A woman turned a 269-square-foot pigeon coop into her dream sunlight-filled tiny 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.

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.

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 worked on windows, woodwork, painting, and other renovations as her friend took care of the electrical work, tiling, and plumbing.

Francesca said she learned a lot while figuring out how to use all sorts of tools she'd never used before.

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."

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.

Just about everything in the home is either recycled, handmade, or found in the trash and repurposed.

"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.

Though she built her sofas from wood pallets and cushions she found by the trash, Francesca used new fabric for the covers.

She said the bed and materials for the bathroom suite are the only large items she bought new.

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.

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.

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.

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.