Our New to Us Camper

Summer 2011 we purchased a new to us tent trailer.  It is a Starcraft Centennial with some extra features that we love!  One being that it is high sided which means you do not have to flip over your sink to break down.  This saves time and allows for extra storage.  The second thing I love is the white cupboards and light  flooring!  I don't know why camper manufacturers still produce those awful brown cupboards.  If only the camper manufacturers would discover pintrest or blogs about people who mod their campers!  They might be inspired to try some colour inside!

The other great thing is air-conditioning.  I never thought it would be something I would want or need, but we travel to the states to camp and leave the fresh Bay of Fundy breezes behind us.  We have been so grateful to have this feature, especially this summer in New York when we camped less than hour outside of the city. Very hot!

Anyways, I thought I would post some photos because I know that other campers love to get ideas from one another!  I certainly have been inspired by other campers who show off their modifications, though with this camper I didn't have to work to hard like I did with my last one.  This was just needed lipstick!

I made new curtains and valance to replace the standard  tacky curtains that come with campers!  The little white and black dots on the wall are chalk & whiteboard dots that my daughter plays with!

The Clothes hanger on the ceiling is used to hang a shoe holder which is great for bread, chips, and other food items.  I use a plate shelf to elevate the toaster oven giving me storage underneath for plates, or whatever.  The shower caddy I cut to fit and use it to hold cups, dish soap, magnetic spice holders.

We have a tip out window and the kitchen slides out to give you  more room.  The tip out window was screaming for a modification.  We created this shelf from a closet system, wire and some s hooks.  We drilled two holes into the metal frame and voila, a sturdy shelf that I can't live without!

We added extra S hooks from Ikea to hang our Ikea mugs.

Using larger S Hooks, again from Ikea, I can hang my frying pan and my cute  little whisk from Anthropologie!

 

Opposite the door was a hanging closet.  I removed it as it was bulky and I would rather use the plastic drawers.  I also hang from the hooks in the ceiling from the closet, the 3 tier organizer.  Way more practical and keeps the camper feeling  roomy!

On this counter I used a shoe rack upside down and as you can see, I add my coffee maker, grinder, etc.. without losing counter space!  I hang my necklaces of the ends of the rack...very handy!  I also used more chalk board decals on the fridge...very handy!

Love all the cupboard space!

Double Sink, Hot & Cold Water and filtered water!

 

Love those 3M hangers.  No space is wasted.  I love my small Bodum kettle in Orange!  My toaster  oven is both a toaster in the traditional upright sense and a toaster oven!

There are drawers under the seats and plugs too!  You can't have enough plugs!

Very Roomy & Comfortable!

I always change the knobs in my campers.  So easy and fun!  Love the extra storage too!

Camper Remodel

New screens, canvas repaired, awning fixed.

 I'm finally posting photos of our old Bonair tent trailer that we sold last summer.  We bought this from one of my husband's co-workers in early May a few years ago.  Because the couple were sooo nice we didn't insist that they put up the trailer all the way.  They told us there were a few rips and some minor repairs needed.  So, we paid them and took our new trailer home so very excited!


Wow, I quickly became discouraged once the thing went up.  It needed so much work.  The canvas was in terrible shape with many rips and tears, the floor was soft in spots, the fabric on the beds, seat cushions and curtains was duck themed and I felt like crying!


But, my hubby reminded me that we got a great deal, the camper was made in Canada and was very sturdy over all and we both love fixer uppers and would have fun remodeling the tent trailer.  So, we went to work and worked hard under a tight deadline as our first camping trip was booked with my family!  


We removed all the canvas, I scrubbed all the mold off, then set about sewing patches into the canvas.  I used my trusty sewing machine, worked outside on the deck, found myself sewing with pounds of fabric draped over and around me.  My husband would have to hold the fabric to support the weight so that we wouldn't kill my sewing machine.


He replaced the floor underneath, painted any rusty items outside, we added new taps, plugs, shelving, I made new curtains and slip covers for the seats and added some fun items to organize and utilize space.  We laid new cushion floors, new door knobs, oh and new bug screens on every window...that alone saved us hundreds of dollars!  We finished it off by waterproofing the fabric.  Enjoy the before and after photos!

icky curtains

if only you could see the holes and tears in the bug screens...

ugly, dirty,  green slipcovers and gross curtains 

area where the floor was soft

New Curtains, New slipcovers, new cover on the mattress

This was a 12ft box and very spacious.  We added a shelf over the sink, new hardware on the cupboards, a new tap, spice rack, and many other extras.

The couch with a new slipcover and it folded out into a bed.  Very handy with four kids plus it had more storage underneath.

Loved these handles from Target

I used a shower organizer cut to fit to hold my retro melamine dishes and  other kitchen items.

perfect spot for drawers and our coffee maker

New Taps!

It really was spacious and airy!

Bed all made up for sleeping.  That is a locker organizer hanging of the rod and I used butterfly lights since our camper being older didn't have the connection in the ceiling.  It was perfect!

I still use this in my new camper.  At the top is where I put my paper towel  which is perfect!

Next time I will post before and afters of my new camper which I love!  It is one of those high sided tent trailers with all white cabinets!  Love it!

Woodburn Primary School

This is where I went to school in Northern Ireland.  It has grown up since we left but the old stone walls are still there, though no donkeys in the fields.  

The famous lamp post.

Mr Wright had a fright
in the middle of the night
saw a ghost eating toast
halfway up the lamp post.

Bread Baking

There is nothing nicer than homemade breads and rolls.  It just doesn't compare to the bread you buy in the stores.  I am learning to make artisan style breads and hope to someday make bread as delicious as artisan bakers!

my family loves it when I make homemade rolls

waiting for the dough to rise and adding toppings

Life in our Livingroom!

This is my livingroom where we use and abuse it everyday!  It's comfy, messy, and one of my favourite rooms in my house!

working on the tree

this is a camera app from my phone to add that 70's flavour.

love this vintage feel to this photo!

My sweet little ella!

This is Ella talking about Outflow at her school.  Her Vice-Principal made this video to share with the students at her school.  She started volunteering with me along with my niece Kristen almost two years ago.  She comes with me every month to the one we hold at our local church.  I am always amazed by the ease in which she serves people who often look rough because of their sad situations.  We get quite a few kids coming to help at Outflow under the watchful eyes of their parents;  it is one of the highlights for me!

Container Gardening...

Well, my uber talented sister along with the ever creative Matthew Mead have created another beautiful magazine all about container gardening.  You can find this magazine at newstands everywhere!