In March 2016, our daughter arrived home one day and proudly announced that she had just acquired a 'new' caravan...
There was much excitement in the Martin household as little kids and big kids romped through the new/old 1972 Viscount Royal - 23 footer. Complete with woodgrain paneling, bright orange bench-tops and cupboards inset with amber glass — the challenge began.
With a camping deadline of three weeks hence, it was all hands on deck, well, most hands. I caught my daughter's vision very quickly and chipped in to help. Sanding, painting, scrubbing, demolishing, sewing, screwing and generally helping wherever I could to turn this old girl into something to be proud of. Out of the paddock and into the Ritz in three weeks flat.
During the process, my daughter looked at me one day and said, "You'd like to do this too, wouldn't you Mum." To which I replied, "Yeah, I think I would. Do you think I'm too old?" She showed her confidence in my creativity and also in my ageing energy levels. So the idea was born. But of course I wanted one a lot smaller than hers, after all, she had a family of six, so she needed the space.
So my own search began...
Grey wood-grained wallpaper worked a treat to cover some of the wood-grain paneling and we also used it to cover the amber glass sliding doors.
I replaced the old booth with new modern cushions and recovered the seating to match.
Two sets of bunks where the double bed used to be and all the timber veneer cupboards were painted white. You'll also notice we covered the sliding cupboard doors with wallpaper, which is carried throughout the van.
New vinyl flooring
Replaced the old orange laminate sideboard with a beautiful piece of Hoop Pine for extra seating. Also put carpet (which matched the bedroom area) up the wall behind the timber bench for kids serviceability.
New table created by using an old projector stand, then put a recycled draftsman's table on top. Recycled shops are handy.
Main bed was constructed at the front of the van which was once part of the seating booth. We were able to make it King sized at the top and it tapers at the bottom to a double, however it is longer than a King. It can remain made up at all times and it also doubles as seating at one end of the table. It also lifts up for under-bed storage which works really well!
Our daughter and son-in-law are now in the midst of an entirely different challenge right now. They are in the midst of doing a big Reno on a 100 year old heritage-listed church. They are doing an awesome job and loving all the challenges and joys on their Reno journey. Check them out on Instagram: www.instagram.com/barneychurchhouse/
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