Here we are looking at it on the sales lot. You can already hear the wheels turning in her head!! Think of the possibilities!
BEFORE Took this photo the day we purchased it. Although its almost 10 years old, looks to have been used about 5 or 6 times. Previous owner was elderly and was nervous pulling it, so it set for several years unlicensed.
AFTER: Ok, the first thing you notice is the carpet and the white walls are gone. I wanted color, so chose colors from the Ralph Lauren palette in the "Suede" texture. By adding a chair rail, I could use two colors so that color didn't overwhelm the room. The light color carpet was removed, as it wasn't practical for where we go. I replaced it with vinyl plank flooring called Allure, by Trafficmaster sold at Home Depot. It adheres to itself so it is a "floating" floor.
BEFORE These units are pretty “white bread” from the factory! Again this is the day we came to look at the trailer. Wife purse is on the chair, but she had a death grip on the checkbook!
AFTER: Last touch was painting the white screen door. It stuck out like a sore thumb. The sconces were replaced with residential style that I rewired to accomodate 12v. The little table hides a fire extinguisher, but is accessible as there is no back to the table. The blinds replaced the day/night shades that were a hassle and didn't allow air circulation. The faux wood blinds are great, but the tapes photograph pink, but are really flesh colored.
BEFORE: Ok, to be honest there was carpet on the floor to start with. Got down to OSB, pulled 8 jillion (yes I counted them) staples then started laying vinyl strips.
DURING: This stuff goes together much better than laminate. Its actually vinyl that has a glue strip on the bottom on one side and on the top of the other, so you just lay them in place and press them together.
AFTER: The hardest part, of course was the slide. Since it is the old fashioned step up slide, I had to finish the leading edge with a hardwood frame, stained to match the vinyl.
BEFORE Kitchen window had a valance that blocked about 25% of the view. Light fixture over dining room table is called a "Glitter Ball". That was the first thing to go!
AFTER: By adding a cafe rod and a simple curtain, we could open it to actually see out the window. Notice the little white device under the drawers? Since a hard surface floor requires sweeping, this device called a VacPan makes life a lot easier in the cleanup department. Attached to a small portable vacuum located behind the large drawer to the right, it activates with a kick of the lever on the VacPan and sucks away the dirt as fast as you can sweep!
Close up of VacPan
BEFORE Originally, the medicine cabinet was on the wall where you can see the reflection from the mirror. With the door closed, the towel rack would prohibit a guy to stand up and do his business, so moved it to the present location.
AFTER Still a functional bathroom, but no longer resembles an airplane restroom! Plus I promised my grandaughter I would find a place for her painting somewhere in our "retirement home".
BEFORE: The bathtub is was what sold DW on this trailer, not that we use it as such, but it makes for a very large shower stall. I didn't like the brass &glass doors though, so they had to go.
AFTER: By removing the brass & glass doors, we saved 40# of excess weight and eliminated a potential for breakage. A simple shower rod and curtain weigh less, is easier to clean, and warms up the look of the bathroom.
SHOWER MODS: An increased pressure shower head, body wash/shampoo/conditioner dispenser and rack to hold the necessities for morning ablutions. Extra shower rod is to hold drying towels.
BEFORE: Moving into the bedroom....This was the from the factory setup. The headboard was completely hidden when the bedding was added. Also the verticle valances were solid and took up what room the nightstands gave you.
AFTER: Eliminated verticle valances and built a real headboard where I can put my glasses, etc. Used a "rust" treatment on the "woodwork". (Its all foam and MDF). Painted the lights to further expunge the brass motif!
NEW PICTURE! I got bored during the long rainy winter here, so decided to add a trim along the leading edge of the slide. Also painted the bedroom using an antique leather faux finish, and added some side valances on the outer edge for privacy. Man I have to stop watching HGTV!
NEW PICTURE! Here is a better shot of the paint job.
BEFORE The mirrored sliding doors had to go. For one thing, to make the bed, you had to open one to get past it and for another, I really don't like looking at myself in the morning! Oh, yea they are extra weight I really didn't feel like carrying.
AFTER: Ok, so I'm the first to admit I didn't care for the pattern on the replacement curtain, but hey, DW gets ONE room that's hers, right? Anyway, this curtain slides easily out of the way and makes more sense to me than floor to ceiling mirrors. Also recovered all the valances to eliminate the Vegas motel room look.. Replaced day/nites with levelors, again for air circulation. Baskets and wall organizer by IKEA. (UPDATE!!!) DW saw my comment about the pattern on the drape and took it down and replaced it with a solid color!! Is this a great gal, or what? Will replace picture soon!
NEW PICTURE! Yes, you'll notice that the ugly, er, colorful curtain went bye-bye!
BEFORE This silly thing has four shelves with a total of 180 square inches of capacity. It weighs about 30 lbs and doesn't even go clear to the back of the cabinet!
AFTER: These shelves are on a center mounted drawer glide. Unlike the factory rack, these shelves go clear to the back wall, gaining an additional 6 inches in depth and 3 additional inches in width.
ANOTHER view of pantry shelves. The weight of contents adds friction to the glide. They pull out easily, yet stay in place while on the road.
ADDED TOUCHES: Looking down into the living & dining room, I used the space above the slide to bring in some of the Pacific Northwest, with salmon and an antique split bamboo fly rod. (DW is so patient with me!) There were formica ledges around my chair, so replaced them with real wood. DW wanted more separation between Living room and kitchen, so built divider with PVC and a lighted valance. Removed the sofa and replaced with chair & ottoman. Dining Room table expands for projects (again from IKEA)
Another view of divider. DW always wanted a grandfather clock, but knowing we were going fulltime, had to settle for a baby version. Thought I would have to secure pendulum while traveling, but it seems to do fine. (Of course when it chimes, it sometimes is 16 O'clock.) Recovered the chair cushions with same material as dining room valances.
DWs "Libary" She wanted a bookshelf but books are too heavy to pack around, so used wallpaper instead. That basket behind her chair is filled with reading material. Bought that floor lamp behind the chair and anchored it to the floor. Built the window ledge for her Diet Cokes, etc.
LCD TV: I replaced the 25" Zenith Boat anchor that weighed in at about 80lbs for this 14lb. Samsung. It will never come out of there,,,,,ever.
OLYMPIAN WAVE 6: catalytic heater for those crispy nights boondocking, very little propane use, no battery drain. For the times we are plugged in, that little "Perfectoe" by Cadet electric heater on the riser step to the right was a great substitute for all my little space heaters.
DIDN'T LIKE the vinyl dust covers Olympian offered, so built this to cover heater when not in use.
So if you are ever camped next to an old '97 Alpenlite with an Escapee sticker on the back and an Alpenlite Travel Club #5955 on the front, please stop by for coffee or a drink. The welcome sign is always open.
