Project Van Life pt4

We started to build and build we did, the designing of the van we had been doing for some time, we had to change a few things with the addition of our lovely long dog, however we were happy with what we put together and enjoyed masking the tape down to measure out the space.

We had gone back and forth about having a bed that stays out or one that rolls back to being seats. We decided that if we had the bed out all the time it would allow us to relax on rainy days and allow Socks the chance to get up and look out the window/s. We also felt by having the bed out we could have storage underneath for baskets, clothes, fridge etc,

We also know for Socks to travel she would need a space, her spindly legs are so long that without a contained area she would fall all over when in transit. We felt by making a box behind the seats it give her a travel style cot where she could still see us and look out the window. When camped up we could then use the box for storage, placing a lid on it and a cushion for seating area. 

We used various size ply for the bed, and 3x2 timber for the frames. My Step-pa came around to help and really shifted us on with the building, it felt exciting seeing it all come together.

We added some hatches into the bed, the longer one for storage and the smaller one for access to the battery. We then placed the table and storage underneath the bed. For us the table wouldn't be used to eat from, it would be more of a storage spot when cooking and a bedside table when in bed. We wanted to not take bags into the van so made a storage spot for baskets in which our clothes would go in. 

We made a cupboard out of timber frame and pallet, i had seen the idea on the interweb and felt it would fit perfect with our style of van. We took the pallet apart, sanded it down then covered it in teak oil. Sam then put the boards together and put hinges on to make three doors. The top we used old scaffold board, which Sam sanded right back and again we stained with teak oil. The big cupboard space will hold the water and waste water and the calor gas. The smaller cupboard would be for cups, teapots and all the cooking equipment. 

We hadn't measure the top, doh, and at one point worried we couldn't fit a two hob stove on, however Sam found an old stove called a Tilly Trojan, he found a guy selling them on gumtree and we got a brand new one that fitted perfect. We also loved its retro style. For the sink we bought a bowl and are going to put a plug hole in and a hand powered tap. 

Decorating came next and i looked in the shed for what i already had, i picked the yellow from our bedroom wanting something bright and then used magnolia for the kitchen area as we are tiling above the sink/stove area. I also used blackboard paint above the door so we could write good camping spots and notes on.

I had made curtains so we got them up and the obvious maps had to go in. I got a great children's map that sat brilliant against the yellow. 

We made a couple of shelves again out of pallets, one for books and the other sits above the sink area with tea/coffee etc on. 

I need to get some better photos of it all complete but will do that in another blog.

Enjoy, any comments, questions feel free to ask, we found so much helpful information on the internet and wanted to be able to share that back.