Thursday, 26 June 2014

Caravan Diaries: Paint

Exterior Improvement: peach tones to happy brights..but which one?

Our wee man says blue, yellow and green. My default setting is red, though would this look to seasonal with the green Ranger details? 


I needed to start by finding out how to paint the outside of a caravan. My assumption (and a family penchant for car improvement programs) led me to think I would need acres of car spray paint- at £7 a can, this would cost more than the van, but look good. Also, fumes for a preggers lady arent good.  So, as was suggested by the nice man in Halfords, I Googled it. (As an aside, when did that become okay terminolgy to use in advisement settings? My doctor in consultation even recommended this recently- is it a sort of 'i havent time to explain / you seem capable of researching this further / i dont really know #tag) .



Here is a lovely blog The Happy Caravanner, that has helped me..and our budget. Sometimes a job can feel monumental and you just aren't sure how to get it done.. I now know how to begin.. wet and dry sandpaper + primer + gloss (whichever colour we choose). 



She says: 
'Painting the exterior is quite a big job and I have had lots of practice to get a good finish however if you are having a go then preparation again is all important!

Wet and dry sand paper with plenty of water.
Good quality exterior paint (several coats) and lots of time and dry weather!
I use a short haired or sponge roller and small brush for the edges.

Time consuming but rewarding I would say that if you want to see a fast result then you will get fed up very quickly, by just painting the interior walls and putting a few crochet blankets over seats brings speedier results.'

Ideas: 

Trad. green + shop inspiration blog here!
Interior of Nicole Caulfield's gallery


ps Check out this Off Grid blog
Azure blue



'Fiat' red...

as an aside, 

it would really suit us to have a tattoo / Memphis Belle style design on the side; possibly my shop logo but possibly a Reitveld style lady.


and now the hard work begins...

Phase 1: Primer. 

Following the experienced advise of The Happy Caravanner, I went against my own grain and prepped the van first. I dont like faff and I tend to plan then plough-in however, this time I thought it would be less costly to do it properly first time- rather than risk a flakey paint situation in 2 years time. Primer went well, though the bumpy surface meant the process was more curcular brush-strokes than Mr Miyagi.

Phase 2: Decision made...yellow!


SO, it turns out there isn't the widest selection of exterior gloss paints available in DIY/trade stores. People apparently want red, green. navy, black or white front doors etc. The most unusual colour- cheery and bright, was yellow. Et voila! ....However, 'Hot Mustard' from Sandtex was a little less sunshine, a little more signage than I hoped. Chipper yes, but also seemingly the colour of little choice for other quirky folk starting caravan-based businesses. Two issues that I have struggled with, so I puzzled-it-out on the front driveway to see whether we were 'sticking or twisting' colour-wise...

The answer... we TWIST

Hubbies off the buy 'teal' from the same paint range this evening. Homebase price-match B&Q who stock different Sandtex colours, so hopefully one £14.99 can will go over and 2nd coat the van. The yellow was a runnier paint than I expected but turns out thats brilliant! Went on  3 panels within an hour. That's how we roll. I think cost-wise, the white areas will stay white until August, when they may go grey, but teal and white has enough tradition whilst complimenting a skandi-bright interior and my work neon logos, Always keeping in mind, is the van visible from the road for attracting custom? 

P.S. just seen these, 

Colour chalk-board paint for the interior doors
Interior NEON gloss paint range
 UM Yes please!


Next post: Final colour and starting on the interior.

Thursday, 19 June 2014

Caravan Diaries

It has happened, it is here. 

We have been blessed with a beauteous lady-love, our two-berth Ranger Caravan!! 

I have been there, you fellow bargain hunters, 'watching' caravans on a well known auction site, at the top of your limit and that's for a leaky holey incomplete van that you need to drive to the wilds for..then it sky-rockets in price and away with your dreams. Sorry if this is currently you, hold on fellow nostalgees as it has just happened for us.
Upset over the creative nimbleness in my fingers- with no retail outlet to pursue. Imminently with second child, and experienced in how it feels in the tail-end of hurricanes at our favoured Land's End in a tent, we longed to re-live our happy caravanning youths and buy our own.


THUS I will blog the #HOMEontheroadIMPROVEMENT journey of our £30 van, 'gifted' by sympathethic festival caravanning neighbors. Ones who understand the drive to caravan in leaner but very happy times .




Today: Seeking Inspiration

Retail in Awning area
Beauteous Exteriors

Retail look

Shelter
Paint ideas

..Make yourself better about the size of YOUR task








Seating

Door Ideas, nice

Retro roots

OLDer school
Formica dining memories x
Kitchens

Outside-in 
Kitchens

Seating
I will search for specific inspiration project-by-project, such as painting the exterior, to ply or not to ply (I like ply) and how to have an uber cool but light-weight kitchenalia look. So excited. Bare with.
Maybe not