Francesca N. moved abroad and converted what once was a pigeon coop into her home.
From Connecticut to London, Italian-born Francesca has lived all over the world. But in 2021, she put roots down in Portugal, purchased a plot of land, and converted a 269-square-foot pigeon coop into her home.
“I decided that, by age 40, I wanted to own a house in the sun,” she told Insider. “Watching shows like ‘A Place in the Sun’ and ‘Grand Designs’ kept me motivated, so that’s what I worked for, and I made it happen.”
After years of meticulous planning, Francesca quit her job as a web developer and began running her own crocheted-swimwear business, Yota Beachwear. Now, she splits her time between living in her pigeon-coop home and a renovated van while managing her business.
It took a lot of work to convert the pigeon coop into a house.
Francesca spent five years looking for the perfect piece of land that was the right price and location.
Finally, in December 2020, she explored an area she hadn’t considered before — Portugal’s Central Algarve, almost 5 miles away from the ocean.
There, she found the perfect plot and bought the land, pigeon coop and all.
Renovating the pigeon coop became a passion project for Francesca.
Francesca told Insider she immediately felt “attracted to” the coop, which she said was previously used for pigeon-racing competitions. She decided to begin her own renovation project, which she said she’d dreamed of doing for years.
Francesca and a friend started renovating the pigeon coop in April 2021.
Francesca worked on windows, woodwork, painting, and other renovations as her friend took care of the electrical work, tiling, and plumbing.
After several months, Francesca’s new home started coming together.
Francesca said she learned a lot while figuring out how to use all sorts of tools she’d never used before.
Now, Francesca feels like her home shows off her personality.
After moving into the space in July 2021, Francesca feels that the pigeon house is a true reflection of her style.
“It reflects my personality, my passions, and how I like to live,” she said. “Peaceful, colorful, and in nature.”
She made sure to have plenty of windows.
To create an all-around natural, spacious feeling in her home, especially in the bedroom area, Francesca kept all of the original openings and windows and installed glass.
She even opened three new windows that overlook the garden so she can watch her potatoes grow.
The home’s furniture is mostly pre-loved or handmade.
Just about everything in the home is either recycled, handmade, or found in the trash and repurposed.
Every piece in Francesca’s home has its own story.
“The bamboo sticks that divide the bathroom area were also found in a storage space on this land, the coffee table was laying outside and I redecorated it,” Francesca told Insider.
However, buying a few new items was necessary.
Though she built her sofas from wood pallets and cushions she found by the trash, Francesca used new fabric for the covers.
Larger items were also bought new.
She said the bed and materials for the bathroom suite are the only large items she bought new.
Francesca has a few tricks for storing items in her small space.
When it comes to storage, Francesca utilizes all of the space that she can. She aims to live a minimalist lifestyle with her partner, Martijn, who moved into the pigeon-coop home with her in October 2022.
To maximize space, Francesca’s computer desk has storage underneath and her bed has four drawers.
The couple makes sure they have enough storage for all of their food.
The shelves hold plants and produce. Francesca N.
Boxes around the house hold plants, yarn, and other items.
“We both keep things to a minimum, but we mostly need storage for food as we also produce homemade tinctures, preserves, and store food from the garden,” she said.
Though she lives in the pigeon coop most of the time, Francesca also travels in a van.
In addition to the pigeon house, Francesca also owns a converted van — a Class 1980 Toyota Hiace. She spent the majority of 2020 living and traveling around Spain and Portugal, including Portuguese Route 66, in it.
The van has a small portable fridge, solar panel, and portable toilet. She cooks with a portable gas stove and a maximum of two pots to minimize cleaning.
Though Francesca plans to sell the van and live in the pigeon-coop house full-time, she wants to take one last long road trip.
Francesca has even more plans for another renovation
For some, quitting a job and starting a life in another country may be daunting, but Francesca’s previous experiences moving into over 20 houses helped her move to Portugal feel like “a walk in the park.”
As for what’s next for Francesca, she wants to hone in on her passion for permaculture, nature, and recycling by building a mini house made with pallet wood.
But for now, she plans to continue running her business from her unique living spaces.
