‘Home is where the heart is’

Who isn’t fascinated with Studio Ghibli’s “Howl’s Moving Castle”? Howl’s residence may not be your typical shiny, lavish palace but the fact that it has legs and can conveniently roam from one place to another is enough to make one want to move in with Howl and Sophie.

In this case, the famous proverb, “home is where the heart is,” somehow holds true. It doesn’t matter if you’re living in an extremely posh condo, a vast farmland or a converted camper. You’d be surprised at how some unique, atypical houses seem to be even cozier and more homey than regular, familiar structures.

The DIY camper

The idea of living in a van has always appealed to Mike Hudson. What he isn’t fond of, though, is the look and feel of most motorhomes. This led Mike to come up with his own camper van design, opting for common materials one can find in DIY and home building stores.

The 5.54-meter long and 2.79-meter tall 10-year-old van may look unassuming on the outside but it packs a punch. It features a fridge, a pressurized water system, a 200-watt solar charging system, a shower and toilet, a bed that can fit two people, a cozy hammock, a desk where one can work from home, a gas stove and kitchen sink, and plenty of storage.

This DIY Camper features a bed that can fit two people, a cozy hammock, a gas stove and kitchen sink, and plenty of storage.—MIKE HUDSON

For those toying with the idea of building their own mobile home, Mike created an entire ebook guide, “From Van to Home,” Vandogtraveller.com/van-conversion-book-from-van-to-home.

Learn more about Mike, his travels and his DIY camper at VandogTraveller.com

The Jah Bus

What used to be a school bus is now home sweet home for New Zealanders Goose and Ellen and their two cats. Nicknamed “The Jah Bus,” the 12-meter long 1986 Hino PMC has been converted into an off-grid mobile home by the couple themselves. It has a fully functioning kitchen complete with an apartment-sized fridge, gas oven and stove, pull-out pantry and kitchen sink.

Towards the back of the Jah Bus is a lounge area with a couch that pulls out into a double bed for guests. Right beside this is the couple’s queen-sized bed that has been raised to make way for a big storage space. Behind the sleeping area is the bathroom with a spacious shower area, a sink and a composting toilet. Power is supplied by four 200-watt solar panels sitting on the Jah Bus’ roof.

What used to be a school bus is now home sweet home for New Zealanders Goose and Ellen and their two cats.

The Jah Bus has a lounge area with a couch that pulls out into a double bed for guests.—INSTAGRAM.COM/GOOSEANDELLEN

The Jah Bus has a bathroom with a spacious shower area, a sink and a composting toilet. —INSTAGRAM.COM/GOOSEANDELLEN

See how Goose and Ellen transformed their home on YouTube and Instagram, Instagram.com/gooseandellen.

The Love Boat

Joel and Rosie have been living on a boat in Central London for two years before deciding to turn it into a more comfy and warm space. Featured on Netflix’s Amazing Interiors, the couple—with the help of family and friends—transformed the old oil vessel into their very own dream house.

The love boat is built with bespoke furniture so that everything fits perfectly and no space is wasted. The flooring is composed of reclaimed wood from an old school gymnasium. The roof features a skybox which gives the house sufficient natural light during the day. The shower has a skylight, too.

The love boat is built with bespoke furniture so that everything fits perfectly and no space is wasted. —INSTAGRAM.COM/LOVEBOATLONDON

Inside the love boat

The full sized kitchen has concrete countertops which Rosie made, with help from Joel’s dad who’s a woodworker and carpenter. Joel and Rosie opened up the living area and installed custom-made pull-out benches that double as storage. The bed has hidden storage underneath as well.

Check out the love boat on Instagram.com/loveboatlondon

The bus for five

If you think it’s impossible for a family of five to live harmoniously in a 22 sqm space, think again. Another traveling home is Brandon and Ashley Trebitowski’s DIY skoolie, a ’99 Blue Bird school bus.

The 22 sqm bus-turned-home has two couches, bunk beds for the couple’s three kids, a separate shower and a composting toilet, a fully functioning kitchen, a small wood stove for a fireplace and storage in every possible space. The couple installed what they call “privacy doors” on the children’s bunk beds so that everyone gets to feel like they each have their own room. The house gets its power supply from solar panels on the roof and a battery bank.

Read more about the Trebitowskis on Trebventure.com