The Oat Box
Last Weekend I had the absolute pleasure of staying at the ‘The Oat Box’. It was such a delightful experience, both to capture and to stay in. ‘The Oat Box’ is so full of character and style…I came away thinking how fun it must have been to create and design somewhere so unique.
The Airbnb is located a little inland from Portrush, with the beautiful North Coast beaches, Coffee Shops and Restaurants just a short drive away. ‘The Oat Box’ sits just off Olive’s family home, beside a big open field and from the very moment I arrived, I was excited to capture this little treasure…
Stepping into ‘The Oat Box’ for the first time was mesmerising, not only were the colours and decor perfect but the smell of ginger and lemongrass from the soap in bathroom made the place smell so fresh.
After my stay, I was able to ask Olive some questions about how she went about creating ‘The Oat Box’.
Continue reading below to get some insight into how it all began…
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how ‘The Oat Box’ came to be?
I’m a product designer and left work when I had my third child as the price of childcare was just too high! I was looking for a business I could run while the children are small and that could be based at home. I also really love renovating vintage furniture and collecting anything with a bit of history to it, so I wanted to utilise those skills into whatever project I took on.
The idea of an Airbnb always came to my mind as we are in an ideal location, being on the North Coast of Ireland. I researched renovating outbuildings and then moved on to investigating various types of quirky accommodation, collating numerous Pinterest boards along the way. Eventually I came to the conclusion that a horsebox conversion would give me the greatest freedom to customise a small space exactly how I wanted to.
How or where did you manage to find an old Horse box to renovate?
I kept an eye on Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace for a good few months, but it was Ebay that came up with the goods in the end! I bid on our horse lorry pretty much on a whim, thinking I wouldn’t get it and someone else would beat me to it at the last second, as that’s what usually happens but they didn’t, and I won the auction! I then had to figure out how to tell my husband what I’d just bought and also how to get it from the South of England across to us in Northern Ireland!! Thankfully the seller was really accommodating and helpful at getting the lorry safely over to us!
What was your inspiration behind the style of ‘The Oat Box’?
I knew I wanted to use salvaged materials and vintage finds as far as possible in the design of the interior, but I did struggle to find a starting point!
The ceiling and floor of the lorry are original, and it was important to make anything we added in enhance these features. Once I sourced the wooden panelling from a church renovation, everything else seemed to fall into place around that. I think the warm wood panelling really helps to achieve the cosy cabin vibe I was aiming for.
Do you have a favourite aspect of ‘The Oat Box’, a decoration or piece of furniture?
I love the kitchen splash-back tiles because they are antique and hand painted. Each one is a little bit wonky and just slightly different to the next when you study them closely. I also love the fact I found them in a house clearance for £10!
For guests coming to stay at ‘The Oat Box’, where would you recommend as good places to visit nearby?
We have lots of gorgeous places to visit on the North Coast.. the beach at White Rocks, Ballintoy Harbour, White Park Bay, The Giant’s Causeway of course, and I just love the drive from Bushmills to Ballycastle via the coast, it’s beautiful!
What advice would you give others who may want to create their own unique Airbnb?
To keep in mind that you are creating a little escape from reality for your guests for a couple of days. I think people are searching for places that can transport them to another world, even if they haven’t traveled far to get there. I found it really helpful to write a list of all the things that I found memorable about various places I had stayed in over the years to figure out what it is that really makes a lasting impression. There are enough bland spaces out there already for people to stay in, push the boundaries and create your own dream space and guests will respond to that.
‘The Oat Box’ is such a unique and wonderful stay. Do you have any other renovation plans for the future, either changes to ‘The Oat Box’ or any new project ideas?
Oh my head is always swimming with too many ideas!! We have plans to plant a wildflower meadow around the oat box and hope to add an outdoor bath next spring.
I also have a couple of vintage caravans that I’m renovating at the minute and eventually would love to run creative workshops from my studio on the farm.
One of my favourite parts about this stay was ending the evening outside beside the fire pit, watching the stars and toasting marshmallows. ‘The Oat Box’ is the perfect little getaway for two!
