How one family of five lives in a renovated Genesis school bus

Adam and Joanie are parents of three who adapted a nomadic lifestyle, moving into a renovated 240-square-foot school bus. The family left their homestead life in an A-frame lakeside house in Minnesota to hit the open road in a Genesis Adventure Bus for a debt-free way of living.

The couple has their hands full, homeschooling their children full time and running multiple businesses, including Joanie’s holistic hair and skincare business. After completely gutting the 40-foot bus, installing wood-plank ceilings and washed oak floors, and painting it a bright turquoise, the family created a home and business that – although much less spacious – accommodates the whole family.

Joanie was skeptical about downsizing her 1,450-square-foot salon and spa into less than seven feet, but the result packs all the necessities into a small corner of the home. A stand for product is tucked behind the shampoo bowl and styling chair, so Joanie can work with clients wherever the wind blows them.

The kitchen offers all of the necessities, with a full stove and oven plus a mini wood stove for heat and warming up food. White countertops are accented with turquoise-blue cabinets and drawers, finished with black antique-style hardware.

In the kitchen's dining area, a small rectangular table folds down, secured by an overhead chain, offering enough space for the kids to eat off graphic retro lunch trays.

Adam and Jonie have a small bedroom in the back of the bus, decorated with a tufted footboard and textural throw pillows. Cabinetry overhead decorated with antique hinges offers storage for personal items. One throw pillow reads “and so together, they built a life they loved,” summing up the family’s Skoolie lifestyle.

The living space offers ample room to sit in banquet-style sofas, surrounded by shelves for drinks, books and toys. A shaggy throw rug provides a soft respite for bare feet.

In the combined bathroom and children’s area, two bunks with pull-down curtains offer private sanctuaries for the kids. The large tub plays double duty, accommodating the third bed by adding a mattress on top. The backside of the entry door features bookshelves that take advantage of every square inch of space.