The little caravan do up......

The caravan Do  Up...

I decided, after years of not doing anything about my caravan that it was time to do it up.

I have perceived many ideas for her, one being she was going to be my art studio. I guess I have no excuse for neglecting her or my ambition to make something of her... with her imminent collapse my arm is forced...  I have bitten the bullet and taken on this restoration project.

First thing I did was wash her all over...you can see where I have started and  and yet to finish ..When washed she started to impress me. Years of grime, mould and lichen was washed and scrubbed away to reveal a very pleasant looking girl.

Black oozed from the seals around the window..Oh dear I guess all the windows will need to be redone.

When doubt creeps in I start to imagine the lovely little kitchen with the island bar and two stools and the lovely oil cloth seats that fold out to make to most comfy bed because I will buy a really good topper,maybe even a wool one so I can cuddle up in the Winter with soup made with foraged herbs and vegetables...and I picture my wee house in the hills and what I will plant around it , like a little vege garden and some little pots with herbs ....I try to be positive because it is a big job ahead of me and today on Trade me  I saw one that was complete for only $10.000.00...The ever so patient man of the house is grumbling saying it will cost more than that to do this up...Yikes...Still I am going to be positive.

WOw she's come up so well...and only the one original coat of paint so it will be easy to prep ...getting more ideas...like maybe getting a huge decal made ...I need to start a budget ..

Corner structural damage ..

I have to admit that her coming up so clean gives me the motivation to continue. I started looking at other caravan do up video's and realise there were not that many out there. I can see I have some serious work and research to do.

The first thing I want to do  is to formulate a plan of how I want her to look. 

I need an empty shell to begin with to help with that planning ...so ...

I immediately begin ripping out the old interior. I have kept the seats to upholster and think I will use an oil cloth for wear and tear. I am quite excited about the prospect of using the skills I learned a few years back ..Upholstering the squabs should be relatively easy..I think I will also use piping ...Flash as ah.

I'm loving searching for fabrics..

Look at this one ...

Love this It's from France and way out of my budget ..Maybe I can do some folk art ..

This is a bit quirky ..Only want one square to frame but again out of my budget so might do a painting in a similar style instead.

Umming and ahhing about ripping out this curved wall ...its sort of trade mark for these caravans but .......

I really want it to go ...I want an open plan..a very open plan. After all I will more than likely be the only person ever using this caravan.

The old kitchen will have to go too..

Looking in through the window with the tree's reflected ..The sky blue on the walls is cool ..yeap I have my wall colour ..Not into the earthy colours.

The first thing I need to do is completely gut the little caravan.Then I will be able to plan better and make sure what I want to do will work. I have a rather intense smile here..obviously a bit out of my comfort zone but trying hard to stay up beat..

I thought twice about removing the cupboard because of the rounded entry but decided it had to go in order to fit with the plan I had.

As always with "do up's" its the discovering of more work than anticipated and presumably more cost that can be a deterrent.  So far Im not put off but I can foresee some serious body work...Well I'm not afraid of doing a bit of body work myself. A good riveter , panel beating hammer and new seals around windows after a bit of structural reinforcing is done and the trepidation may leave me..

Finding holes in corners and pretty much leaky building syndrome has its drawbacks but on the positive side it's all fixable .

This old Kitchen will have to go as the kitchen I have in mind is more practical for a lover of cooking and besides I dream of going to foodie places and markets and trying recipes based on the environment..Bluff oysters ,clam chowder and blue cod now make Bluff seem a very appealing place to have a weekend break. Foraging at Omaui and Bluff right at the bottom of the south island of new Zealand where the equins get blown back to Antartica. ....but not my wee caravan she's gonna be wind proof....

Tossing it all out the door is very satisfying ...I can burn some of the untreated stuff on the wood heap and some of the materials as there is no plastic...just wood and paint albeit that horrid particle board and enamel paint will have to be dumped . Bye Bye ...

Looking back maybe i could have kept the cupboard for a toilet ...NOOOOOOO Glad its gone 

In my next installment there is a disaster..I got the man of the digger to move her for me ..The arm of the digger gave her a nasty shove.....smash ...I will give you all the next update ..after I have finished crying..I will get onto another project whilst I await the man of the rubber hammer to fix the front and replace the smashed window..