Vintage Camper Project – Part Two

 

There’s something a bit magical about Michigan in the fall. The leaves change, the air gets crisp, and it’s a wonderful time to enjoy the great outdoors! This is how we decorated our little vintage camper project, part two. You can read the vintage camper part one post here.

We did this little old camper remodel project and it is seriously the cutest! It didn’t start out that way though. It was hard work to bring our tiny house to life, but so worth it.

When we start any renovation project, I’m always a bit worried about how it will turn out. Especially a RV renovation because that is not your run-of-the-mill remodel. We had interior and exterior work to do to get this travel trailer moving again.

Tin can camper - Bungalow 47 style!

But after the vintage camper remodel was complete, I decided all that worrying was for nothing. Can you even handle how picturesque this is?

Bungalow 47 style camping

Wait until you see what we did to the inside! The camper is a 1961 vintage fan camper. We fixed the old trailer and redid the entire interior. The exterior got a bit of work too.

Camping in Michigan - Bungalow 47 style

The Vintage Camper Before 

Vintage Camper Remodel

It had layers and layers of linoleum, contact paper, and old wood. This is not unheard of for old camper remodels, but still gross. You should have seen the pile of trash that we pulled out of this camper! It was hard work, but very satisfying.

The new wood beadboard walls gave it a more modern look and really added great detail. It made a huge difference in how the living space would feel. There had been so much water damage. We were focused on renovating, but we always have a bit of fun.

This is our tiny home after all, and we want to make it feel like us. The whole camper got an eye catching new interior. There’s no bathroom because we always camp at equipped sites, and we’re hard core campers!

Vintage Camper Project

Vintage Camper Project

When the Beadboard Walls Were All Done

The camper interior walls were painted using our Bungalow 47 paint in the color Lava Lamp which is turquoise. The white paint color Subway Tile was used for the ceilings and sides. The bed is a queen-size, so we built the bed frame and placed it on one end to maximize floor space. It gave us additional storage and turned out really cozy.

Rope trim was glued in to cover the raw edges of the wood. It ended up being a great little feature. There’s striped fabric on the windows, and all the little details pull everything together.

Interior painted using Junk Gypsy Paint

Details for Decorating the Vintage Camper

The “Love Lives Here” art is from Texas Trash and Treasure and the pillow that says “Sleeps With Dogs” is so accurate! Of course, the camper needed a cowhide rug. They are so durable and super easy to clean. All the other little touches, really add charm and style to this vintage camper.

Obviously the appeal of old campers is their charm and the fact that everything isn’t brand new. With that fresh coat of white paint, we wanted to make the space feel fun. We love visiting flea markets, so that vibe was our biggest inspiration. Since space is limited, I’m careful of what I was putting in the camper remodel. I’m no interior designer, I just pick what I love, and what is functional.

Bungalow 47 style camper

Flea Market Finds

Gotta love vintage finds! Not only is the camper one, but all the cuteness that we decorated with is as well. From the light fixture, to the pom-pom fringe on the window treatments, the paint-by-numbers dog art painting, and the little hula girl are all from flea markets. I decided that this remodel was going to feel like one of the most fun rooms of our house, and took inspiration from that. All the personal details made it feel complete. It kept the cost down too.

Styling a vintage camper the Bungalow 47 way

Each summer we take our tiny home, and head to northern Michigan to unplug and camp at Aloha State Park. All the little ALOHA references found in bits around the camper are very personal. Don’t you just love those turquoise walls?

Unplug and camp in style
Vintage finds in a vintage camper

Camper Remodel – Efficient and Cute

We painted the cabinet ends using a boat wood technique with Bungalow 47 Furniture Paint. Every time we take a trip in the camper, we pick up a magnet or sticker to add to the refrigerator. This small kitchen area in the camper is super efficient. We don’t have a dining area, bathroom, or sink. We set everything up outdoors. But we created storage space, a great sleeping area, and a place to chill and rest.

Boat wood finish painted on cabinet ends

With space at a premium, even tiny little drawers provide storage needed to house camping accessories and almost everything we need. Wicker chairs are taken outside for a comfy night around the campfire. The furniture in the vintage camper is painted using Bungalow 47 Furniture Paint as well.

Camping in Bungalow 47 style

Most vintage campers don’t have hardwood flooring, so this really stands out. The wood floor is made from pallet wood. Stained and finished using our Matte Finish, which is a water and chemical resistant finish. If it can hold up to days camping with dogs running in and out, imagine how great it is for protecting your table tops!

Pallet wood floor stained and protected using Junk Gypsy Paint Clear Coat

We are Happy Campers

It’s easy to be a ‘happy camper’ with this little vintage darling. I love the fall, when the mosquitoes disappear, and I can leave the door open for fresh air.

Camping in Michigan Bungalow 47 style

Hope you enjoyed the share of this cute little vintage camper home on wheels! We really loved renovating it. It gave me the bug to want to do more camper remodels. But for now, I’ll love this brand new/old camper and get ready to hit the road soon.

Be happy, Chantelle

6 Comments

  1. The camper has since been sold. But I can’t say that we ever noticed that or not.

  2. Hello there, do you find by not painting the exterior it affects the temperture inside?

  3. It was a very small camper. No support was needed as the cabinets removed did not affect the structure.

  4. Jennie Thibodeau says:

    When you removed everything from the interior, did you take out a closet and cabinets? If so, how did you support the ceiling and walls. I’d like to remove my closet and cabinets for more room.

  5. Bungalow 47 says:

    It was attached with glue and a nail gun!

  6. How did you attach the rope trim in the camper ?

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