A couple started renovating RVs as a side hustle. They bought and resold 17 in 5 years and now fix up apartments, too.

• In 2020, David and Amelia Bay-Brown began renovating RVs to boost their income.
• Since then, they've bought, fixed up, and resold 17 RVs nationwide; the priciest sold for $60,000.
• Now, they're using their skills in redesigning small spaces to fix up New York City apartments.

In 2020, David Bay-Brown and his wife Amelia stepped away from their careers — in Broadway acting and professional hairstyling for theater and television, respectively — to start a new venture: renovating recreational vehicles, or RVs.

"We had careers in New York City, but the pandemic shut everything down," Amelia, 33, told Business Insider. "We were looking for another outlet to make money."

The couple started by spending $3,000 on a 1979 Dodge Cruise Master that they thought they would use themselves to travel the country. They documented the monthslong renovation process on YouTube and Instagram, transforming the dated, falling-apart RV into a stylish space with new flooring, cabinets, and a custom dinette booth. Multiple followers expressed interest in buying it, so the Bay-Browns ultimately sold it for $27,000.

"We told the other people interested in the vehicle that we could make them one just like it or build them a custom one, and that's how our clientele started," Amelia said.

Five years later, the couple has renovated 17 RVs across the country. Depending on the extent of the work and what needs to be rebuilt in the RV, their labor costs can range from $15,000 to $45,000. The cost of materials, based on the level of luxury and quality, can range from $5,000 to $15,000.

"It's definitely nerve-racking to tackle something as unique as a home that moves," David, 37, told Business Insider. "Everything has to be flexible and lightweight, so you don't compromise on gas mileage."

The Bay-Browns have recently expanded their business to non-mobile homes: small apartments in New York City.

Getting started renovating RVs wasn't easy

The Bay-Browns became inspired to renovate RVs after renting a run-down one during a 2020 trip out west. They decided to buy their own, customize it to their style, and use it for their adventures.

The first RV they bought — the Dodge Cruise Master — was in bad condition with water damage, rotting floors, and evidence of a mice infestation. They taught themselves how to restore it through YouTube videos and received help from an active online community of RVers.

They stripped the RV down to a shell and replaced the ceiling, studs, walls, paneling, and subfloor.

"I think we were just dumb enough to give it a try," David told BI. "The rest is history."

Selecting a buyer for the RV was as challenging as designing it.

Originally listed for $19,790 due to its 1979 build, the price went up after 200 people expressed interest in the RV, many willing to pay above the asking price.

In the end, they chose what Amelia called a "sweet family" from Kansas who offered $27,000 and had fallen in love with the RV.

Looking back, the couple admits the labor they put into the renovation likely cost more than they realized.

"It took about six months of full-time work to complete the renovation," Amelia said. "We made a good amount, but when you factor in our time, we probably got paid, like, two cents an hour."

Their pandemic project became a full-fledged business

The Bay-Browns spent two years traveling the country and renovating RVs while living in a motorhome they bought for $23,000 using some of the profits from the sale of the first RV.

"We've helped many people move out of their brick-and-mortar homes — whether it's because they want to live on the road, have a remote job, or a combination of both," Amelia said.

While working on client projects, they stayed in their own RV either on the properties or at nearby campgrounds.

The Bay-Browns told BI that they rarely take on renovation projects that require a complete overhaul. However, they always sand down the walls, reprime, and repaint each RV.

Many older RVs have plain linoleum floors and walls, making them feel less homey. The Bay-Browns renovate their RVs to have an "elevated aesthetic" and personality by using materials like wood, tile, wallpaper, and textured finishes.

"The traditional RV manufacturing process focuses on speed of assembly and is typically not designed with aesthetics in mind for the end user, which often results in bland interiors," David said. "We ask clients, 'What would make this feel like home to you?' and build their dream space."

Their renovations often focus on maximizing space and enhancing privacy in tight spaces. For example, they've soundproofed walls for families with multiple children or created multi-functional rooms. One project involved converting a master bedroom into both a bedroom and wardrobe for a couple who wanted the RV to serve as both a home and a film set trailer.

"What we really like to do is help people come up with unique solutions for their unique needs," David said.

Their clients are from all over the US

In 2021, the Bay-Browns purchased an 18-foot-long RV named Jute, which they envisioned as a "library with a view." They installed a custom desk, a projection screen, and a patio deck, allowing guests to enjoy movies on warm nights.

Once the renovation was complete, they sold Jute for $40,000.

A different RV, called Elle, was renovated for $45,000 in parts, materials, and labor. It was for a couple in Utah who, according to David, wouldn't settle for anything less than total luxury.

To achieve a high-end feel, the Bay-Browns painted the kitchen a rich chocolate brown and added a custom-slatted wood backsplash and butcher block countertops. For the entertainment area, they applied black Italian plaster behind a framed television.

They hand-built and upholstered a curved dinette booth in the dining area after an inspiration piece was too expensive for their clients' budget.

Another RV, named Oakley, is the most expensive the Bay-Browns have worked on; it sold for $60,000.

The 35-foot motorhome belongs to a family of six. The client requested that the entire interior be finished with authentic white oak veneer. The veneer was applied to every surface of the RV, while Italian travertine countertops were added to the kitchen.

In addition, the Bay-Browns designed a custom breakfast nook table with a convertible makeup mirror and a custom bunk bed for the children, complete with rock-climbing holds.

They renovate apartments now

The Bay-Browns sublet their apartment in Queens, New York, while living in their RV.

Now, they've returned to their apartment and resumed their previous careers, but they've also added apartment interior design to their résumés.

"We're taking the skills we've learned renovating RVs — like maximizing small spaces — and applying them to apartment living," said David, whose most famous role was playing Elder Price in "Book of Mormon" on Broadway.

So far, the couple has completed four projects across New York City.

Recently, they overhauled a 150-square-foot children's bedroom on Manhattan's Upper West Side that also doubles as a homeschool area.

To maximize space, they built a custom bunk bed, with one bed cleverly disguised as extra cabinetry.

In Sunset Park, Brooklyn, the couple turned an empty office into a functional living space by adding a custom-built Murphy bed. Designed and built from scratch, the project cost around $12,000, covering labor and materials.

"Designing with limited square footage is more fun than huge mansions," David said. "When you're working with limited space, it becomes a fun brain puzzle. It's extremely stressful but much more gratifying because you're forced to think creatively."