A couple with a passion for DIY have transformed a dated static caravan into a stylish riverside retreat for under £3,000. Nicola Harris, 52, and her husband Mark, 59, bought the caravan in Shillingford-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, earlier this year and spent four weekends giving it a complete refit.
The couple paid £8,000 for the caravan, which Nicola described as 'really dated' and 'in good condition but quite clean', but not to her taste. They then invested just under £3,000, with half the cost going towards new flooring, blinds and a plush sofa. They removed the fitted sofas and side units in the living room, painted all interior walls and units, and replaced curtains with made-to-measure venetian blinds for just over £200.
Stick-on metro tiles were used to freshen up the kitchen and bathroom, while bargain home stores provided lamps, mirrors and fake plants. A local company installed herringbone vinyl flooring, which Nicola said changed the feel of the caravan instantly. However, removing the old carpet proved to be the most challenging task.
'Apparently they carpet caravans, then add the fitted furniture – so wardrobes, sofas, and even the shower cubicle had the pink carpet underneath,' Nicola explained. 'I was still pulling up carpet at midnight the Sunday evening before the flooring was laid. I could have cried that night.'
The caravan is just 25 minutes from the couple's Oxfordshire home, making it an ideal staycation spot as travel restrictions remain uncertain. Nicola said she is looking forward to creating memories with family and friends, and that the van will also be available for her grown-up children to use. 'It's made me look more at holidaying in England in the future, rather than feeling I always have to jet off somewhere for a break,' she added.
