How One Couple Built Their Dream Home With Just $10,000

When discussing their dream home, they never thought it would be possible with just $10,000 in the bank, but then, they came up with a fantastic idea and decided to make their dream home come true.

A new way of life

With house prices continuously soaring and salaries barely matching up, there are now a lot of people looking at alternative ways of living. And at a fraction of the cost! If you have the right thought process and are creative, you can create something for yourself that serves you just right. And that’s exactly what Selima Taibi and Felix Starck did.

Same boring routine

Selima Taibi and Felix Starck were a young couple living their lives in Berlin, Germany. There was nothing out of the ordinary about them, their life was seemingly like most other peoples, going to work five days a week, keeping busy or relaxing on weekends but for them it wasn’t enough, and they were become tired of their routine.

Their traveling dream

The couple had a desperate urge to travel and see the world, and with no other responsibilities other than themselves, they thought ‘Why not’? There was no time quite like the present. Their dream was to travel across America, into the wild where they could see beautiful views and drive down dusty roads. So, their decision was made, but how could they do it?

Leap of faith

They looked into their savings and wondered if they would achieve their dream with little finances but that didn’t stop them. They took a big leap of faith, and after scouring the internet, they found and bought a 1996 Thomas International school bus, that was over in Florida. The bus cost them $9,500. Now all they needed to do was get to it.

Renovation project

It was difficult for the couple to truly know exactly what it was they were buying since the bus was in Florida and they were in Berlin. But they trusted their instincts, they were going to fly to America, renovate the bus into their perfect home, and travel around the country on the bus. They were excited but also a little nervous and hoped it would be in good condition.

First the floor

Once they arrived in the United States they headed to their new home, an old school bus. When they arrived, they were ecstatic, but it wasn’t long until they faced their first bout of problems. The first thing they had to tackle was the floor, and upon taking up the existing floor, they discovered some huge holes.

Problems begin

The couple were expecting some problems and said “that’s the problem or the risk when you buy a bus located in Florida while in Germany. I’m pretty sure we can fix it today though.” As well as the hole in the floor they discovered there was plenty of rust of the bus that needed fixing before they could move forward. Would they be able to fix it?

Time to make a plan

The pair came up with a plan “We found more rust yesterday – We’re gonna fix the holes by screwing in some metal sheets but before we have to get rid of the rust.” That was the first couple of problems tackled, but it definitely wasn’t going to be a smooth ride for either of them and their project. They had given themselves a goal, would they manage to fix up the bus in time and reach it, or would more problems arise?

Little experience

As the couple took on such a big task, some might think that they came with a handful of experience, but they didn’t. In fact, between them, they had no construction skills at all. Luckily for them, they managed to make contact with another couple who had the same dream of building a home on a bus.

Help from others

The couple were from North Carolina and gave Selima and Felix all the help and advice they could. It was a big help to them and it definitely helped settle their worries. The pair were really getting into it and making big steps with their project every day and even surprising themselves with how quickly they picked things up, “Mogli (Selima’s nickname) just built us a bed… no big deal I guess!”

Keeping the spirits high

The couple continued to tackle the endeavor and despite some of the harder times they faced, their spirits were kept high and alive with the help of their gorgeous and loyal dog, Rudi. He for sure helped them a whole lot, at times when they were feeling a little down due to the lengthy project, Rudi was there, wagging his tail and keeping them smiling.

Piece by piece

They eventually reached a point in the project where they could finally see their vision coming together, and Selima and Felix’s bus finally started to look like a place they could call home. The kitchen was looking great, with most of the cabinets fixed and fitted in place. They were finally confident in their decision and they were excited to continue.

The bathroom

The next part of their new home they would start working on was the bathroom. They decided they wanted to make two rooms. The smallest room, which really was very tiny, was going to be their toilet room. And the second, would be a shower room. Selima was very crafty and she tiled the shower room with some stunning handmade tiles.

Getting rid of the yellow

The next thing they wanted to deal with was the exterior of the bus. Although they loved that they were building a home on a 1996 school bus, they certainly did not want it to stick out and remain the traditional school bus yellow. The decided to paint the bus white, and after a day of painting, it turned out slightly different to what the planned. “Gray! It turned out gray! Black parts will be cream.”

Multi-functional space

The bus was more than taking shape now, no longer did it look like a bus, but it was blossoming into a chic apartment. The pair took advice on about optimizing the space so that it can reach its full potential and wanted to create some multi-functional areas. The turned the kitchen area into a shared office. The kitchen was equipped with a sink, stove and fridge. The office had two screens and keyboards.

Their peace and quiet

Selima and Felix designed their bedroom to be at the back of the bus and they raised it onto a higher platform compared to the rest of the bus. It was a great way for them to separate the space against the rest of the living area. It so happened that the emergency roof hatch was over the bed which meant they had some natural light as well as a sky roof. They built shelves down one side for some storage.

Let there be power

Of course, if they were going to live on the bus, it would need a power source. They fitted solar panels on the roof of their new home which generated electricity and they also had the option to plug into a grid. They used the rear door of the bus to access the power station and so cleverly kept most of their electrical appliances in that area.

Hidden storage

Of course, living in a small space means you have to do what you can to utilize the space and create plenty of storage options, especially if you are going to be living there. They created storage spaces everywhere they could, and most things lifted up or opened to show hidden storage space. They also kept Rudi in mind and made sure he had enough to be comfortable in his new home.

Finally there

After all of their hard work, the good and bad days, Selima and Felix finally reached their goal and completed the finishing touches on their school bus turned cool new home. They decorated and designed it with a chic, hipster and Scandinavian feel, with lots of different wood and warm tones used throughout.

Time to enjoy

The couple were more than happy, and their new home was above and beyond anything they had previously dreamt about. They had done it, exactly as they wanted to and were so proud of their new hand-made haven. It had taken them three long and arduous months, working every day, around the clock, and finally they were here and could happily sip a cup of tea on their new roof – how amazing.

First leg of the trip

Now it was time for them to get going on their next journey. It was time to put their new home on the road and enjoy everything they had accomplished over the last 12 weeks. But where would they start? Wanting to travel from North America and travel all the way down to South America, they started their trip in Canada.

Just what they wanted

Their bus looked fantastic and fitted in perfectly against the beautiful back drop of Canada. The first stop saw them at the Banff National Park, and it was something they had been longing for. From the beginning, the thing they wanted to most from their trip was to be surround and consumed by nature and this was the ideal place to find it.

The travelling dog

Selima and Felix were having the time of their lives and realized more every day that it was all worth it and not only that, but their beloved dog Rudi was having the time of his life – obviously. He was absolutely living ‘a dog’s life’. Even though he couldn’t enjoy the views like they could, he was well aware of his new freedom and was happier than ever.

One adventure after the next

The couple then decided to head even further north and hit Alaska, where they visited the Denali National Park. They were both living a dream and continued to Death Valley, every day their excitement grew for what they had created and where it was taking them. “Death Valley was one of the most impressive places on this trip (so far) – Rudi [is] kinda getting used to the heat here in Arizona. MEXICO here we come…”

Time for the beach

Heading for their third country in a short space of time, the couple arrived in Mexico where they enjoyed blissful beaches and the warmth from the sun. While they were there, Selima, who was a budding musician got some really great offers and so they stuck around for a while. The three of them were sure on an adventure of a lifetime, and one they created all by themselves. It just shows, that you too can go and create your own adventure.

The post How One Couple Built Their Dream Home With Just $10,000 appeared first on Vandar.info.