Sunday, November 16, 2014

Our Custom Camper



Update: DO NOT BUY from Paradise Coast RV aka Ted Simpson. At delivery in October 2015 (2 years AFTER the 10/13 promised delivery date), we received a non-insulated incomplete camper that was totalled by our insurance company and we have been completing ourselves ever since.

As many of my family and friends know, we've been anticipating the arrival of our custom "canned ham" style camper, made by Paradise Coast RV in Benton Harbor, MI. She's nearly done! Each time we head to Michigan, we visit Silver Beach and it's carousel, the Silver Beach Carousel, which as  you can see, our little O greatly enjoys! We also have to fit in a visit to Silver Beach Pizza, right across from the carousel, as they have one of the yummiest thin crust pizzas out there. We love to stay at The Boulevard Inn, right on the bluff in St. Joseph, overlooking Silver Beach and Lake Michigan with its lovely view and lighthouse. The Boulevard Inn has a wonderful breakfast buffet in its dining room overlooking the lake, with a great staff. The rooms, many with a lake view which we prefer, all feature kitchenettes and the beds are very comfortable. For quaintness, visiting St. Joseph and Benton Harbor can't be beat.

Almost There



Our 24' Paradise Coast RV is almost there! Pretty, isn't she? We had a custom aqua stripe done, instead of the dove grey, which is also very elegant. My color scheme is aqua, poppy red, sand, and coral.


Here are closeups of a 17' foot model similar to ours, also featuring the aqua stripe with the same cream leatherette cushions we chose. Our daughter is peeking inside. I love the styling of the old-fashioned crank louvered windows, click here for an "open view," surrounding the u-dinette (5 surround our dinette). I'm also pleased with the door with its screen which can be separately closed and there is a bumper for the door on the camper. My one design challenge will be in deciding how to affix a curtain to the door should I decide to.

Interior


While the 17' shown here has the same cushions we've chosen to go with, our floor is the standard off-white mildew resistant flooring, with a silver-speckled laminate table, ledge, and kitchen countertop with the chrome surround. Unlike the cherry paneling shown here, for interest I chose to contrast hickory paneling with cherry-stained maple base cabinetry and natural maple cabinet fronts. Aren't the windows amazing?

The u-dinette area with its surround of upper cabinets, sleeps 2 with a jack-knife sofa flanking it that sleeps 1-2. We are the first to order a 24'. The rear bunkhouse (see our 24' floor plan here) features a mini-dinette that also sleeps 1, another jack-knife sofa sleeping 1-2, with single upper bunks each sleeping 1 above both, for a total sleeping area up to 9.

Across from the kitchen which includes a larger refrigerator topped with a microwave, sink, and pantry or closet lined with cedar, are two separate bathrooms, also a customization. One bathroom houses a toilet while the other houses the sink and mini tub/shower. With a family of 5, we hope to avoid hogging the bathroom when another family member needs the other facility.

The Color Scheme



Above is my color scheme, which I'm so excited about! I'm currently working on all the curtains, which will be hung from rustic and durable curtain rods made from plumbing pipe. The main fabric is the Ivon navy/aqua/white geometric cascade print with the Lalo poppy red/aqua/white overlapping "shells" for the curtain tiebacks (as well as the reverse for the bunkhouse privacy curtain). I will be making a bunch of pillows for the dinettes, sofas, and bunks, from all the other Premier Prints fabrics shown. Most of the fabrics are outdoor fabrics for extra durability and longevity; they are rated for 1,000 hours of direct sun exposure! Once we have the camper, I will be making "cushion wraps" in the coral Gotcha print, not available in an outdoor print, to protect the cushions some. They will cover approximately 2/3 in the center. I think it will be a striking accent as well. Our sand/white cabana stripe duvet is from Pottery Barn, as well as the kid's pool stripe duvets from Pottery Barn Teen (these were on sale at an awesome price). Our two oldest have surfboard themed sheets, one in brights, the other in girly pastels, while the youngest has a little girl playing in the sand theme, also from Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids. Our melamine nonbreakable dishes and acrylic cups are from the Rope outdoor dinnerware line from Pottery Barn. I especially love the fish platter and the starfish bowls! Love them! They are no longer available, so you will have to hunt on ebay! The clear-and smooth-handled, "sea glass look" Jelli flatware is from Crate and Barrel. One of my favorite finds that I collected were the six 1960s Hazel Atlas milk glass coffee cups - I found 2 pink, 2 aqua, 1 yellow, and 1 green. Not yet bought are the cabinet knobs, aren't these sea glass knobs darling? They are from an Etsy shop, the owner of which lives very close to me! Or, should I go with these milk glass 1960 reproductions? Choices! I'd also like to add "stick-on" mosaic tiles as a backsplash in the kitchen, they are gel-filled and lightweight.

I have much sewing to do between now and our road trip down to Florida to visit the grandparents during Winter Break! Stay tuned for more installments on our camper once we pick 'er up!

My Sources

If you'd like to take a look at my sources, visit my Pinterest boards called Glamping, Glamping Decor, Glamping Organization, and Glamping RV Resorts, Parks, and Campgrounds.

No comments:

Post a Comment