Mackerel House | Our latest bathroom interior design project is the beginning of a much more substantial renovation, set to take place in the second half of 2023.

Images: Mindi Cooke.

After 4 years under our house patiently waiting for her moment in the sun, our 1970’s vintage Viscount, Goldie was our chance to take what we learned from our previous 4 vans and create something truly just for us.

Goldie’s colour scheme feels like a step back in time and pays tribute to golden hour, our favourite time of day and when the Gold Coast is at its best. We used the Taubmans Coloursmith app to come up with some seriously special paint colours, in White Knight Paints products that are designed to withstand small space living, life on the road and everything that comes with van life.

Painting the interior

Unlike some of our other vans, Goldie was a full strip out. There was nothing to be rescued inside so we used the opportunity to come up with a completely new layout that served our lifestyle and the way we like to use our vans. We lined all the walls and made all the cabinetry with light weight, bracing plywood, which was cost effective, durable and brings loads of warmth.

We sealed the top half of the walls with a polyurethane sealant and the rest we painted we primed with White Knight Renew Tile and Laminate primer before following with White Knight Renew Tile and Laminate paint. We could have used a standard interior wall paint on this surface, but we know from our previous vans that this paint is designed to be incredibly hardy and can take the knock about lifestyle that comes with small space van living. It can also be tinted in any colour. I came up with an earthy, dusky pink colour that I created with the Taubmans Coloursmith app which complements the timber as well as the exteriors colours.

Goldie’s interior colour Coloursmith QR code.

Painting the exterior

Before we could get to the fun part of getting colour on the exterior we needed to prep and paint the chassis. We got rid of any loose rust and painted the steel with White Knight Rust Guard Hammered finish in Charcoal. It’s anti-corrosive, super durable and is also ideal for disguising stone chips that comes with van life.

Coming up with the colour scheme for our van exteriors always feels like a big deal. It sets the tone for the entire scheme. I wanted Goldie to feel like you’ve been transported to the 70’s, warm and toastie like a sunset and little bit different from what we’ve done in the past.  I used the Taubmans Coloursmith app, I came up with two unique, complementing colours that I can only describe as sort of peach and sort of berry. The colours contrast each other but still feel part of the same family and therefore keep it feeling tonal which, I love.

Coloursmith QR code: Goldie’s exterior bottom colour

Coloursmith QR code: Goldie’s exterior top colourPainting metals

There is always a few metal surfaces to address when it comes to our caravans. As we’ve done with all our caravan windows, we painted Goldie’s windows with White Knight Squirts which is perfect for fine metals like this. And we opted for the colour Mocha which helped the windows blend rather than pull focus.

Then there is our fridge. Rather than squeeze our food into a caravan-specific fridge when camping, we use a small domestic fridge which sits under our awning but the black was not going to fly with our new van colours so we painted it with White Knight Rust Guard Epoxy Enamel tinted in a Taubmans Coloursmith colour that complements the van. There is no primer needed for this when used on new or only slightly rusted metal, so it was as simple as wipe and paint.

Another vintage belle ready to hit the road!

Carlene 

This blog was brought to you by White Knight Paints. All words and ideas are my own.

Images by Mindi Cooke.

About 6 years ago my sister and family moved into a quirky mid century style home on the Gold Coast. It got a complete internal renovation but the bedrooms were left very, very naked (boring) so at the beginning of this year they got a full overhaul and what a transformation.

Niece’s Room

VJ Panelling:  Easy VJ from Easycraft

VJ Panelling Colour: Taubmans Coloursmith Caramello. Scan the above QR code at paint counter to get your colour tinted.

Wallpaper: Marbella Papaya wallpaper by Walter G Textiles

Wall light: Gypset Cargo

Chair: Vintage and covered in leather scrap

Desk: Polytec Florentine Walnut

Desk chair: Vintage and covered in leather scrap

Bench seat: Calverton Stripe in Gold from Warwick Fabrics and edging in Elton in peach from Warwick Fabrics. Covered by Dog Thumb Designs.

Surfboard Print: Kara Rosenlund and framed by Left Bank Art Group

Other Framed Pieces: Vintage top framed by Left Bank Art Group

Other Framed Pieces: Art print from  Point Lookout Markets, North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah)

Bed Linens: Djenj dja Komrdawh Linen Quilt Cover Kip and Co and Adairs pillowcases

Nephew’s Room

VJ Panelling: Easy VJ from Easycraft

VJ Panelling Colour: Taubmans Coloursmith BB Blue. Scan the above QR code at paint counter to get your colour tinted.

Wallpaper: Naoshima Marine Wallpaper by Walter G Textiles

Chair: Vintage and covered in fabric by These Walls

Fish Prints: North Stradbroke Island markets and framed by Left Bank Art Group

Vintage Fishing Lures: Ebay – framing by Left Bank Art Group

Bedding Linen: Fabric from Spotlight and sewn by local sewer

Lamp: House Doctor Game lamp from Royal Design

Desk Chair: Vintage and covered in leather scrap

Cabinetry: Polytec Floretine Walnut

Bedside Tables: Crescent Bedside from Poppy Little Treasures

Master Bedroom

VJ Panelling: EasyVJ from Easycraft

VJ Panelling Colour: Taubmans Coloursmith The Deep Seas. Scan the above QR code at paint counter to get your colour tinted.

Bedhead: Custom bedhead from Dog Thumb Design in fabric by These Walls

Bed Linens: Sage linen quilt cover from Cultiver Goods

Side Table: One World Collection

Wall Lights: Mayclay Ceramics

Lamp: Beacon Lighting

Mirror: Three Balls Red

Striped Chair: Vintage and covered in Calverton Stripe from Warwick Fabrics

Bench Cushion Cover: Top in Bristol in Jade from Warwick Fabrics and edging in Ticking Stripe from Spotlight covered by Dog Thumb Designs

Images by Mindi Cooke.

Carlene xx

A project close to us (literal and metaphorical), my parents purchased an original 80s brick home that made for a satisfying yet accessible transformation. With Hacienda vibes, lush beautiful acreage and streams of natural light through in-built skylights we drew inspiration from the original stained glass windows to create a timeless aesthetic that feels like a true representation of their 60+ years of life.

Kitchen

Cabinetry colour – Taubman’s Irish Blessing created with Coloursmith App. Scan the above QR code at paint counter to get your colour tinted.

Wall colour – Barely Beige Quarter, Taubmans

Cabinetry – MCDAS Projects

Cabinetry pulls – Hepburn Hardware

Splashback tiles – National Tiles

Benchtop – Organic White, Caesarstone

Kitchen tapware – Abey Australia

Kitchen butler’s sink – Abey Australia

Sink in butler’s pantry – Abey Australia

Oven – Smeg

Fridge – Fisher Paykel

Flooring – Decorug 

Vase – Vintage

Stools – Satara Living

Wooden shelf – Recycled

Rangehood – rendered by Render X

Dining Room

Round Dining Table – Saloon Round Dining Table by Canvas and Sasson

Chairs – Vintage (painted)

Curtains – DIY Blinds

Pendant light – House of Orange

Flooring – Decorug

Wall panelling – 100mm EasyVJ from Easycraft

Vase – Vintage

Wall render – Render X

Wall colour – Barely Beige Quarter, Taubmans

Laundry & Linen Cupboard

Cupboard handles – Etsy

Cupboards – Laminex Spinefex

Basket – Bishiri Bolga Basket

Rug – Persian from AU Rugs

Powder Room

Wall paint colour – Taubman’s Soldier On created with Coloursmith App. Scan the above QR code at paint counter to get your colour tinted.

Timber vanity – Zanui (retrofitted bedside table)

Stone basin – Stone and Rock

Tapwear – ABI Interiors

Mirror – Gallery Direct

Artwork – Vintage

Vases – Vintage

Wall panelling – Easy VJ from Easycraft

Door – Hume Doors

Master Bedroom

Wall colour – Taubman’s The In-between created with Coloursmith App. Scan the above QR code at paint counter to get your colour tinted.

Bedside table – One World Collection 

Dresser – Left by previous owner’s

Mirror – Facebook Marketplace

Lamp – Parent’s already owned

Wall light – Emac & Lawton Lighting

Ottoman – Jenna Sherpa Ottoman by Pillow Talk

Bedding quilt cover – Parent’s already owned, an old Laura Ashley

Bed – Facebook Marketplace 

Artwork – Parent’s previous pieces

Curtains – DIY Blinds

Rug – Tribe Home

Chair – Oma & Opa’s 50+ year old TV chair reupholstered by Foam World

Flooring – Decorug

Office/Flex Space

Wall Colour – Taubman’s Noodie Roodie created with Coloursmith App. Scan the above QR code at paint counter to get your colour tinted.

Sofa – Vintage covered in Warwick Fabric

Throw – Target

Cushions – Heirloom Stripe in Rosewater by Aura Home

Ottoman – Jenna Sherpa Ottoman by  Pillow Talk

Rug – Tribe Home

Mirror – Mum and Dad’s

Wall lamp – Emac & Lawton Lighting

Curtains – DIY Blinds

Desk – left by previous owner

Lamp – left by previous owner

Guest Bedroom 1

Wall colour – Taubman’s The In-between created with Coloursmith App. Scan the above QR code at paint counter to get your colour tinted.

Artwork – Oma’s framed embroidery framed by Left Bank Art Group

Wall light – Fat Shack Vintage

Curtains – DIY Curtains and Blinds DIY Blinds

Bedding Coverlet – Verdant Country Quilt from Canvas and Sasson

Round Pom Pom Cushion – H&M Home

Bed – Michael’s childhood bed 

Flooring – Decorug

Guest Bedroom 2

Wall colour – Taubman’s Noodie Roodie created with Coloursmith App. Scan the above QR code at paint counter to get your colour tinted.

Artwork Embroideries – Oma’s framed embroidery framed by Left Bank Art Group

Artwork Tulips – Painted by Mum’s friend

Lamp – Facebook Marketplace

Bolster Cushion – Luxury Velvet Bolster by Aura Home

Bedding Quilt Cover – Left by previous owners

Bedside Table – Left by previous owners

Bed – Left by previous owners

Exterior

Paint colour – Taubmans, Cotton Ball

Bench seat – Left by previous owner and painted black

Garden lamp – Original

That should be it – but if not, please ask questions in the comments section below because no doubt others will have the same.

Carlene xx