay, or should it go?"
The tiny home didn't need it, but it was a beautiful reminder of where the project started -- a mini school bus. Cassie ultimately decided to keep the sign but painted it white. Now there was one more thing that needed taking care of before moving on to the interior.
Workin' on the Wheels
If Cassie wanted to take her tiny home around the country and on rough terrain, she needed to fix the wheels. The old bus was also filled with dust and dirt that had accumulated throughout the years. Safe to say, Furlong had a lot of work to do.
The hands-on homeowner used a special sanding machine to smooth down the wheels' centers and the bus's front and back bumpers. After getting rid of the rust and leveling the surfaces, Cassie painted the details white. She then moved on to the bus's interior.
Redesigning the Interior
Furlong put a lot of thought into what the outside of the mobile home would look like. No detail escaped her as she painted the exterior walls, roof, rims, bumpers, and even the stop sign. But all of that was arguably the easy part. Now? It was time to get started on the inside.
Creating a tiny home was no easy task. Furlong needed to figure out how to fit everything she needed inside a mini school bus. She was not a high-maintenance traveler, but she wanted her tiny home to be a total oasis on the road. But first, she needed to take apart what was already inside.
Removing the Seats
At the moment, the bus had no room to become a tiny home, as Cassie had to remove all of the old seats. The leather structures used to carry tens of children every day, so we can imagine they were screwed in well! Furlong spent a couple of hours on the grueling task.
The seat removal was Cassie's first big challenge. "The hardest part so far was the hours spent grinding out the bus seats," she shared on Instagram. "If you know of anyone looking for bus seats, send them my way!" Now that the vehicle was cleared, the real fun began.
Adding a New Floor
The bus seats were finally gone, but the floor wasn't looking too good. Cassie couldn't imagine climbing onto a tiny home filled with rubber flooring after a long day of hiking. She needed something practical but aesthetically pleasing. While Furlong couldn't yet make a decision, she got started on the base.
Cassie bought floor insulation material and some affordable wood. After Furlong carefully measured the bus and sawed the customized wood pieces, she installed it on top of the insulation. "Two days of work later, and we have an insulated subfloor," the hard-worker said. "Now, time to create a floor plan!"
The Floor Plan
Before building the inside of the tiny home, Cassie carefully planned each aspect of it. No nook or cranny could be taken for granted in the old school bus. Furlong wanted a design that flowed but also fit all of her living essentials. So, she got to the drawing board.
The young designer needed to think about many aspects- where would the kitchen appliances be plugged in? How would she go to the bathroom? Where did she want to sleep? After many different blueprints, Furlong finally chose the one she liked most.
From the Drawing Board To the Bus
Cassie had the perfect blueprint for her tiny home. With the floor base installed, she could finally get to work on building the rooms and furniture. To make the building and design process easier, Furlong used painter's tape to mark the plan onto the bus's actual floor.
After keeping the driver's seat at the front of the bus, Cassie wanted to add two benches with a table as well. Across from that, she'd put a sofa bench that doubled as a guest bed. Past the dining and living area would be the kitchen and then the bedroom. Furlong also wanted an outdoor shower and toilet situation.
She Upgraded the Engine
Cassie was proud of her work so far. The outside of the bus looked incredible, and she had figured out a design that would turn the bus into a glamping dream. But all of that wouldn't matter much if she couldn't take her tiny home where it needed to go.
Furlong didn't want a cute little house parked in her driveway. She wanted to travel around the country in it. So before doing further work on the interior design, Cassie worked on the bus's engine. She even replaced the battery with a NAPA Legend 75.
A Road-Trip Intermission
With the battery replaced and the engine all checked out, Cassie felt confident that her bus could now handle a long drive. Although she just started working on the inside, the outdoors lover was tempted to take the bus out for a spin. So, she grabbed the keys and went off.
"Took a break from the renovation for a little road trip," Cassie shared on social media. The passionate traveler was already seeing the fruits of her labor. She drove Sassy to beautiful forests and stunning bodies of water around Minnesota. After the short hiatus, Furlong got back on the grind.
Insulating the Walls
With the insulation and base flooring installed, Cassie moved on to the walls. Winters in the Upper Midwest were certainly tough, so Furlong had to make sure the bus walls would keep her and any travel companions warm. While school buses are usually insulated, they are not intended for long-term stays.
Using measuring tape, power tools, and building wood, Cassie made a frame on the walls for insulation. She then covered the purple foam in light wood pieces. Furlong left in the original white metal ceiling. The vehicle looked less like a yellow bus and more like a future home.
Seating Space
Cassie then started the furniture, which she designed and built herself. On the left, after the door, Furlong constructed two wooden benches that would eventually have a table in the middle for eating. To maximize the space, both seating structures had discreet storage included.
Across from the dining area, Cassie built another seating space. The mini living room had a bench with storage underneath. Furlong put the pieces for a guest bed inside of the seat. She planned to make use of the multi-functional area when she traveled with friends or family. Next was the kitchen.
Building the Kitchen
With the living and dining room almost complete, Cassie built the kitchen next. After all, what good would the benches be if she had nothing to eat while she sat on them? Plus, the young carpenter also had a passion for baking treats and needed an on-the-go cooking area.
Furlong designed a counter space and cabinet area that included storage space as well as holes for appliances. Like most things so far, Cassie built the structure from scratch using power tools and wood. It wasn't long before the kitchen's skeleton was complete.
Making the Home Compact and Efficient
Once the frames were set in place, Cassie added storage space and a sink. The designer built a compact counter space that had room for three cabinet doors underneath. She stuck with the beautiful yet affordable light wood material for the kitchen cabinets.
Cassie cut a hole on the new counter to fit a small sink. The plumbing aspect would be dealt with later. Trying to cut costs wherever possible, Furlong snagged the cute appliance at no cost. It was an old bar sink and looked good as new with a little refurbishing.
"Can't Let Any Space Get Wasted"
While one side of the kitchen already had three cabinets, the other side would be mostly dedicated to the cooking appliances. Cassie needed more storage space. After all, she would need to keep not just food, but clothes and camping supplies stored in the tiny home.
As Furlong looked around the small house, she realized the wall above the kitchen sink was totally blank! The clever young woman built more storage space there. "The cutest little cabinet," Cassie excitedly shared. "Can't let any space get wasted." Minus plumbing, one side of the kitchen was basically complete.
The Appliances
Many people who camp in nature choose easy-to-prep meals that don't require a lot of materials. But Cassie wanted to up her camping game with the tiny home and designed a full kitchen. She built customized frames to hold a small oven, 2-burner stove, and a mini-fridge across from the sink.
Furlong planned to plug the small refrigerator into an electric source in the future. The oven and stove were powered by propane. Very soon, Cassie would be able to cook everything from bacon and eggs to pies and cookies. But, as she later explained, always in an eco-friendly way.
Saving Money and the Environment
Furlong was ballin' on a budget as she built her dream mobile home. Whenever she could, Cassie got things for free, like the old bar sink she painted. But building furniture independently and refurbishing old appliances was good for more than just her wallet.
"A large part of bus living and camping is the no trace left behind policy," Cassie explained. "From a young age, I learned to conserve the outdoors." Furlong's eco-consciousness motivated her to be earth-friendly as she transformed the old bus. And she was indeed transforming it into something magical.
The Amazing Progress
The old school bus already came a long way from where it started. The exterior was so beautiful that it hardly looked like a school bus. But the interior changes were arguably the most incredible part. "It's really starting to come together," Cassie said of the progress.
She wasn't the only one who thought so, as various social media users congratulated her on the progress. "Good job on all the hard work. I love it!" one commenter applauded. After all of that tough work, Cassie needed a place to rest. So, she focused on the bedroom next.
The Bedroom
Cassie's floor plan put the communal hang out spots, like the mini living and dining areas, towards the bus's front, leaving the bedroom in the back. To create a sense of privacy in the tiny home, Furlong built thin walls between the kitchen area and the bedroom.
The area left beside the bus's emergency door was the perfect size for a queen-sized bed. Always thinking practically, Cassie lofted the mattress and created plenty of storage space under it. "Even though there is still a lot of work to do, it's come a long way," Furlong said when she completed the sleeping area.
"The Coziest Spot"
Once complete, Cassie called her new bed, "the coziest spot," and it's easy to see why. Tucked into the back of the bus and surrounded by sunlight, the bedroom felt warm while still bringing the beautiful outdoors in. But all of those windows could be problematic.
The bus had an old air conditioning and heating system, but Furlong needed more than that for the cold winter months. So Cassie got a customized down quilt from Enlightened Equipment. The "ultralight" quilt guaranteed practicality and warmth. There was one aspect of the bedroom that still needed attention though.
Dealing With the Bus's Ramp
The back of the tiny home transformed into a cozy oasis, but remnants of the school bus remained. Next to Cassie's bed was an accessibility ramp. The young carpenter couldn't decide whether or not to keep it, so she asked friends and followers for their opinions.
"It's heavy. I would remove it to save gas, and free up useable space," suggested one person. Another recommended using the ramp as a headboard for her bad. Ultimately, Cassie decided to keep the structure because it "works great as a patio and outdoor table."
Creating a Power Station
Things looked great, but without any power, the tiny home was more like a tent on wheels. Cassie got the kitchen appliances hooked up to electricity and powered by solar panels, an efficient and green option. To charge her phone and other electronics, Furlong got a power station.
The innovative builder partnered with MAXOAK for a solar generator, wireless charging battery. "Thanks to MAXOAK, I can work on the go with the Power Station," Cassie shared on Instagram. She soon got back to toiling over the bus's interior, which still needed many finishing touches.
The Wooden Flooring
Most of the tiny home's interior was covered in light wood material, and Cassie wanted to bring more style and sass into the Sassy bus. The walls needed paint, and the floors needed finishing, although they came a long way from the school bus's original rubber ground.
Furlong found rustic dark wooden floorboards for her home. With the rubber floor, insulation on top, a layer of carpenter's wood, and then the beautiful floorboards, Cassie hoped her feet would stay warm in the wintertime. Plus, the wooden planks looked great with her shoes.
Always On the Move
Although the Sassy bus still needed some work before it became Cassie's ideal dream home, that didn't stop the nature-lover from using her new vehicle for outdoor adventures. The house might've needed some paint on the walls, but it already got Furlong to all kinds of destinations.
"From the sunny afternoons in Glacier to a chilly sunrise hike in Acadia," Cassie shared about her travels with Sassy. The nature buff drove her tiny home to a few national parks and even celebrated her birthday on the bus! She baked plenty of delicious goods in her tiny kitchen for the celebrations.
What's Next?
The ambitious midwesterner has already taken full advantage of her mobile home. Cassie has hosted friends and spent magical nights by the fairy lights hanging off her bus. But the work inside the house still isn't done. So, what's next for the young builder and her Sassy vehicle?
For starters, Furlong is trying to decide what color to paint the walls of her small home. Perhaps something light to keep the space open, or a warmer color to add coziness. She likely also wants to paint her kitchen cabinets and make a final decision on the flooring. We can't wait to see the progress!
Man Turns School Bus Into a Spectacular Tiny Home and Here's What It Looks Like Now
Michael Talley was unhappy with the high cost of living in Austin, Texas. So the inexperienced builder bought a school bus and turned it into a tiny home! Keep reading to see the incredible transformation.
Meet Michael
Michael Talley was tired of paying expensive rent in the city and getting little in return. The Texan resident loved living in Austin but didn't know how much longer he could take the financial strain.
Talley spent roughly $1,200 a month, including rent and bills, on his studio apartment in the city's northern region. It's no secret that living in popular cities is usually more costly than surrounding areas, and Austin was no exception. Then Michael thought of a brilliant way to save money.
A Tiny Dream
Talley was a creative young man with a background in illustration and graphic design. So when the tiny house phenomenon started in the U.S., the unique home concept caught his attention. "I always wanted to build a tiny house and I always wanted to travel," the illustrator said.
"So I spent years playing around with tiny house designs in my spare time," Michael shared. This hobby plus financial stress led to Talley's big dream; he wanted to build a tiny home. The project would allow him to realize one of his floor plans while saving money. There was just one small problem.
Could He Be a Handyman?
Michael certainly had a knack (and the brains) for graphic and interior design. The young creative had various designs for the ideal tiny home. But while he could tactfully put the ideas into a computer program, building them in the real world was a different story.
"I have never built anything," Michael said. "I've helped paint a few houses on mission trips and I helped install some plastic lattice once, but that's about it." Talley had no experience in construction but wanted to build a tiny home without breaking the bank. He brainstormed solutions.
Finally, a Solution
Michael thought of the different ways people lived minimally and on-the-go, and an RV came to mind. But the designer wanted more of a fixer-upper, and recreational vehicles were sometimes expensive. If he could just have the skeleton of his home pre-made, the process would be much easier.
Then Talley had another great idea. "Ultimately I decided upon a school bus because I thought, 'Hey, there's already four walls and a roof," Michael explained. "Throw some wood and some light bulbs in there and call it a day." With a solution in hand, now the young man needed to find a bus.
A Good Deal
Finding the yellow vehicle turned out to be easier than one might imagine. "I purchased the bus from the Austin Independent School District for a cool $2,200 off PublicSurplus.com," Michael shared. With less than double his monthly rent, he bought a whole bus!
The Austin school district had begun selling their old buses on the auction site quite recently, and Talley suspected few people knew about it. Only 10 vehicles were put up for sale, and Michael got one of them. Soon it would be time to get his hands dirty.
The Pick-Up
It seemed that Michael's project was off to a great start. He bought his future home and won an "exciting bidding war" in the process. Talley was thrilled about the new purchase and looked forward to beginning his project. He didn't wait long before picking up the bus.
"I picked up the bus... and parked it temporarily at a used car dealer's back lot for $100 a month," Michael wrote on his blog. "It was only two weeks before this that I decided I wanted to do a bus conversion instead of a tiny house or RV." Talley soon encountered his first bump in the road.
A Sleight Height Issue
It was a lovely April day when Michael received the yellow school bus. He got the keys and jumped on board, only to nearly bump his head in the process. "As soon as I stepped onto the bus for the first time I knew me being 6'6" was going to be a huge problem," Michael recalled.
He was too tall for his future home! Michael was 6'6", and the buse's ceiling was 6'1". There was no way Talley could live comfortably in a home of such low height. The renovation had to be more extensive than he planned. So the Texas resident went back to the sketches to adjust some designs.
The Designs
The creative was not short of inspiration and saw ideas in various places. One of his designs was even inspired by the vehicle in The Lost World: Jurassic Park. There were a surprising amount of options for arranging the small home. "I went through about a dozen floor plans for the bus," Michael said.
There was much to take into consideration. For example, how much space did Talley want to take up with his bed? Michael could manage with just a twin-sized bed, as he lived alone. But did the hard-worker really want to sacrifice the luxury of a big sleeping cloud? After much thought, he chose a final design.
Getting Started
Michael needed a house fit for a social guy like him. "I like to entertain so I put all the public areas towards the front and all the private areas in the back," Talley explained. "If having people over outside to grill or chill, the two most common areas they would need... would be the kitchen and the bathroom."
Talley also took into account his job, as he needed a comfortable work area. And while he planned to minimize his belongings, Michael needed creative storage solutions. Thankfully, his smart designs had it all. It was then time to get started on the bus.
Bye, Bye Seats
Once Michael decided on a floor plan, the next step was quite obvious. He needed to remove all of the old seats from the school bus to make space for his kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom. The young man got to work, but the task at hand was easier said than done.
It turned out that getting rid of the brown seats wasn't as simple as unscrewing a few bolts. After all, the bus was previously used to carrying around small children. The school district wasn't taking any safety risks! Michael needed some backup, so he called his family.
A "Grueling Process"
Michael's stepdad came to the rescue and helped him through the "grueling process" of removing the seats. The generous helper even crawled under the bus to remove every single bolt! "If I did this again I would have used an angle grinder, but... I was terrified of power tools," Talley said.
Finally, the seats were out, and the bus felt more spacious. Michael then called someone to take the seating fixtures to a scrap metal yard. With that cleaned up, he moved on to the next stage of the project. Talley's vision was slowly, but surely coming to life.
Working on the Ceiling
Michael then began to work on the bus ceiling, as he wanted to take out the old insulation and put in a new one. But just like with the seat removal, Talley's inexperience made the ceiling work complicated. "Removing these panels was the absolute worst," he said.
Talley added, "But mostly because... I had never heard of an impact drill." In retrospect, he also realized the insulation on the bus was in "remarkably good shape" and not worth removing. Michael learned as he worked, so it was only natural that he made mistakes. The designer then moved on to the next phase of the project.
The Floors
Once Michael stripped the ceiling of the panels and insulation, it was time to move on to the floors. While there wasn't anything specifically wrong with the bus's ground design, Talley didn't want to walk on a rubber floor reminiscent of his school years.
Michael also got rid of the windows on the bus. "Part of me wanted to keep them," he explained. "But I knew they would rattle, provide little privacy or insulation, and look weird with my roof raise and design." With the windows gone, the builder moved on to one of the harder parts of the design.
Fixing the Height Problem
Michael didn't always plan on adjusting the bus's height, but as soon as he climbed onto the vehicle he knew it would be necessary. The ceiling was simply too low for such a tall guy. So Talley used SketchUp to design his roof-raising rig. Now it was time for the real deal.
The ingenious designer used scaffolding to hold up the existing ceiling. "I decided to use scaffolding instead of farm jacks because of cost, safety, and precision," he explained. Michael also said he was "terrified" of this part of the project and planned for over a month!
Slicing the Bus Like a Cake
"Scaffolding ready, screw jacks in place, all that's left to do now is cut my bus in half!" wrote Talley. Yup, that's right; after prepping the vehicle for the roof-raise, the young man had to slice his precious home in two. Michael admitted this part of the process was totally "nerve-racking."
Talley used a strong saw to slice through the roof. He also cut off one of the "steel ribs" that previously divided the bus's windows. A metal fabricator used the cut off piece to create 25 steel parts that would connect to the existing pieces once the roof was taller. Now it was time to push the ceiling upwards.
The Final Lift
While cutting the bus in half was stressful, the next part was arguably just as scary. Once Michael cleared the windows, received the steel extenders from the metal manufacturer, and perfected the scaffolding, it was time to literally raise the roof.
Talley had some friends help out with the herculean task. "Each one of us turned our respective jack in unison and raised the roof perfectly level in one try," he said. While the tiny house project was well under way, it was definitely not inhabitable. Yet Michael chose not to stay in his Austin studio during this time.
Living in a Tent
The school bus slowly started looking more like a potential home, but it was far from inhabitable. The structure had no windows or even a proper floor to sleep on. But Michael couldn't afford to pay expensive rent while working on the project so, ever the adventurer, he lived outside!
"I moved into a tent in order to save money while working on the bus, commuting 40 minutes to work every day just to afford more steel and wood," Talley explained. It wasn't the ideal living situation, but Michael needed the funds for the tiny home project. Thankfully, things were quickly advancing on the old cheese bus.
Steel Walls
Once the scary roof-lifting operation was over, Michael needed to build walls over the empty spaces where the windows had been. Talley joked that the bus felt like an oven once he added the walls. The steel material mixed with the Texas sun was quite a hot blend.
Not only did things get heated, they also got a bit bloody! "Got a sweet permanent scar on my forearm from when one of these steel sheets fell and sliced my arm open," Michael shared. Despite injuries, Talley excitedly carried on with the renovations.
The Details
Michael had a few more things to do to the base of his future home before the fun stuff started. Prior to any furniture or appliances coming inside, he needed to finish the walls, floors, and windows. At the moment, the bus just felt like a steel box.
Talley had already removed the original rubber floor, and now he painted what remained with Rustoleum. Then, Michael cut into his precious bus, again. The designer made holes for windows in the bathroom and the living room. The bedroom already had some, as the windowed emergency door on the back of the bus was intact.
Making Progress
Soon, the bus no longer felt like an oven. There were well-placed windows throughout the vehicle and Michael insulated the walls and ceilings. Since the Texas heat posed less of a problem once he put in the insulation, the bus was finally somewhat livable!
Well, maybe not livable, but definitely a spot where people could hang out. Michael and his friends brought some couch cushions and a coffee table into the bus. The makeshift lounge wasn't the only thing Talley enjoyed while the bus was still under construction.
Small House, Big Benefits
Talley dreamt of a tiny home that he could travel around in, and his dream soon came to life. During the renovation, the bus-owner moved his vehicle to a farm and paid nothing to park the car there. Which meant he got the incredible view seen here, for free.
"I would regularly go sit on the roof of the bus... and watch the sunset over the Texas farmlands," Michael explained. Talley thought of all the other places where he could watch the sunset from the top of his mobile house. Meanwhile, the interior design of the tiny home was finally on its way.
Getting Ready To Entertain
With the foundations of the tiny house complete, it was time to make it a home. Michael was a social man and loved hosting friends, so he created a large entertainment center to watch shows and films with guests. The designer also made wooden frames for some of the kitchen appliances.
For kitchen cabinets and drawers, Michael turned to an affordable option: Ikea. "Ikea phased out their old kitchen line and I got a hell of a deal," he explained. The tiny home kitchen cost him a mere $30! Talley had even more money-saving tricks up his sleeve.
Recycling Furniture
Michael used affordable butcher block for much of the interior design, including for the kitchen and entertainment center frames. The man had a knack for finding good bargains and spent just over $100 for all of the wood on the bus. But to really save money, he avoided buying new furniture.
Instead of splurging on a new sofa for the living room, Talley took his couch from the studio apartment and repurposed it to fit the bus. Michael first removed the back, arms, and feet from the couch. Then he put the cushions and the box spring base into a wooden frame. The house started looking beautiful.
Gorgeous Details
For the most part, Talley chose affordable and sturdy building materials. But for some parts of his home, the young creator wanted a more aesthetically pleasing look. Michael paid extra attention to the kitchen backsplash and the floors and had some gorgeous results.
"The only cosmetic design that I knew I wanted in the bus was dark hardwood floors, butcher block, and white subway tile with black grout," Talley shared. After researching kitchen tiling in RVs, Michael completed the kitchen backsplash himself. He then got hands-on with the desk area.
The Perfect Workspace
Michael may have been able to sacrifice storage space to save rent and live in a tiny home, but he couldn't sacrifice his work area. The graphic designer needed a sturdy place to work on, so he built a 5 feet wide, 2 feed desk from reclaimed floorboards.
Talley used "cubes" to support the left side of the desk, which also doubled as shelves for his vinyl records. To save space, he bought a foldable desk chair that could be put away when not in use. The completed workspace was bigger than anything Michael owned before!
The Technical Aspects
Aside from the fun stuff, Michael needed to make space for some form of the electricity system and water. Talley installed a 40-gallon water tank in a cabinet by the couch, along with a water pump, tankless water heater, and a grey water tank. For the electricity needed to power the television and workspace, he used solar energy.
Michael made space under the bed for batteries and installed the solar panels on the roof. "This was the most frustrating day of the build," he said of the installation. "I was doing it myself, it was very windy, and things kept falling off of the roof." That wasn't the only hurdle Talley encountered.
Engine & Personal Troubles
During the renovation, the school bus got stuck in the mud. When Michael attempted to move it, the wet dirt damaged the power steering. But difficulties in his personal life were possibly harder to handle than engine troubles, flying solar panels, and injuries from steel walls.
"While I was building the bus I was cheated on, my dog died, I lost my job, my grandfather died, and Central Texas saw it's wettest year in ages," Michael shared. The man faced two floods and plenty of hail storms. Add to that the fact that he never built anything before, and it's hard to imagine how Talley stayed motivated!
What Motivated Him
Despite the difficulties, Talley knew the whole experience would be worthwhile. He would save big bucks on monthly rent and utilities, and be a tiny homeowner! Money aside, Michael's compact house was better than his old apartment in various (and surprising) ways.
"All in all this will be a bigger kitchen than the apartment I currently lived in, the largest entertainment center I have ever owned, the largest desk I've ever had, and the same couch I'd had the past couple of years," Talley shared. But along with the many benefits came a few cons.
The Downside
For Michael, one of the appealing aspects of a tiny home was the mobility. He envisioned himself driving around the country with his mobile house, but the bus turned out to be a horrible travel buddy. Living in the bus was inexpensive, but traveling with it was costly.
"The school bus is also a terrible vehicle to travel around the country in," Michael explained. "It's bulky, expensive to operate, and expensive to service." But he accepted the cons, as nothing could replace building a home with his own hands. Talley was certain of one thing.
He Wouldn't Change a Thing
Michael's dream was finally a reality. The school bus was livable, equipped with comfortable and beautiful furniture, electricity, and water. When Talley first decided to buy a bus, he thought turning it into a tiny home would be a simple task.
That proved to be far from the truth, and the formally inexperienced builder took some big, and painful, hits. But at the end of the day, Michael didn't regret one thing. "I wouldn't change anything about it [the bus]," he said. In fact, the experience inspired him to continue building tiny homes!
Couple Renovates a Crumbling 16th-Century French Chateau and Here's What It Looks Like Today
Engaged couple Erin and Jean- Baptiste bought a 16th-century fairytale fixer-upper in the French countryside, for a steal. But while it may have looked gorgeous on the outside, the inside was far from pretty...
Love At First Sight
In the late 2000s, English-born Erin Choa decided to relocate from London to Scotland, to study in Edinburgh. Across the English Channel, Frenchman Jean-Baptiste had made a similar decision. Both young adults moved to the Scottish capital city for their respective studies.
Little did they know, their lives were about to change. Erin met the young engineer soon after arriving, and it didn't take long before they fell for each other. Jean-Baptiste had only planned to stay in Scotland for a year, but those plans soon changed after meeting his soul mate.
A Fork in the Road
Jean-Baptiste’s one-year stay in Scotland had somehow turned into nine years, and he found work as a mechanical engineer while Erin worked as an anesthetist. Despite living in happiness and comfort together in Scotland, Jean Baptiste still yearned to return to his home country of France.
The couple was faced with a difficult decision. To keep living the life they had shared for almost a decade, or take the plunge and move to France together? Thankfully, Erin had a great passion for her husband's country. "I am a huge Francophile" she would say in a later interview. "I love the culture and the language."
Back To The Old Country
So the couple began weighing up their options in a bid to make the final decision. Jean-Baptiste could be easily re-employed, but sadly Erin could not continue her work as a doctor, as at that point she wasn’t skilled enough in French. The young couple would have to find a new plan of action.
And they soon found it, in an unexpected source no less! Erin and Jean quickly realized that they could afford a much better lifestyle for themselves in France, and had considered purchasing a property they could renovate together. It became clear that this might be the perfect new opportunity for them.
A Slice of History
The couple both shared a unique interest and appreciation for historic buildings, and soon began looking into purchasing a heritage home that they could invest in, likely one that would need a bit of extra work. They figured that they could let out part of their property to holiday-goers as a way of making extra income.
Erin still feared that her French wouldn’t improve enough to land a job. As it turned out, she needn’t have worried. They perused the property market, looking at manoirs (manor houses) in the countryside. They soon realized that with the right property, they could turn their new house into full-time employment for both of them!
The Big Move
So the young lovers, along with their beloved cat Oscar, packed their suitcases. They made the move to start a new life together in France. But soon came the difficult part - finding the perfect property... So, they began traveling around the French countryside.
They visited many properties in person, as well as browsed through countless listings over the internet. Unsurprisingly, France's countryside is filled with gorgeous old buildings, but many require very expensive renovations. It became apparent that they had a lot to choose from, but only a few would meet their needs.
Worth The Risk
Erin and Jean-Baptiste knew that they had to be careful to make sure that their future property would be worth the investment they put into it. This meant an estate with a low enough price that was affordable, but also not so rundown that the renovation and maintenance expenses would become too much.
Not only that, but the property had to be a source of active income for them. They wanted a home they could also run as a business. This meant having enough extra rooms for holidaymakers, but also something that could be used as a venue for other business ventures. This would prove hard to find.
Big Dreams
Their vision of a property that could provide them with full-time employment began to evolve. Being a simple holiday let wasn’t ambitious enough for the young couple. They wanted something more - an estate that could also act as an events venue for the local community, as well as, hold private events for international visitors.
Soon enough they had whittled down their list to ten properties. Sadly none of them really fit what Erin and JB had pictured, but they were the only reasonable choices. “We were feeling a bit disheartened” Erin shared. That is until her father sent them a link to a property they hadn’t seen before.
Just In Time
They were unsure, but the property he sent them was only a 45-minute drive from where they were staying. They figured it was worth a look, and that maybe luck would strike. And strike it did! The property was absolutely breath-taking, and they described their first visit as a coup de foudre - love at first sight.
The stunning estate was nestled in Vendee, Pays de Loire, a region in western France. On the edge of a forest near the small village of Bourneau, the building looked like something out of a fairytale. The couple knew that they had found their new home within the grounds of the Château de Bourneau.
A Palace In The Making
Erin and Jean-Baptiste were fascinated by the turrets and stone structure of the building, and its “Renaissance edifice” that they soon discovered was unique to the region. The home came with an incredible amount of space too. 50 Rooms, with 30 being bedrooms, and 4 sizable cottages used as stables and outbuildings.
The enormous building sat on equally impressive grounds, with a wide moat encasing the property and over 16 hectares of park and woodlands. Each cottage also came with it’s own private garden and swimming pool, which would be ideal as holiday lets for wayward travelers in the region.
Rebuilding the Past
Though there had been a chateau on the property since the 16th century, the majority of the structure was actually built in 1863, after the original structure had fallen into extensive disrepair. The owner at the time had commissioned an architect named Arsene Charrier to design a palace suitable for a well-to-do man of that era.
Charrier decided on a Renaissance-style building modeled after the Chateaux of the Loire, a distinct group of historic palaces that was built for royalty and aristocrats in the Loire valley. The love birds were grateful to their predecessor, as this meant they had both a historic home and “The advantages of Victorian plumbing.”
More Than They Bargained For
Seeing a property as stunning as this, begged the question - why had no one else jumped at the opportunity to buy it? Well, that would soon become obvious upon entering the building. Almost the entirety of the main building was in shocking despair, from chipped paint to broken furniture, to water damage from the leaking moat.
There were rumors that the house had not been lived in since the early-90s, so the new owners would have to make up for almost thirty years of neglect. It looked like an intimidating project, even for the most experienced renovators. However, Erin and Jean-Baptiste had their hearts set on Château de Bourneau.
In It to Win It
The couple soon acknowledged that they had been carried away by the romance of their purchase. After all, they’d bought a 30-bedroom chateau in the French countryside for the same price as a small apartment in central London. It was easy to forget how much work they had ahead of them.
They would have to expand their budget, to include the renovation taxes, insurance, and other unforeseen expenses that would soon add up. They didn’t regret their decision but knew they would have to start putting in the work, as well as find a way to make money from the chateau as soon as possible.
Putting in The Work
After spending 680,000€ (roughly $800,000) on the property. They knew they had to go all-in, plunging their entire budget into the project, and taking out a loan to supplement the costs of renovation. It was going to be a long process, but they were willing to put it all on the line.
They made some changes, but it was certainly overwhelming. Where do you start in a place that needs so much work? First, by adjusting to your surroundings. The couple took to living by very simple means within the chateau walls. And secondly, they began learning more about their new home.
Discovering Old Secrets
As it turned out, Chateau de Borneau was much more than a pretty face. It also had a long and fascinating history. The original building and moat were built and fortified on the land in 1564, with the express permission of King Louis XI, and remained there up until the 19th century, before it was deemed unlivable and torn down.
There is still one turret that remains from the original building, on the edge of the moat located at the back of the chateau. The moat itself was dug out when the first chateau was built and remained unchanged since the middle ages. Despite the work that needed to be done, Erin and Jean-Baptiste had chosen something special.
Rotting Away
The couple settled into a small apartment nestled in the center of the building, ready to set out their plans. Thankfully, parts of the property could still work as functional living quarters. It was a great relief to them, as the modern conveniences of running water and indoor heating and plumbing would make their work much easier.
One of the biggest issues they identified was the extensive water damage throughout the building. Sadly, the ancient moat was leaking, and water had seeped into the cellars of the chateau. For all intents and purposes, the grand building had been rotting away in the countryside for decades.
Making Improvements
Erin and Jean-Baptiste didn’t take their obligations to the new home lightly. They jumped at the challenge, and spent about 14 hours a day, chipping away at the building's many problems. At 10,700 square feet in total, it was an intensive experience just to take a look at every inch of the property.
The couple knew that buying the property was going to be a huge investment, not just of their money but their time, energy, and sometimes even sanity. They needed to uncover every inch of the house, but they were slowly making improvements.
A New Look
Aside from the obvious water damage, they also had to deal with the peeling paint and half-done jobs throughout the building. From room to room there was work that needed to be done, and this required painstakingly chipping away at every wall in order to remove the layers of paintwork.
Even the front doors leading into the entrance of the chateau needed to be repainted. Keep in mind, they were going to have to chip away the paint (taking care not to damage the walls), sand the walls, apply a primer, and then repaint. This all had to happen on walls that towered over them at 14-feet!
Building Bridges
They had put a lot of work into the moat, as it was one of the most unique and grandiose features of the property, as well as one of the last remaining features of the original 16th-century structure. They had fixed the leaks, cleared out the old cellars, and wanted to fully return the moat to its former glory.
They had been given an old sepia photograph of the moat as it had stood in 1908. They knew that restoring the old bridge over the moat was the key. The bridge was fully fixed up and repainted so that it would truly fit the fairy tale image of the chateau grounds.
Moving On Up
Erin and Jean-Baptiste continued working through the building, making progress where they could. Along with the moat, cellars, and paintwork, they had replaced many of the rotting window frames throughout the building, as well as some of the major leaks coming through the roof.
While much of their home needed renovation, they also had to continue ongoing maintenance that would be needed for the rest of their lives. This included managing the woods and grounds, routinely checking drainage and plumbing, and simply keeping the immense property clean.
Finders Keepers
Fixing up the Chateau de Borneau was exhausting labor of love, that would have taken more work than the average home renovation. But it wasn’t all blood, sweat, and tears. While examining the nooks and crannies of their new home, they unearthed a few treasures from the past.
Such a huge and historic site would naturally have remnants of its old owners, just waiting to be found by Erin and Jean-Baptiste. Soon enough they came across rusted keys to the chateau library, as well as very old books. There were even metal fittings hidden in the walls of the main kitchen!
Second-Hand Furniture
Not only that, but they were also lucky enough to find old furniture that had been abandoned by previous owners. As renovations progressed, the more they uncovered. In one of the old turrets in the attic space, they found a seemingly untouched antique dresser in fantastic condition.
They even found an old travel chest in one of the bedrooms. It seemed that the longer they worked on the chateau, the more it was slowly giving back to them. Soon they began thinking about how they might use these treasures as statement pieces, and how they might decorate in general.
Extreme Makeover
It wasn’t a stretch to start thinking about interior design, and how they wanted the final product to look. The longer they worked the more areas of the building became liveable. But if they wanted to start renting the place to outsiders, they would need to dress it up a bit.
This would mean buying all new furniture for the renovated areas of the chateau. Erica and Jean-Baptiste went on a whirlwind shopping spree, hunting down the perfect furniture for their gorgeous abode. It was another big job, but a little more fun than patching leaks and chipping paint away.
Shopping Spree
They wanted well-made furniture that was tasteful and understated, while still matching the 19th-century style and architecture of the place. Their first find was an immaculate set of antique chairs, directly from the time period. Things were finally starting to come together.
They found giant period-style urns for the courtyards, as well as ornate mirrors and candelabras for the bedrooms and dining rooms. Bigger furniture like beds and tables were ordered, and the space was really starting to take shape. Soon, the ambitious pair would be ready to open to the public.
Open For Business
Erin and Jean-Baptiste finally reached their goal of opening up their home as a source of revenue. There was just one unusual problem - the house was still being renovated! As far as they had come, the work was not finished. The couple had estimated years before the massive property would be in full working order.
Despite this, they still opened up the sections of the house that had been fully redecorated, and visitors began to stream in. Some were locals, who wanted to experience the town's great ‘palace’ for the first time, while others were travelers who had heard about the chateau.
Holiday Season
Despite the pleasant distraction of new guests, they still had a lot of work to do. Not to mention the cost of both running and renovating the property was seriously mounting up. How were they going to afford all the work they still needed to do?
The answer was fairly straight-forward. If they could juggle both letting out rooms to holidaymakers, all while working on the building, then their hard work would pay for itself. The plan was simply to funnel the revenue from holiday letting right back into the renovations.
Past Lives
Visitors to the newly opened chateau were eager to learn about the history of the stunning new homestay, as well as basking in the beauty of the French countryside. Erin and Jean-Baptiste would spend plenty of time sharing the history, enlightening guests with the many stories of the Château de Bourneau.
While it was lived in for 200 years initially, it was abandoned by its original owners during the French revolution. Left to sit for more than 80 years, the abandoned beauty was eventually rebuilt by a local family. It would stay with them until the 1950s, before undergoing multiple conversions.
Living in History
In the 1950s France was at war in Algeria, and the chateau was soon turned into a refuge for Algerian men and women desperately fleeing the conflict after siding with French forces. By the next decade, it had become another home for refugees, housing those who had fled to France due to war in Vietnam and surrounding countries.
The house had seen so much turmoil during this period, and there are still some remnants of that. The four cottages separate from the house had last been lived in by those South-East Asian refugees, and now house up to 42 guests of the chateau. Talk about living through history!
Keep it Green
Not only did Jean and Erin become masters at making something from nothing, but they also chose to be environmentally conscious. "You all know how much I love recycling," she wrote in an Instagram post. "And repurposing my vintage finds from the château and charity shops."
If there was an item that wasn't totally appropriate for their style, they didn't just throw it away. First, Jean and Erin would work on that piece until it was perfect. If they still couldn't get it right, they would donate the item to charity or a friend, after revamping it completely.
Gaining a Following
The pandemic forced the couple to stay inside, which gave them more time to work on their masterpiece. While they can't let out the property as much as they used to, Jean and Erin are always eager to find something in their palace that could use a little TLC.
It's been about 2 years since they started this project, and their progress is truly remarkable. The couple even gained quite a following on social media, as their fans loved watching the chateau slowly become the beauty it was always destined to become.
French Interior
Keeping to the theme of the French Chateau, Jean and Erin made it their mission to find the perfect furniture. They gave each and every room a special touch, and needless to say, they certainly succeeded. With the help of some beautiful art, their palace continued to take shape.
In an Instagram post, the couple revealed that they had discovered all the best well-kept secret spots for any "History or French interiors." They were pleased with the final result of the above bedroom. "Just look at these sumptuous bedrooms," Erin gushed.
The Heart of the House
Of course, the couple had to place great emphasis on the kitchen, considering they had plenty of mouths to feed when the Bed & Breakfast was busy. Moreover, they didn't just use their kitchen for cooking, but also for entertaining family and friends.
"Our kitchen is the heart of our home," the couple wrote on a post. "We love to cook for family and friends and showcase the local French Vendéen produce, whether it's for a formal dinner party or a friendly lunch à la bonne franquette. We also enjoy the buzz in the kitchen when it's the hub of activity."
Keeping Warm
While many were impressed with Jean and Erin's work, they were also concerned about how the couple kept warm in the big castle. After all, with such high ceilings and endless space, would it ever be possible for them to truly feel warm and cozy at home?
Erin explained, "To me, the definition of "cozy" is to be "at home" and the Chateau De Bourneau IS my home. It may be a big house with 4m high ceilings (and sometimes a little chilly in winter) but beside a roaring fire in the château kitchen," she felt that the palace was the coziest place in the world.
La chambre de Madame
Erin and Jean loved every inch of their beautiful chateau, but there were certain areas that slowly became their favorites. For example, the bedroom below held an extra special place in their hearts. They called it the La chambre de Madame, and it offers a truly unique experience.
They gave the room the name La chambre De Madame because "There is a turret bedroom with the first châtelaine’s initials etched onto the façade," Erin wrote. She also said that "With its dual aspect windows, the only sound is birdsong." The couple took pride in providing a relaxing space.
A Little Escape
Jean and Erin loved the process of making their palace perfect, but they also enjoyed the fact that they could provide a unique experience to all their visitors. The Chateau felt like the perfect place for, as Erin put it, daydreaming and escaping...
They created many different corners inside the palace that had everything one would need to sit back, relax, and enjoy the silence. All their visitors had to do was arrive, and the interior, along with the beautiful views, did all the rest. We have to admit, it looks like the perfect getaway.
A Never-Ending Story
As of today, Erin and Jean-Baptiste are still working away at their dream home. They have come far since purchasing the property, from revamping to renting out holiday cottages, to holding weddings and private events. They even provided the location for several film productions!
The renovations are still ongoing, but the hard-working lovebirds admitted that fully restoring the estate is a lifelong project for them. They have more than settled in as chateau owners, picking up all kinds of skills along the way. Well, what do you say, are you thinking of paying a visit?
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