You absolutely loved former Blockheads Carlene and Michael Duffy’s last vintage caravan renovation so when we heard that they have put another one on the market, we had to take a tour. Experts at vintage caravan renovations, this one, named Dolly, is a retro baby blue dream. At 22 feet long, the 1970s caravan is the largest the interior design duo has renovated, making it ideal for a family.
“We sourced and renovated her in 2017, not to a specific brief. It might have taken six months in total. Walking inside Dolly feels like a holiday. There is something simple and calming about small space living and yet by van scale, Dolly is a whopper!” says Carlene of the van that features beds at both ends (including a gorgeous brass-trimmed bunk), as well as a fully functioning kitchen area, dining nook and plenty of storage space.
The renovation includes the Cedar & Suede designers’ signature brass accents combined with pastel tones and quirky prints. “We love Dolly’s fresh, retro, coastal vibe,” says Carlene who maintained as much of the original van as possible throughout the restoration.
Painted in Taubmans’ Crashing Waves and Big White, the caravan features timber-look vinyl planks on the floor and a combination of renovated and new elements within. The dining area features a resurfaced collapsible table (in Laminex Carrara), freshly sprayed gold table legs as well as newly upholstered bench seating. “We love combining gold with 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,” says Carlene.
The kitchen nook has a matching Laminex benchtop, white subway tiles, brass tapware and the couple replaced the original, amber-coloured glass from the front of the kitchen cupboards with brass netting. The kitchen also features a gas stove top burner and Dometic 12 volt/24 volt RV refrigerator.
As for the sleeping arrangement, there’s a queen-sized bed up one end a bunk bed at the other. The queen bed features handy under-bed storage with gas struts.
Dolly is registered, weighs just over 2 tonne, has electric brakes and a 12 volt deep cycle battery. The van is available for pick up from the Gold Coast and, based on vintage van market research, all offers over $30k will be considered.
