signature,” says Carlene. “We love combining them with the pastels,
which are a real nod to that retro, coastal vintage feel. For us, the
idea is to retain the character where we can. So if it’s salvageable,
we refresh it and highlight that.”
All of Dolly’s handles are original and so is the dining table. “We
always keep the original tables,” says Carlene. “They are usually great
shapes and we simply resurface the top and spray the legs gold,
which ties in with the brass elsewhere.”
Since there’s only so much you can fit into a compact caravan,
Carlene says it’s nice to make a statement with the few things you can
add. “We like to fit classic style brass taps and use interesting fabrics
for the upholstery and curtains.” To increase the comfort factor in
Dolly, they installed a queen-size bed and Michael built Paddy and
Stella cool bunks from dowel and brass plumbing fittings.
One thing they have to be mindful of when renovating a caravan
(if they want it to move) is the weight. This means that the wall
panelling is made from a thinner MDF than they would use in a
house, and benchtops are laminate, not stone. “We also use vinyl
plank flooring, which is not only light but hardwearing,” says Carlene.
The biggest expense was the exterior paint job. “It cost $5500 to
paint Dolly, and that was a pretty good deal.” says Carlene, explaining
that using a professional automotive painter gets the best quality
result and makes all the difference to the final finish.
Hitting the road this summer, Dolly and the Duffys will travel
in both style and comfort. And as we speak, their latest renovation
project, a cute vintage van called Bumble Bee, which is just over
three and a half metres long, is being painted to pastel-perfection.
No prizes for guessing its colour.
For more information on Cedar + Suede, visit cedarandsuede.com.au.40 / Inside OutTHINGS WE LOVE