This Couple Transformed Their Old Bodega Into A Tiny House With A Roof Deck

For the longest time, Feliz Lucas had always been conscious about the unsightly bodega sitting on their property.

Feliz and her husband, photographer Jay Jay Lucas, initially decided to just have it torn down, thinking it could be used as an additional space for their kids to run around in. But after watching episodes of Tiny House Nation, they realized they could actually turn it into their own small haven where they could unwind as a family.

Creating the Valeo Tiny House

Jay Jay thought of calling it the "Valeo Tiny House", a tribute to its location in Old Balara, Quezon City.

Incidentally, "Valeo" and "Balara" both trace its meaning to "strong" in Latin.

"The Valeo Tiny House is only 18 square meters," Feliz tells Summit Media's OG team. "It used to just be a space, a bare, hollow block bodega and then we didn't know if there was any support."

To ensure the house would be structurally sound, they had posts installed as foundation and created a roof deck on top to replace the old yero. They also made use of things they already had, such as used sliding doors, to save on costs.

"[The rest] of the furniture are really recycled materials from the space in my dad's place or mga surplus shops," Feliz points out. "Even this couch. It looks so chic, but we only bought it from a surplus store for only P12,000. Genuine leather siya."

A fully functional space

The Valeo Tiny House has a minimalist vibe with its white façade, outdoor area, and open layout inside. The interiors feature an industrial vibe, with limewash-painted walls.

The home comes with a bed, living area, mini kitchen, and a bathroom. Outside, there's a hammock and a patch of grass, plus a roof deck.

Just like any other construction project, Feliz and Jay Jay had their share of challenges. When it came to setting up their plumbing system, the plumber was not familiar with what they had in mind for the restroom.

"We wanted [it to be] a little bit more minimalist and more modern," Feliz says. "But I think it was also a good problem because we were able to test if the plumbing system was really a good way of bringing in the water and, you know, disposing the water [into] the sewage.

How much did it cost?

All in all, Feliz and Jay Jay spent around P200,000 for the Valeo Tiny House, with most of the expenses used on labor and the flooring.

To people planning on renovating a space, Feliz suggests changing the furniture. She also recommends changing the flooring, followed by the walls.

"Flooring makes a big difference to a space," she notes. "After that, when you have the right shade or the feel that you want for your flooring and for your wall, the furniture will just blend in together."

Currently, the Valeo Tiny House can be used for shoots as it sits inside the Balara Content Studio by Chestknots. But Feliz is also offering it to interested guests who want to stay overnight."

Valeo Tiny House isn't just a space wherein you can rent as [an] overnight stay, but we want to make it as an experience."

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