My Houzz: A 1970s Caravan is Given a Fresh and Contemporary Update
An old caravan is given a new lease of life with white paint and new furnishings
Bill and Cathy Johnson love camping. The architect and the estate agent have been doing it since they began dating at age 15. Now married for 34 years, they jumped at the chance to buy and restore a 1970s Avion caravan that they could turn into a mobile summer home for canoeing and fishing trips around Tennessee.
Here the caravan sits at Piney River Escape, a former farm outside of Dixon, Tennessee, west of Nashville. The Johnsons parked their camper in this spot all this summer. From the banks they can launch their canoe and travel downstream for the afternoon. A shuttle service drives them back to the campsite, along with their canoe, at the end of the day.
The previous owner, a former client of Bill’s, had kept the caravan in pristine condition, even developing a homemade manual that detailed special care and maintenance considerations for preserving the plumbing and mechanical lines during winter. The aluminium exterior panelling, naturally corrosive resistant, was still in good condition. All the Johnsons had to do was give it a good wash.
AFTER
The Johnsons wanted the interior to have a brighter vibe, building on the wraparound bank of windows at the front of the caravan. So they removed all the original finishes, painted the cabinets white and added new vinyl flooring. ‘We wanted to try to create the most open and airy feel possible,’ Bill says.
They then replaced the upholstery with a durable outdoor fabric and changed the hardware and curtains.
The original crystal chandelier over the dining table is one of the Johnsons’ favourite touches. The other light is a surface-mounted incandescent fixture. The table collapses so the front area can turn into a full-size bed.
Tour an innovative small home in Scotland
The Johnsons wanted the interior to have a brighter vibe, building on the wraparound bank of windows at the front of the caravan. So they removed all the original finishes, painted the cabinets white and added new vinyl flooring. ‘We wanted to try to create the most open and airy feel possible,’ Bill says.
They then replaced the upholstery with a durable outdoor fabric and changed the hardware and curtains.
The original crystal chandelier over the dining table is one of the Johnsons’ favourite touches. The other light is a surface-mounted incandescent fixture. The table collapses so the front area can turn into a full-size bed.
Tour an innovative small home in Scotland
The layout didn’t change. Everything remained in its original place, including the hob and refrigerator.
AFTER
White paint and a new plastic laminate worktop brightened things up. ‘It’s like having a full house, with a fully functional kitchen, hob, oven, fridge, sink – gosh, we can cook biscuits in here,’ Bill says.
See more white kitchen schemes
White paint and a new plastic laminate worktop brightened things up. ‘It’s like having a full house, with a fully functional kitchen, hob, oven, fridge, sink – gosh, we can cook biscuits in here,’ Bill says.
See more white kitchen schemes
AFTER
New flooring and fabric continue in the bedroom, where the Johnsons sleep on twin beds. Fabric panelling around the perimeter adds a bit of style.
They like to keep the caravan fully stocked with towels and extra clothes and blankets in case guests show up or they themselves want to spend some time there on the spur of the moment. ‘That way it feels almost like a furnished weekend home,’ Bill says. ‘You don’t have to think about a lot; you just bring your clothes.’
New flooring and fabric continue in the bedroom, where the Johnsons sleep on twin beds. Fabric panelling around the perimeter adds a bit of style.
They like to keep the caravan fully stocked with towels and extra clothes and blankets in case guests show up or they themselves want to spend some time there on the spur of the moment. ‘That way it feels almost like a furnished weekend home,’ Bill says. ‘You don’t have to think about a lot; you just bring your clothes.’
Of course, the point is to be out enjoying the great outdoors, which they do most of the time they’re there – either relaxing under the awning or canoeing downstream to their favourite fishing spots. But should it rain, the caravan makes for a great spot in which to spend the day reading together.
The most difficult part was understanding the mechanical workings, so Bill would be able to shut down the caravan in winter and water in the lines wouldn’t freeze. Plus, they had to keep in mind that anything they added would at some point be barrelling down the motorway at a high speed. ‘You can’t do anything too frail,’ he says. ‘Everything has to hold up to some abuse.’
They did have to replace a couple of mechanical things, but surprisingly not many. ‘A caravan this age rarely makes it this far,’ Bill says. ‘They take a lot of abuse. This one was just really well taken care of.’
For the winter, they’ll shut down the caravan and store it in a barn on-site. Come springtime, they’ll head back to the farm and set it up again. Bill estimates they spent about £6,500 on renovations to the caravan. ‘It’s our version of a holiday house,’ he says.
TELL US…
What do you think of this renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
They did have to replace a couple of mechanical things, but surprisingly not many. ‘A caravan this age rarely makes it this far,’ Bill says. ‘They take a lot of abuse. This one was just really well taken care of.’
For the winter, they’ll shut down the caravan and store it in a barn on-site. Come springtime, they’ll head back to the farm and set it up again. Bill estimates they spent about £6,500 on renovations to the caravan. ‘It’s our version of a holiday house,’ he says.
TELL US…
What do you think of this renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.