A stunning coffee table book for DIYers, interior design lovers, as well as vanlife and tiny homes enthusiasts, This Old Van is the complete how-to guide to plan, renovate and style your own vintage van to give it a second life.

We have received countless emails from keen renovators around the world asking for advice on refitting a vintage van or RV. So we’ve compiled our tips, tricks, and the wisdom we have learned on our own projects and distilled it into one helpful and beautiful book. Learn what to look for when purchasing a second-hand van, follow detailed information on planning and construction, and discover plenty of design and styling tips, alongside beautiful photos of our many van conversions to help provide further inspiration.

For many, a van or RV is much more than just a holiday home – it’s a vehicle for freedom and adventure, or might even be your permanent home. We address every consideration from budgeting and spatial planning to colour palettes, so you can create your dream home on wheels.

Shop an exclusive signed copy from us of This Old Van here.

SHOP YOUR COPY NOW.

Originally named ‘Blenheim House’, this majestic New Farm home was originally constructed circa 1887. She’s a special part of Brisbane’s history and encompasses everything I love about a home; history, character and mood.  Below, we show you round one of a two-part renovation that was in fact carried out way back in 2019. Round one called for relatively moderate changes to make the more enjoyable for this growing family of 5.  Next year, this beautiful home will be altered by a much more significant renovation in accordance with local Heritage requirements but for now, enjoy Annie Street round one.

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

Four different material boards created for Ausmar Homes aimed to inspire the home selection process.

European

A tonal colour scheme, rich in materiality.

Panels
Batten 25 – Surround by Laminex

Laminate
Natural Teak – Laminex
Peruvian Clay – Laminex
Porcelain Blush – Laminex

Paint
Eggshell Pink 1/4 – Dulux

Metal
Living Rustic Bronze – Sussex Taps

Carpet
Lisburn Collection in ‘Cambric’ – Bremworth

Wallpaper
Grasscloth in ‘Safari’ – Porter’s Grasscloth

Fabric
Tan Suede – Warwick Fabrics
Boucle – Warwick Fabrics
Leather – Wortley Group

Stone
Fieldstone Aspen – PGH Bricks

Brick
Morada Ares – PGH Bricks

Tiles
Urban Atelier Marfim Gloss (Powder pink) – National Tiles
Stucco Square Cotto Matt – National Tiles
Cuccaro Arena 600×600 – National Tiles

Hardware
Pembrey Bar Handle 320mm Bronze – Furnware

Australia

Inspired by our rich, unique Australian landscape.

Panels
Batten 25 – Surround by Laminex

Laminate
Seed – Laminex
Possum – Laminex
Burnt Ochre – Laminex

Paint
Still – Dulux

Metal
Living Rustic Bronze – Sussex Taps

Carpet
Galet Collection in ‘Sienna’ – Bremworth
Galet Collection in ‘Sage’ – Bremworth

Wallpaper
Cheyennes 73850172 – Unique Fabrics

Classic

A broody, sophisticated approach to a traditional interior.

Panels
Heritage 150 – Surround by Laminex

Laminate
Elegant Oak – Laminex

Stone
Luna Concrete – Essastone
Grigio Novello – Essastone

Paint
Namdji – Dulux

Tapware
Posh Canterbury – Reece

Carpet
Ripples Collection in ‘Ohau’ – Bremworth

Flooring
Venture Vinyl Plank in ‘Ironbark’ – Andersens Noosa

Fabric
Tan Leather – Warwick Fabrics
Leaf Pattern (on black tile) – Unique Fabrics
Stripe (under black tile) – Unique Fabrics
Amalfi Zebra (under marble tile) – King Living

Tiles
Colosseum Castro White Honed Tile – National Tiles
Carva Borghini Satin Tile 600×600 – National Tiles
Byron Marquinia 195×195 – National Tiles

Hardware
Pembrey T-Knob Polished Nickel – Furnware
Black Handle – Kethy