The interest in caravan renovation has increased in unison with the Tiny House Movement and the love of retro and recycling. So when alumni from ‘The Block’ get involved, you know the results are going to be AWESOME.

Michael and Carlene Duffy, hosts of ‘Ready, Set, Reno’ and ‘The Block’ alumni, have taken caravan renovation to a fun and vintage DIY place. ‘Vonnie the Van’ was a neglected vintage Viscount van but now has a fabulous new lease of life.

Self-confessed ‘caravan geeks, Michael and Carlene are delighted that the humble caravan is making a dynamic comeback as Australians seek to explore our beautiful country. However, creature comforts are desired by most of us even when seeking to enjoy the great outdoors.

Starting A Caravan Renovation

Teaming up with White Knight Paints, Michael and Carlene took inspiration from the stunning coastal bushland around their Queensland home. Carlene created a mood board, which is an effective way to collate ideas around colours, textures and the design vision.

“We wanted a palette of greens in varying shades offset with brass and gold fixtures,” explains Carlene. “A caravan renovation works well with a relaxed, soft and natural vibe. So after looking at lots of colours we chose a muted green called Sussex and Crisp White. Together, these are the heroes of the renovation and form the basis of redecorating.”

The couple used their home renovation skills on Vonnie the Van to clean, strip back, re-build, paint, and refurbish. Upcycled second-hand furniture was refurbished, bench seating modernised, and interior laminate cupboards painted with White Knight Laminate Paint. The rusting exterior and chassis were given a new an overhaul with Rust Guard.

WOW, the results are sensational, don’t you think? The cool mint and fresh white work beautifully with the brass and gold, and the wood benchtops add warmth. Crisp linens, co-ordinating pale blues and greens and a pop of burgundy complete the colour palette.

Michael and Carlene used White Knight ‘Squirts’ for upcycling old furniture, White Knight ‘Laminate Paint’ for the benches and cupboards, and White Knight ‘Rust Guard’ for the chassis.

Finding A Caravan Renovation To Tackle

In tackling a caravan renovation, Michael recommends looking for a vintage van that has ‘good bones’. Whilst many vintage caravans can be purchased quite cheaply, if they are literally falling apart then a refurbish may be too expensive. Check the chassis, amount of rust, warped or rotting wood, and how much of the interior is useable.

White Knight has a great range of paints and treatments for wood, metal, tiles and laminate so see how much of the interior can be salvaged and upcycled. Budget for modern inclusions including sink and tapware, surfaces and textiles.

The resulting caravan renovation is an Australian-inspired blend of Palm Springs glam and Vonnie the Van’s retro roots.

You might also like to read about Renovation Queen Cherie Barber’s Bathroom and Kitchen Renovations using White Knight tile and laminate paint.

With the right products, some TLC and hard yakka, Vonnie is now ready to cruise the coastline for many more years to come. Michael and Carlene have created a series of ‘how to’ videos to show viewers each step of the renovation; with the first instalment, ‘How to Restyle and Refresh with White Knight Squirts’, just launched on the White Knight YouTube Channel.

For more DIY products and projects, check out www.whiteknightpaints.com or White Knight Paints Facebook; and follow Vonnie’s journey using:
o #whiteknightpaints
o #michaelandcarlene
o #whiteknightcaravan
o #vonniethevan

Caravan Renovation Help

If you’d love to tackle a caravan renovation but need some help with design, colours, textiles, surfaces and paint, please contact me at Plush Design Interiors or via penelope@plushdesigninteriors.com.au