Cassie Furlong's Tiny Home

One Aspiring Woman Is Transforming an Old School Bus Into a Tiny Home

Stories

| LAST UPDATE 10/20/2021

By Manny Ray

For as long as she could remember, Cassie Furlong has dreamt of exploring the great outdoors. Sure enough, with the help of her carpentry skills and a tiny bus, she’s gone on to live out those very dreams. Here’s her story.

Meet Cassie

Growing up, young Cassie was raised in the Midwest, but her time in Minnesota didn’t last long. Her family was always on the move, chasing the latest adventure life threw their way.

Cassie Furlong TravelingCassie Furlong Traveling
Facebook via Cassie Furlong

In fact, as she put it, “I spent my childhood in the backseat of my family car road tripping around.” Some of Cassie’s favorite memories were the 7-hour trips she’d spend driving “from the cities to the northern border.”

She Was Taught Carpentry Skills

However, road-tripping wasn’t the only impressive reality that Cassie’s younger self was once met with. Growing up, the young girl’s father was a carpenter, which meant it wasn’t long before the watchful child picked up her father’s handy skills.

Cassie Furlong in the entrance of her tiny homeCassie Furlong in the entrance of her tiny home
Instagram via @sassybus

As Cassie explained, “From a young age, I developed the skills to make useful items with my hands,” she proudly revealed. In fact, by age 12, she’d officially master the art of woodworking a craft that “takes trial and error.” Soon enough, the impressive talent would guide her to fulfilling her dreams.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

She Dreamed Big of a Tiny Home

As the story goes, there was very little Cassie loved more than the great outdoors. Perhaps that’s why her lifelong dream called for exploring every inch of it, stumbling across remarkable destinations along the way. But she questioned how she would make that dream a reality.

Cassie Furlong's Sassy BusCassie Furlong's Sassy Bus
Instagram via @sassybus

Sure enough, in only a matter of time, Furlong came up with a brilliant idea. "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."

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Transforming a 2007 GMC Mini School Bus

But while the idea might sound remarkable on paper, Furlong wasn’t the first to come up with it. For endless years now, folks have been converting the yellow vehicle into the perfect home, and with good reason. With four walls, four wheels, and its very own roof, a school bus might just be more appealing than an RV.

Cassie Furlong's Sassy Bus before the transformationCassie Furlong's Sassy Bus before the transformation
Instagram via @sassybus

So, of course, when the eager young girl came across a local 2007 GMC mini school bus for sale, she knew she had to act fast. "Of course, I had to buy it!" Cassie gushed to Instagram. But what, exactly, did she plan on doing with her vintage find?

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

What Would She Name Her New Home

For starters, the passionate buyer wanted a name for her future home. But what would she name the yellow bus? Of course, she turned to Instagram for some inspiration, though it would ultimately be deemed useless. From ‘Petunia’ to ‘Thomas,’ Cassie’d eventually settle on something entirely different.

Old School BusOld School Bus
Instagram via @sassybus

"The bus was a challenge I took on to fulfill my childhood nostalgia," Furlong explained of the decision to name her latest project, 'Sassybus.' "It only felt fitting to name my tiny home on wheels after what I was referred to as a child, Sassy." But Sassy had a long road ahead of her…

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

The Home’s Exterior

You see, first impressions are everything, as Cassie herself will tell you. Perhaps that’s why the new home-owner was adamant about perfecting her bus’s exterior, making it as beautiful as its interior would soon be. The first stop on the list? A fresh paint job, of course. As for finding the perfect color?

Cassie Furlong paints her old school bus greenCassie Furlong paints her old school bus green

The blogger would soon find herself, "Inspired by spring to find the perfect exterior paint color:" A warm shade of green. "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!"

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

What Would Stay, and What Would Go

What was next on the list? The big, chunky mirrors, staring Cassie down at the front of the bus - an unnecessary feature that she felt she'd be better off without. But what about the vehicle's STOP sign? "Should it stay, or should it go?" the conflicted designer asked her followers.

Stop Sign on Cassie Furlong's Sassy BusStop Sign on Cassie Furlong's Sassy Bus
Instagram via @sassybus

Sure, her new home wouldn’t need it, but it was a striking feature Cassie would ultimately opt to keep. Of course, though, it too needed a fresh slab of paint, only this time, Furlong would swap green for a pretty shade of white. As for what came next?

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

The Wheels on the Bus

While Cassie’s future home was looking more and more impressive by the day, there was so much more than that which met the eye. You know, like the fact that her vintage bus would have to trek across endless miles of rough terrain. But with dust and dirt hijacking the tires, things weren’t looking too promising.

Wheel renovation on the Sassy BusWheel renovation on the Sassy Bus
Instagram via @sassybus

So, what’d Cassie do? With the help of a thorough sanding machine, the skillful carpenter smoothed down both of the wheel’s centers, as well as the front and back bumpers. Up next, the meticulous designer topped off the refurbished tires with a coat of white paint.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

The Bus’s Interior

Safe to say, with a fresh slab of paint, remodeled tires, and an upgraded STOP sign, Cassie put a whole lot of thought into the place she’d soon call home. But what would that call for when it came to the bus’s interior? How would she tackle Sassybus’s latest hurdle?

Old seats on Cassie Furlong's School BusOld seats on Cassie Furlong's School Bus
Instagram via @sassybus

Cassie would have to find a way to stash everything she could possibly need inside a mini school bus - and it’d come to be exactly as challenging as it sounds. Sure, she may have been up for the challenge, but little did she know just how grueling it would be, as she began to take apart her home’s entire contents.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Taking Apart the Interior

You see, while Cassie may have opted to take shelter inside a school bus, with that came seemingly endless rows of leather seats - something she’d soon have to remove, one by one. But while the cozy seats might have once welcomed young students, they’d soon put up a fight, as Furlong attempted to unscrew the stubborn structures.

Removing the leather seats from the Sassy BusRemoving the leather seats from the Sassy Bus
Instagram via @sassybus

"The hardest part so far was the hours spent grinding out the bus seats," the exhausted carpenter revealed on Instagram. Sure enough, after endless hours of hard work, the stubborn seats were finally gone. "If you know of anyone looking for bus seats, send them my way!"

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Replacing the Floor

But while the bus seats were finally gone, they’d soon lead Cassie to her latest challenge: The rubber floors that once hid under them. What was she supposed to do? Sure, she may have been low-maintenance, but Cassie knew there was no way she’d welcome rubber flooring inside of her little retreat.

Cassie Furlong replaces the floor in her old school busCassie Furlong replaces the floor in her old school bus
Instagram via @sassybus

Sure enough, after measuring the bus and creating customized pieces, the formerly unimpressed homeowner welcomed brand new, insulated wooden flooring. "Two days of work later, and we have an insulated subfloor," the proud worker unveiled. "Now, time to create a floor plan!"

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Planning out Her Home

Well, what did her floor plan look like, exactly? Safe to say, given the limited space available, Cassie knew she wouldn’t take a single inch for granted, as she mapped out her future home. But as the inspired carpenter took to the drawing board, there’d be a lot of issues she’d have to map out.

Cassie Furlong plans the blueprint floor plan of her Sassy BusCassie Furlong plans the blueprint floor plan of her Sassy Bus
Instagram via @sassybus

Where would she possibly plug in the electrical appliances? Where would she put her head down at the end of a long day? How about her bathroom needs? There were a ton of missing pieces, and she had to fit them together. In only a matter of time, though, it’d suddenly all make sense.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

From Blueprint to Building

As the story goes, after seemingly endless doodles and designs, the diligent designer finally crafted the perfect blueprint. And thanks to Furlong’s newly installed floor base, she could finally bring her vision to life! But where would she even start?

Sassy Bus floor plan marked with blue tapeSassy Bus floor plan marked with blue tape
Instagram via @sassybus

With the help of blue tape, Cassie began to map out her future home: There’d be a driver’s seat up front, joined by two benches and a table. Directly across from that, she’d soon hail in a sofa bed, the perfect addition for hosting. As for the kitchen and bedroom? They’d be nestled towards the back, followed by an outdoor bathroom setup.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Fixing the Bus’s Engines

Suddenly things were looking up for the formerly neglected vehicle. After pouring endless blood, sweat, and tears into it, Cassie’s dream was unfolding in front of her very own eyes. But there was one problem: Her revamped vehicle would ultimately mean nothing if her home on wheels couldn’t take her places, literally.

Cassie Furlong fixes the engine of her Sassy BusCassie Furlong fixes the engine of her Sassy Bus
Screenshot- TikTok via @sassybus

Cassie wasn’t looking for a cute little home to stash in her family’s driveway. She wanted Sassybus as her travel companion, a tiny retreat to take her across the country as she chased the latest adventure. Sure enough, after replacing the engine’s battery with a NAPA Legend 75, she was finally ready to hit the roads.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Taking a Quick Road-Trip

So, what did Cassie do next? Exactly that, as her latest endeavors had her test out the roads for herself, in the form of a quick little road-trip. "Took a break from the renovation for a little road trip," the adventure junkie gushed to her followers.

Cassie Furlong takes a road trip in her Sassy BusCassie Furlong takes a road trip in her Sassy Bus
Instagram via @sassybus

Alongside Sassy, an awestruck Cassie navigated her way around the map, as her path propped her in front of lush forests and beautiful bodies of water. But with her latest adventure, too, came a wake-up call: She had work to be done, and if she wanted to continue basking in the great outdoors? She’d have to finish what she started.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Her Home’s Insulation

Well, what came next on her seemingly endless list? Sure, she’d already insulated the floors and installed a base, but how about her home’s metal walls? Cassie was living in the Midwest, which meant by the time winter came rolling around, she’d have to put up a good fight against those plunging temperatures.

Insulation in the Sassy BusInsulation in the Sassy Bus
Instagram via @sassybus

Thanks to the help of some power tools, measuring tape, and wooden pieces, the crafty builder managed to form an insulated frame for her home’s thin walls. Then, Cassie covered the purple foam with the wooden slabs. Leaving the original metal ceiling as is, Sassy’s days as a school bus were looking like a thing of the past.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Building the Benches

With her home now protected against the Minnesota winters, Cassie was finally ready to move on to her next hurdle: The furniture. After all, what good was having a home, if there was nothing to fill it with, right? At least that’s how Furlong felt, as she got to work on the benches that’d soon fill the front of her little retreat.

Benches in the old school bus for eating and storageBenches in the old school bus for eating and storage
Instagram via @sassybus

After constructing two wooden seats, stocked with secret storage, of course, Cassie then built her next piece: Another bench, this time boasting a secret sofa bed underneath. Her home was not only coming together, piece by piece, but was also morphing into the perfect hangout spot for family and friends.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

The Bus’s Kitchen

With a hidden knack for baking sweet treats and a newly perfect spot for hosting guests, what came next for Cassie was almost a given, something she’d need inside her future hideaway: A fully stocked kitchen. But how would she manage to create one, all from within a tiny bus?

The skeleton of the Sassy Bus's kitchen built from woodThe skeleton of the Sassy Bus's kitchen built from wood
Instagram via @sassybus

For starters, Cassie concocted her entire eating area from scratch, with the help of a few power tools and slabs of wood. Impressive, huh? After sculpting the perfect counter space and cabinet area, her unconventional kitchen was finally coming along.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

The Counter Space

What came next after Cassie finally completed the frames? Scouting for more storage space, of course. After all, she’d be taking shelter inside a tiny bus. Sure enough, the crafty carpenter did just that, as she hailed in three cabinet doors boasting a cozy wooden finish.

Cassie Furlong's kitchen counter space in the Sassy BusCassie Furlong's kitchen counter space in the Sassy Bus
Instagram via @sassybus

Up next? The resourceful builder carved out a slab of her counter for her kitchen sink: A recycled slab of sleek, black steel, that complemented her new home just perfectly. She had managed to cut costs significantly, all while giving back to Mother Nature.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Not Wasting Any Space

Sure, we now know about the three cabinets her Sassy home would soon boast, but what about the rest of Cassie’s kitchen? What would that consist of? A whole lot of cooking appliances. But while the crafty designer finally found the perfect home for her pots and pans, what about the rest of her belongings?

Cassie Furlong optimizes the space in her tiny bus homeCassie Furlong optimizes the space in her tiny bus home
Instagram via @sassybus

Where would her suitcases of clothes, or her much-needed camping supplies go? In only a matter of time, a desperate Cassie would find her answers, as she stumbled across the bare wall above her kitchen sink - the perfect solution to her latest problem.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Her Cooking Appliances

As for the packaged goods that would soon come to stack those cabinet shelves? Where, or better yet, what, would Cassie be cooking up in her swanky retreat? For starters, while most backpackers would opt for a to-go meal or a simple protein bar, our inventive little camper certainly wouldn’t…

The Sassy Bus's kitchen appliancesThe Sassy Bus's kitchen appliances
Instagram via @sassybus

That’s right, boasting a small oven, 2 burner stove, and a mini-fridge, Furlong’s future kitchen would call for a whole lot more than skimpy instant meals. In fact, with the help of some propane, Cassie would soon be able to put on her apron, as dreamy scents of crisp bacon and apple pie would come to fill that tiny bus.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Ballin’ on a Budget

With a kitchen fully equipped to whip up the perfect breakfast in bed, there was no doubt about it: Cassie Furlong was ballin’ on a budget. Not only did her kitchen sink not cost her a penny, but thanks to her carpentry skills, the savvy builder barely burnt a hole in her pocket, as she continued to carve out her dream home.

Recycled bar sinkRecycled bar sink
Instagram via @sassybus

But that wasn't the only impressive fact about her new digs: "A large part of bus living and camping is the no trace left behind policy," the environmental activist explained. "From a young age, I learned to conserve the outdoors," Furlong gushed, as she continued on with her remarkable journey, one recycled product at a time.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Sassy’s Progression

What started off as a yellow, dusty school bus was finally morphing into Cassie’s dream home on wheels, and it was truly a sight to be seen. But perhaps the most miraculous part of it all was the oasis that lay behind those welcoming green doors.

Cassie Furlong's Sassy Bus taking shapeCassie Furlong's Sassy Bus taking shape
Instagram via @sassybus

"It's really starting to come together," the pleased visionary unveiled on the 'gram. Of course, though, she wasn't alone: "Good job on all the hard work. I love it!" one of many impressed followers applauded her hard work. There was no denying it, Cassie'd given her all into her latest endeavor, but now? It was time to rest.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

The Bedroom

You see, from self-made benches to sofa beds, Cassie had spent almost every waking moment planning out the perfect stay for visiting friends and family. But what about her very own time onboard? Where would she put her head down at the end of yet another seemingly endless day, hard at work?

Cassie Furlong's Bedroom on the Sassy Bus tiny homeCassie Furlong's Bedroom on the Sassy Bus tiny home
Instagram via @sassybus

As fate would have it, perched between the emergency exit and the kitchen lay the perfect space for Cassie's much-deserved retreat. "Even though there is still a lot of work to do, it's come a long way," the proud homeowner explained as she unveiled her cozy bedroom: A lofted queen-sized mattress boasting secret storage space underneath.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Her Cozy Master Suite

It was the perfect conclusion to her nostalgic project, bringing her childhood self full circle, as the awestruck traveler gazed under the stars from within her car’s compounds. Much like those 7 hours she’d spend on the road as a kid, Cassie’s new hideaway was so much more than just the latest pitstop on her ongoing adventure.

Cassie Furlong makes her tiny house a home with pillowsCassie Furlong makes her tiny house a home with pillows
Instagram via @sassybus

It was truly a sight to be seen, with panoramic windows plastered throughout the entire room, making Cassie one with the outdoors - all while nestled up in “the coziest spot,” as she put it. With both a heater and a plush blanket from Enlightened Equipment, the savvy camper would be protected from whatever storms Minnesota threw her way.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

The Bus’s Ramp

Sure, Furlong’s new blanket would protect her from that which tried to enter her new home, but what about when it came to leaving the tiny bus? What would she do with Sassybus’s ramp, perhaps the only remnant left of its days as a yellow school bus?

Ramp on the Sassy BusRamp on the Sassy Bus
Instagram via @sassybus

Stashed beside her new "cozy spot," the rusty ramp's fate was left up for decision by the Instagram world. "It's heavy. I would remove it to save gas, and free up useable space," one follower suggested. Nonetheless, Cassie decided to forgo the online world's warning words, keeping the structure "as a patio and outdoor table."

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Making a Power Station

From the wooden tables to her cozy spot - all way to the new patio outside - Cassie’s new retreat was looking more and more like a home each day. But off paper, there was still a whole lot left to sort out. You know, like how, exactly, would her home on wheels be hooked up to electricity?

Cassie Furlong's Sassy Bus's power stationCassie Furlong's Sassy Bus's power station
Instagram via @sassybus

Sure enough, with the help of solar panels, as well as a solar generator distributed by MAXOAK, the innovative camper was officially ready to "work on the go with the Power Station," as Furlong gushed on Instagram. Up next on the list? Finishing touches.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Creating Wooden Flooring

You see, her home was finally free of the rubber flooring those cramped leather seats once covered up, but what, exactly did that leave her with? Sure, she now had wooden, insulated floors, but that’s wasn’t enough. From bare walls to unfinished panels, her Sassy home needed a whole lot more sass.

Wooden flooring in Cassie Furlong's Sassy BusWooden flooring in Cassie Furlong's Sassy Bus
Instagram via @sassybus

And lucky for Cassie, after stumbling across beautiful dark wooden floorboards, it’d get exactly that, as she finished off her bare floors with the rustic pieces. And with an extra layer of insulation, not only would the new look be pleasing to the eye, but also to her feet, when that brutal winter finally came rolling in.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

On the Go

There’s no doubt about it, Cassie might have to pull out a few more stops before her new home on wheels is the ultimate oasis, but that doesn’t mean she can’t already put it to good use. In fact, her new travel companion has already taken her to all kinds of places, as the thrill seeker navigates her way along the long path ahead of her.

Cassie Furlong Traveling in her tiny home Sassy BusCassie Furlong Traveling in her tiny home Sassy Bus
Instagram via @sassybus

"From the sunny afternoons in Glacier to a chilly sunrise hike in Acadia," Furlong and her tiny bus have practically seen it all, including a few national parks. But perhaps it's that which lay behind her home's doors that calls for the best memories, after ringing in her latest birthday inside the decked-out vehicle.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Moving Forward

Well, there you have it, folks. We’ve watched Cassie Furlong transform her childhood dreams of exploring the great outdoors in front of our very own eyes - or feeds, but don’t think that’s where this story ends. In fact, from the looks of it, Sassybus’s journey is just getting started.

Fairy lights on Cassie Furlong's tiny home school busFairy lights on Cassie Furlong's tiny home school bus
Instagram via @sassybus

So, what’s next for the Sassy duo? From fresh slabs of paint that await those painfully bare walls to finally completing the flooring, whatever awaits her future home there’s one thing we know for sure: With a little hard work and a whole lot of determination, Cassie’s big dreams of a tiny home are slowly becoming a reality.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below