Meet the neigh-bours! Couple transform horsebox into this comfy bijou home… complete with shower, an office, and even sleeping quarters for GUESTS
- Sophie Frykfors von Hekkel and her partner turned a horsebox into their home
- Sophie spent £3,500 on the horsebox and an extra £12,000 on refurbishing it
- Their new home boasts downstairs living space, kitchen, bathroom and lounge
Transforming a horsebox into a modern home could be described as, well, a foal’s errand.
But once this couple got the bit between their teeth there was no stopping them. And they are now the proud owners of a bijou property on wheels.
Sophie Frykfors von Hekkel, 30, an architectural designer, and her hairdresser partner Lalli Castiglione, 31, spent £3,500 on buying the 7.5-ton horsebox and £12,000 on refurbishments – for a total bill of £15,500.
Measuring 20ft by 6ft 6in, it boasts a stylish downstairs living space, complete with kitchen, bathroom with shower, home office and a sofa lounge area that can convert into a dining room or spare bedroom.
A short climb up the ladder takes you to the master double bedroom.
Sophie Frykfors von Hekkel, 30, an architectural designer, and her hairdresser partner Lalli Castiglione, 31, spent £3,500 on buying the 7.5-ton horsebox and £12,000 on refurbishments – for a total bill of £15,500
Measuring 20ft by 6ft 6in, it boasts a stylish downstairs living space, complete with kitchen, bathroom with shower, home office and a sofa lounge area that can convert into a dining room or spare bedroom
Grooming box: The converted horsebox even features its own bathroom, complete with a shower
Power is supplied by solar panels for electricity and bottled gas. As well as high-spec appliances, there’s a built-in wardrobe and larder.
Meanwhile a large sliding door and new windows offer plenty of natural light.
Miss Frykfors von Hekkel, who was paying £1,000 per month rent for her Brighton flat, wanted to own her own home but couldn’t afford a mortgage.
She said: ‘Now our living expenses are down to £50 a month for water and gas – plus the diesel to drive our home somewhere else if we feel like it when travel restrictions are lifted.’
The house – which is currently parked in Uckfield, East Sussex – has freshwater and wastewater tanks the same size as those used in a normal house.
Miss Frykfors von Hekkel, who was paying £1,000 per month rent for her Brighton flat, wanted to own her own home but couldn’t afford a mortgage
Power is supplied by solar panels for electricity and bottled gas. As well as high-spec appliances, there’s a built-in wardrobe and larder
And there is even a special shelf to accommodate dog beds for their pets Shelby and Ghost.
Discussing the horsebox which they started revamping last February, Miss Frykfors von Hekkel said: ‘It had been used to take four horses to shows around the country for years and was in very bad shape.
‘It’s [now] very high-spec – we wanted to live comfortably with a full-size gas stove, a proper shower, enough room to store clothes and food and accommodate guests when necessary.’
She added that lockdown had enabled them enough time to finish the job.