A year and a half has passed since that our last traumatic renovation ended. March 2024.
We bought another abandoned house.
‘No, we must be mad.’
We honestly thought that ourselves. This isn’t just a hobby or a job anymore. It’s probably an addiction.
‘Abandoned house addiction’.
This house was a bit better than the first two. No roof leaks, either.
“This might actually be a bit easier.”
With that in mind, we pressed ahead with our plans to transform it into another vacation rental once more. We drew up earthquake-proofing plans, thought through the layout, and sketched out the blueprints. Little by little, the future was taking shape. But halfway through, we received objections from one of the neighbours. We thought long and hard about it. We didn’t want to run a business at the expense of putting strain on those around us. So, we decided to put the plan on hold.
To be honest, it was frustrating. But it made us realise something. We’d had a dream long before we even thought of starting vacation rentals. We’d spent years searching for the ‘ideal place’, but looking back there had never been a ‘perfect moment’ in our lives. We’ve never had any money, nor experience or any knowledge. We’d always started from a state of utter disarray. By facing up to the circumstances we were given, we turned things that nobody else would have given a second glance at into treasures. And before we knew it, that had become our way of life. That was what made it all fun.
So this time, we’re going to transform this dilapidated abandoned house into the shop we’ve always wanted. Then stock vintage clothes sourced straight from Europe, then design and make clothes for our own fashion brand ‘akiya’.
A place where we breathe new life into old things. We’re creating this space, bit by bit, then after that we intend to put down our tools and return to our sewing machines.
Whether it’s running a vacation rental, making clothes, or creating spaces. I think we’ve always been drawn to things that ‘look like they’re about to be thrown away’. And in them, we want to find a beauty that no one else has noticed yet. If you’d like to enjoy this never-ending adventure with us, please do stay with us as we continue this story.
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