As any parent will know, working full-time and having children can be challenging. When Olive McCaughan got married and had three children, she decided the timing was right to sell her gift and accessories company and look for opportunities to work close to home.
The answer she was looking for happened to be on eBay.
Olive decided to purchase a 1968 Bedford TK horse lorry for £8,000 and transported it from England to her home in Northern Ireland in 2019. Her goal was to transform it into a romantic holiday home that she could hire out to those looking for a peaceful and tranquil break.
Once the lorry arrived, Olive got to work stripping it back to its shell, but she was able to keep the original ceiling and mahogany flooring. Now, the Bedford named The Oat Box is set on idyllic farmland close to the atmospheric North Coast of Ireland, just a stone’s throw from The Giant’s Causeway and famous Game of Thrones sites.
Olive McCaughan from Northern Ireland purchased a 1968 Bedford TK Horsebox, which she named The Oat Box, and transformed it into a romantic holiday home. Now, holidaymakers can take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life and take in the views spanning as far as Mussenden and Inishowen. There is even a quaint balcony with a table and chairs off the side of the lorry for guests to enjoy.
The Oat Box’s interior has been entirely refurbished, and the original mahogany flooring has been lovingly restored. The lorry even still has the original ceiling. Inside, guests can enjoy an eclectic mix of vintage furniture and décor spanning from the living space, kitchen, and bathroom, through to the king-size bed accessible via a ladder.
Olive took great care to use reclaimed materials throughout The Oat Box, including wood panelling sourced from a church renovation. It’s also hard not to be impressed with the beautiful curved wooden roof with old-style lights installed in the panelling.
The light above the bed offers the perfect amount of illumination for both reading and ambience.
Olive put a lot of time, effort, and care into the bespoke oak kitchen. It boasts a Belfast sink with a copper faucet and a functional two-ring electric stove for guests to prepare a meal if they wish.
Everywhere you look, there’s something delightful in The Oat Box to catch your eye. For example, the splashback tiles in the kitchen are all hand-painted antiques that Olive purchased in a house clearance sale for just £10. They add vibrancy and charm reflective of the lorry’s era.
Everywhere you look, there’s something delightful in The Oat Box to catch your eye. For example, the splashback tiles in the kitchen are all hand-painted antiques that Olive purchased in a house clearance sale for just £10. They add vibrancy and charm reflective of the lorry’s era.
Guests can take advantage of a full-size bathroom to the rear of the lorry, adjacent to the kitchen.
Olive put an incredible amount of effort into ensuring that the bathroom was both modern and rustic. A combination of white wood and varnished wood panels work in harmony with the mint-green door and rustic mirror and accessories.
The bathroom also features gorgeous Moroccan-style tiles paired with an Indian water bowl that functions as a sink. There is also a fully-functional toilet.
The Oat Box is deceivingly spacious, with guests even being able to enjoy a shower inside the lorry rather than needing to venture out to an outbuilding. The shower is full-size with electric hot water via a water heater.
Upon arriving at The Oat Box by car, with private parking on-site and a bus stop around two miles away, guests are encouraged and welcomed to sit in the Bedford’s cab for the full experience.
Learn more about the delightful holiday home here