Campervan Makeover.... Part 1

No, I haven't misspelled the post title, and you haven't missed a post.  Neither have I had a bang to the head, although it does sometimes feel like it.

Despite being in the throes of a makeover in the newly designated craft room, and still dealing with the aftermath of the cloakroom refurbishment, we bought a little campervan a few weeks ago, before we had even sold the caravan.  For 10 days our drive looked like a temporary campsite, with the caravan, campervan, two cars plus my step-daughter's little campervan too.  Dog knows what the neighbours thought was going on. 

However, we have since sold our lovely caravan to a very nice couple although we both shed a tear as it disappeared down the road.

The replacement 'new to us' campervan is a bit tatty in places and the interior is unrelentingly boringly bland and beige so I don't quite love it yet.  We've had to have the handbrake fixed as it wouldn't hold on our admittedly steeply sloping drive, and on our first trip out last weekend the tap in the bathroom was leaking lots.   Undeterred, we dismantled the sink and found the source of the leak and managed a temporary fix, which we've now sorted permanently yesterday.  

However, it was a bargain, has everything we need (and some things we don't) has quite low mileage and I've just embarked on a major makeover of the interior to do away with the beige and introduce some much needed colour and joie de vivre.

It was a self-build conversion project by the previous owner, rather than a factory-fitted van, so I don't feel the slightest bit constrained in terms of what is permissible.  We've already stripped out some of the extraneous, surplus-to-requirements fixtures and fittings, both in order to reduce the weight and fuel consumption, and streamline the storage. 

Yesterday I started making new cushion covers for the seat base and back cushions and avoided near catastrophe when PP casually mentioned that they were all different sizes.  I'd measured one pair, assuming that they'd all be the same, as they look broadly similar, but they are indeed all different.  Cue instant panic as I'd only ordered enough fabric for my incorrect measurements but fortunately I'd measured the largest ones so I will have some fabric left over.  This is a much happier state of affairs than not having enough.

I've also been trawling the internet since we got the camper to find some lovely fabrics for the curtains and small cushions, as well, of course, as strings of colourful bunting.  Finally, two days ago I found the most gorgeous 100% cotton paisley print fabric in a range of mouthwatering colours which fulfills the brief and is amazingly inexpensive.  The downside is the seller is in California so it will cost me an arm and a leg (and possibly a kidney) for international shipping and probably import tax when it arrives.  I'm just awaiting confirmation of the shipping cost which will likely give me a fit of the vapours but it will be worth it.

I've also found some gorgeous stick-on tiles for the kitchen area, which I'll start to tackle after the seat cushion covers are finished.  The tiles can be cut with scissors so I'm cautiously optimistic that I'll be able to trim them to fit around curved edges, plug sockets etc.  I've got enough to use some in the bathroom too, to brighten it up a bit.

I've bought new floor mats to replace the black/brown/beige ones currently in situ, which should also enliven the floor.

My ultimate aim is to the have the most colourful, quirkiest, bunting festooned little campervan on a campsite anywhere in the UK.

Before and after photos will follow in due course......

Craftroom Makeover.... Part 3

Bang on schedule yesterday, the lady who bought my two base units and worktop turned up to collect them.  Unfortunately they wouldn't all fit in their car so they had to make two trips, but after an hour or so they'd gone, leaving an empty space, lots of dust, webs and a small colony of desiccated wood lice.  Predictably, as there was no air circulation behind the units, there are small patches of discolouration on the wall which haven't come off with cleaning.   So I had to rummage around in the shed to see if we had any of the original paint leftover, from 10 years ago. 

Fortunately, as we never throw out such things, there is the tail end of a large tin of paint which I can hopefully use to touch up the walls, although as it's been up the shed for a decade it might be a bit past its best.  Cue a frantic Google session to see if it was still available, which, thankfully, it is.

I'd been planning to make a start today, but we have two plumbers in, currently dismantling the cloakroom next to my workroom, so I can't easily get in and out around huge toolboxes and assorted plumbing paraphernalia, so it will have to wait till later in the week.

However, now that the units and run of worktop have gone, I have a bit of a conundrum.  I had planned to put the new wall unit on the same wall vacated by the base units, but it would also fit on the other wall, opposite the windows.  So I'm not sure where to put it.  I'll have to assemble it in situ, on the floor in the room and try it against each wall to see which looks best.   

In the meantime, there's nothing I can do today.  I can't get into the workroom anyway, and the whole of the ground floor is in complete chaos so I may as well use the time constructively to do some more planning.

By which I mean another lengthy Pinterest session...

Craft room makeover planning....Part 2

There's been a lot going on lately, but in amongst it all I've managed to gradually clear out the cupboards in the workroom and list them for sale.  All being well they're being picked up on Monday.

They've been in situ since my last makeover 10 years ago so I expect that the wall behind might be in a sorry state.  At the very least there will be a spider graveyard and 10 years worth of dust.  The new wall storage unit is being delivered next Thursday, and I'm hoping that my rusty flat pack skills hold up to assembling it over the course of a few days. 

However, in the meantime there's the small matter of a plumber coming in on Tuesday to refurb our downstairs cloakroom and fit a new kitchen sink.  My reasoning, such as it was, was that if the house was going to be a mess it may as well be a PROPER full-on, all-singing, all-dancing, unholy guddle. 

While browsing for ideas today, I came across this.....

... so obviously, the newly re-designated craft room is going to be my growlery.

Scene: Sandra is combing the internet for quirky ideas.  A small furry presence materialises on her lap.

Me:*affectionately* Oh hello SD.  I somehow thought you might show up today.

SD:*happily* Wel off korse!  Ar yue maken a growullery?

Me:*brightly* Yes.  Yes I am.  Just looking for ideas.

SD:*focussing on the laptop screen* Ai kan hellp yue.  Ai kno a LOTT abowt growillen.

Me:*smiling* Hmm... yes, I remember. 

SD:*warming to her theme* Growillen is veri impoartint. Itt signiffys yore stait of mined and warrns thatt yue mite gett bitey.

Me:*agreeably* Absolutely SD. 

SD:*questioningly* And yue kneed a speshul room fore thatt?  Ai kude do itt eniwhair.

Me:*firmly* Well, not exactly, no.  But I'd really like one.  It has a certain ring don't you think... a growlery?

SD:*nodding* Absewlootlie.   So.... Pintrest then?

Me: *nodding* Yep.... let's do this.

Scene fades as Sandra and Small Dog's ethereal form settle down companionably for a spell of 'Pintrestin'