Caravan: Inside Decor

Hello!

As a lot of you know, We are campers, or a more apt word, "Caravaners".
We have had our caravan for about 8 years now. It was only last year that we started to do some alterations to our caravan. I wrote a post on our first revamp here.

It was a basic start:
*we spray-painted the fridge green, and the shelves inside blue.
*Took out a top cupboard
*Did some of the walls with sticky vinyl wall paper
*I made new curtains for her
*We changed the mirror

But more was to be done. I wasn't satisfied. She still looked and felt a bit dull and unloved.

One thing I hated was that even though the bed-cushions had zips, they couldn't be taken off to be washed as the buttons went right though the material into the fiber inside! I really don't think the people who made these these things actually thought about the practicality of a zip cover. Surely a zip conjures up a thought of it being removable for washing??? The curtains were another problem. They couldn't be taken off to be washed because they were screwed into the pelmets! The only explanation I could find for both these fatal design flaws were 1) A man was behind the design and installing 2)The overall look was more important than functionality and practicality. No woman in her right mind would ever have designed or made curtains and zipped covers that couldn't be taken off to be washed!! ha ha.

So the cushion covers had to go. I made new ones that I can easily remove and wash.

Since we had removed the little top cupboard next to the fridge, we were left without all that extra storage space. But the feeling of space and light was totally worth the sacrifice. We were always bumping our heads on it too. We don't cook inside in the caravan. The stove is on the outside pull-down part of the caravan. However, I do like to have my kettle in the caravan so that I can make a cup of coffee in the morning while still in bed! This called for easy access to some cutlery and mugs!

I looked around for a long time for something that would suit my needs. I didn't want a cupboard again as that would defeat the purpose of having removed it in the first place! Eventually I went to a second hand shop and I found this shelf and little roller-towel holder both for a mere R35! ($3.50 or £2.20)

They weren't in great shape, but I could see a little elbow grease and a  lick of paint would soon sort them out!

I Painted it first a dark green and then a crackle layer and then pink. I love the crackle effect and I added this ceramic rose in the middle and a cut a dowel stick to fit.

Here is the little shelf once I had put it up. I also did a "scrap book" paper wall behind it by pasting the papers that I had blocked with wall paper glue and then sealing them with clear varnish.

The Shelf needed a bit of interest, so I crocheted some edging and glue-gunned that on.

It's got a vintage, retro vibe, don't you think?

A little peach crochet edging on underneath to hide the ugly batten we couldn't remove.

We also needed a hook next to the basin for our hand towel for brushing teeth and washing hands.

I got this dirt-cheap black board and painted the frame and that got stuck on with double sided tape. Just a little something fun, maybe to write "Remember to take your shoes off" on.

I added some vinyl pieces into the little corner cupboards, just to make them easier to clean.

Made a fabric-covered jar to store odds and ends.(or flowers!)

And stuck the plug under the shelf out of the way!

 Here is the left side of the caravan. I put some crocheted frames on the wall of our family, bunting on all the windows!

 Lot's of cushions, my crocheted babushka dolls and my crocheted blanket.

I guess now you can sort of see the best part of all of this...

It's there, see beyond the fridge on the far wall....

Ta-DA!!!

A brand new look! Basically I "scrapped" my caravan! ha ha!!

I used scrap booking paper, some whole sheets, some pieces and glued them to the wall. After It had all dried, I went over it all with a clear varnish to seal it. I just love it! Hubby and the kid's love it too!

It just gives it that cute look!. This wall needed something so badly and I knew it needed a bit more color pop.

I tried to stick to the vintage-inspired theme, floral and roses.

I also did the little piece of wall as you come into the caravan.

It It just looks so warm and cozy now!

The table cloth I bought at a thrift shop for a steal. It has a few stains on it, but I plan to sew the doilies on to cover them up!

My vintage coffee pot matches perfectly!

I even did a piece of the ceiling!

It is such a cozy little place now, somewhere I would feel quite happy to put guests too. It has a microwave,fridge and all the little amenities a person needs. (Apart from shower and loo!) It is a also a nice little space to escape too and drink a cup of tea and read a book!

We have a few more things to do on the agenda:
*change the counter tops
*rip out and install a new black and white checked floor
*install some sliders on the ceiling for basket storage
*replace the foam double bed with a proper mattress (happening before our annual camping holiday this year! Yay, no more back ache!)
*install a curtain rail and curtain by our bed

This year too, my 12 year old son goes into his own tent so my daughter will have the other bed all to herself! Much to her delight. It's the end of that era with all of us together and hearing their cute giggling and chattering as they drift off to sleep. I will miss it very much and it makes me sad to think it won't be anymore. We will still enjoy having our daughter sleep in the caravan with us as I know one day, she too will want her own space and privacy.

I hope you enjoyed my tour of our little "home away from home". Do you have a caravan? Have you done any alterations? Posted about it on your blog? I would so love to see! Would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on further improvements, especially on any storage ideas!
xx