Oregon couple Karin and Joseph Beal turned a vintage 1959 bus into something beautiful, sustainable and livable. After they met in 2013 and realized they had many of the same life goals and aspirations, the pair resolved to reduce their ecological footprint. They converted this bus into a cozy, charming home using recycled and planet-friendly materials. Their website Alska offers a glimpse into a small home that provides everything necessary for a simple, lovely life.
The Beals gutted the bus completely to build their home from the ground up. "The bus has been restored from top to bottom and is in 100 percent working order," Joseph said. They added touches to make life easier, including built-in shelves and a custom interior paint design. The madly-in-love couple named their home Primrose, and it's easy to see why the bus has become a refuge for them and their four children.
Advertisement
As you enter the bus, you'll immediately notice the warm, inviting decor.
The living room showcases an overstuffed sofa and colorful paisley curtains. Custom shelves offer spots for decorations, and a hanging lamp gives off a soft glow. As you peer down the hallway, you'll notice custom-built bunk beds for the couple's children. Across from the beds is a built-in storage space with a closet and drawers for clothes.
The master bedroom is beautifully decorated and hidden behind a privacy curtain, creating a sleeping nook for the couple. The area features an antique queen-sized bed — a family heirloom.
Muted colors and homey curtains create a soothing, peaceful atmosphere in the bedroom.
Though the home has no running water, the Beals devised a system that allows water to flow from an inside container to the outside of the bus for disposal.
This makes water easy to use. The kitchen includes a sink, countertops constructed from upcycled wood flooring, and plenty of storage with built-in wooden shelves and cabinets.
Firewood storage underneath the kitchen cabinets is used for the vintage wood stove, which keeps the bus warm and toasty during winter. Overhead hangers provide space for pots and pans, and a spice rack keeps spices within reach.
Advertisement
The family resides full time aboard the bus and enjoys the scaled-back lifestyle it allows.
