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.

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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

Gone are the days where the laundry is a mere utility space. Ours is one of my favourite spaces. It fills me with joy to look down our kitchen into this space which is not a feeling people typically equate with the laundry. The nude coloured Venetian Plaster makes this room glow. It invites you in like an alluring sunset.

Laundry

Wall finish: Istinto Levigata

Rug: Vintage from AU Rugs

Flooring: Polished concrete completed by Ozgrind

Benchtop: WK Quantum Quartz Q6 in Bianco Classico

Cupboards: Freedom Kitchens in Slate green

Cupboard handles: Lo and Co Interiors

Farmhouse Basin: Abey

Tapwear: ABI Interiors

Appliances

Washing Machine: Electrolux 9kg Front Load Washer with SensorWash EWF9043BDWA

Dryer: Electrolux 8kg Heat Pump Dryer EDH803BEWN

Carlene x

Meet Dolly; and while I know that you’ve probably already seen, met, and loved her as much as we have, it’s time to break down the nitty gritty of our largest (22 foot to be exact!) home on wheels. Featuring beds at both ends, including the sweetest of bunks, a spacious, fully functioning kitchen area, dining nook and heaps of storage space, Dolly rolls into a camping ground in style.

Utilising our signature brass accents, combined with pastels and quirky prints, we love Dolly’s fresh, retro, coastal vibe. In an effort to salvage as much of the original van as possible, we’ve restored the original handles, cabinetry and dining table in keeping with the van’s heritage. Dolly is a light, bright, breath of fresh air. She is our home away from home, our beach holiday on wheels. She is named to honour the legacy of Dolly Everett, who leaves behind a powerful message, “speak even if your voice shakes.” May her death not be in vain.

Ready to create your own dream home on wheels? Learn a few tips and tricks from us on how to buy and bring back to life your van – watch here.

Then, see below our resources guide where we sourced everything from the tiles, to the paint colours, bedding, and appliances for Dolly.

Overall Look and Feel

Interior Paint (Blue): Taubmans Crashing Waves
Interior Paint (White): Taubmans Big White
Exterior Paint (Blue): Taubmans Crashing Waves
Exterior Paint (White): Taubmans Big White
Flooring: Godfrey Hirst “Spotted Gum” Vinyl Planks from DecoRug
Cabinetry: Original cabinetry painted in White Knight Laminate Paint in Taubmans Crashing Waves
Cabinetry brass fronts: Arrow Metal
Door knobs: Original painted in White Knight Squirts in Satin Gold
Decal sign: Advanced Signworks

Dining

Bench fabric print: Palm Paisley in Sapphire from 3Beaches
Bench fabric navy: Navy Velvet from Warwick Fabric
Dining table: Original resurfaced in Laminex Carrara Laminate
Brass strip: George White

Kitchen Nook

Kitchen benchtop: Laminate Carrara by Laminex
Kitchen tiles: Tic Tac Tiles from Ebay
Kitchen tapware: Imported direct (Cedar and Suede)
Kitchen appliances: Dometic
Kitchen sink: Ebay

Beds

Bed linens queen: Quilt over from Adairs
Bed linens bunk beds: Quilt covers from Linen House, sheets from Savannah and Three, pillow cases from Pottery Barn Kids
Curtains: Warwick Fabric
Bed ladder: Oak dowel custom made by Michael

Small Decor

Vases: Kaz Morton Ceramics and Sheridan Australia
Blue bowl: Kmart

 DOLLY’S SHOP IT MOODBOARD

(Top to bottom L-R) 3 Beaches Palm Paisley Print | George White Brass Detailing | Nora Roberts Book | Kaz Morton Vase | Arrow Metal Woven Brass

I think that covers all of the big to little details on our gorgeous Dolly, but if not, please ask questions in the comments section below and I will do my best to source it. And for more vintage caravan goodness follow This Old Van on Instagram.

Carlene xx