I always wanted my own place and the freedom to do what I wanted. But a regular job to pay a mortgage didn’t sound fun. So, I decided to purchase a charming old house and transformed it into a welcoming home for travelers, allowing me to pursue my passions while sharing this beautiful space with others.
It was a long search and a hard journey to convince the bank to lend me money for my old house idea but it was totally worth it! I finally found the perfect place – a 250-year-old building with a simple local architecture with a bonus: a big basement for gatherings with friends!
Meanwhile, Emil, my husband, entered my life. Not only did he bring love and excitement, but also a deep passion for restoring old buildings and a talent for carpentry – the perfect match for this project.
A Breguet 14 airplane soars above the Romanian city of Brasov in 1921. The red pin marks the location of the Bike House, just a regular house back then.
The house was a mess! It was a former post-communist bicycle workshop with the attic crammed with bike parts, a lingering smell of diesel and grease everywhere, and the courtyard full of junk. The house was far from habitable.
But it had everything we were looking for: spacious, incredibly old, with thick 80cm stone and brick walls, a high enough attic to add a mezzanine without raising the roof, a cellar, a courtyard and a lot of stuff just waiting to be restored.
2013
We bought the house and started the restauration!
In the fall, we moved into the space that is now the apartment, after making some significant investments: we replaced all the wood in the roof structure and a big part of the tiles, insulated the attic, and built skylights. Apart from the plumbing and electrical work, we did everything ourselves: we painted, refurbished furniture, laid and finished the floors, reconditioned the ceilings, built the stairs, installed the windows and shutters.
2014
We moved in!
In 2015, we finished renovating our apartment. In August, we decided to try our luck on Airbnb, renting out only one bedroom while we lived in the other. Surprisingly, we didn’t have a single vacancy until October. This allowed us to save up the money to renovate the Loft.
2015
First AirBnb Booking!
In February 2016, we finally opened our Loft to guests as well. In the meantime, we also started renting out our bedroom, and that summer we were fully booked again. The funny part was that we had nowhere to stay ourselves, so we ended up sleeping at our parents’ or friends’ places.
In February 2016, we finally opened our Loft to guests as well. In the meantime, we also started renting out our bedroom, and that summer we were fully booked again. The funny part was that we had nowhere to stay ourselves, so we ended up sleeping at our parents’ or friends’ places.
2016
The Bike Loft and the Bike Studio are ready!
We finished fixing up the basement and the backyard in 2018. We wanted the basement to be a fun space for parties and get-togethers, and it’s right downstairs from the apartment. Outside, we created a little patio and have free bikes ready for guests to explore the city like locals.
2018
Restauration complete!
We’ve breathed new life into a historic Brașov home, blending modern comforts with its original charm. With every detail, we poured our heart and soul into creating a space that’s both welcoming and inspiring. We can’t wait to share it with you! Our hope is that your stay at Bike House is filled with comfort, joy, and unforgettable memories!
Ioana & Emi
