Nairobi’s peculiar guest house
Nestled under a large bombax tree on the outskirts of Karen is the Brandy Bus – an old green and cream double-decker bus that has been converted into a cosy living space. PHOTO | JAN FOX
What you need to know:
- She told me the bus was manufactured in England, and shipped to Kenya before Independence. It was operated by the Kenya Bus Service in Likoni in the 1950s, and was then acquired by her friend’s grandfather, who kept it unused in his backyard for over 30 years.
- When he passed on, Karen brought the bus to her family home before it could be twisted into scrap metal.
- The living area comprises two couches with Masaai blankets, which convert into single beds. Beyond this is a comfortable armchair, and stools under a long breakfast table looking out into the garden.
DSTV’s greatest gift – with the exception of its extensive coverage of the Premier League – is its broadcast of an array of interior design and home improvement programmes. I’ve spent many happy weekends binge-watching “Grand Designs,” captivated by the posh charm of presenter Kevin McCloud as he tours the UK documenting the country’s most ambitious self-building projects.
I often turn over to George Clarke’s “Amazing Spaces,” which documents more affordable, but equally inspirational small-scale builds. Of the many episodes I’ve watched, two in particular stand out, and they both involve the conversion of old buses into some form of accommodation.
In one episode, a farmer converted a double-decker coach into a luxury mobile hotel called “Bedroam,” with 18 Japanese-style sleeping pods. In the other, a carpenter transformed a decommissioned 1982 West Midlands double-decker bus into a quaint guesthouse, which now sits rooted in a wooded area in the English countryside. Both projects are symptomatic of the increasing popularity in the UK of glamorous camping but are also the products of highly ambitious individuals.
A very similar project was taken on by an individual here in Nairobi. Nestled under a large bombax tree on the outskirts of Karen is the Brandy Bus – an old green and cream double-decker bus that has been converted into a cosy living space. The project was the brainchild of Karen Fraser, a small space living enthusiast who saw the opportunity to create her “tiny dream home.” Karen now lives abroad, but rents the bus out as an unusual guesthouse.
She told me the bus was manufactured in England, and shipped to Kenya before Independence. It was operated by the Kenya Bus Service in Likoni in the 1950s, and was then acquired by her friend’s grandfather, who kept it unused in his backyard for over 30 years. When he passed on, Karen brought the bus to her family home before it could be twisted into scrap metal.
ORIGINAL FITTINGS
There’s a picture of the bus in it’s original form in the guide for guests in the bus’s “living room” – and the transformation is remarkable. Its rusty, faded exterior was repaired and given a new coat of paint, and its roof protected from the elements with sheets of mabati. The bus has been positioned on a concrete slab at the base of the magnificent bombax tree, with a small patio at its entrance lined by ferns and other potted plants. The bus sits at the bottom of the garden in the home of Karen’s parents.
George Clarke would be proud of the interior, and the clever use of original fittings means there’s no getting away from the fact that you’re on a bus. A small, colourfully-tiled step leads into what was once the open platform at the back of the bus, and another step to the left leads into the living-cum-dining-cum-kitchen area.
The living area comprises two couches with Masaai blankets, which convert into single beds. Beyond this is a comfortable armchair, and stools under a long breakfast table looking out into the garden.
Though guests have to bring their own food, the kitchen comes fully stocked with cooking utensils, a two-ringed gas burner, a microwave, and even a Cookswell jiko. There’s water and milk in the fridge and tea, coffee on the shelf.
The one bathroom on the bus is by the main entrance on the lower deck. As space is limited, it was built as an extension to the bus, and its open windows and views of the garden give the shower a refreshing outdoor feel. Up a narrow set of stairs on the upper deck are the “bedrooms” – two double beds separated by a curtain. Karen also managed to squeeze in a couple of bookshelves, bedside tables and lamps.
The bus draws its character from its quirky décor: patterned baskets, trinkets and African proverbs strewn across its walls. There are also plenty of clues to its history, including a sign by the entrance that says “Hatari, usijaribu kupanda bus wakati inasonga,”(Danger, do not climb the bus while it’s moving) as well as the word ‘Likoni’ above the driver’s cabin.
The outside seating area is warmed by two chimeneas built into the wall, and it provides a great spot for sundowners and long evenings listening to hyraxes shrieking in the surrounding.
The bus sleeps a maximum of six people, and is ideal for Nairobians in need of a unique, weekend escape.
Search for The Brandy Bus on www.airbnb.com for more info.
