Before and After – 1972 Frolic Camper Remodel – Bathroom Door

If you’ve been following my 1972 Frolic camper restoration project then you’ve seen a lot of our before and after pictures here.   And at one point I even said that you’ve probably seen the last of the inside work, but there was one last project that had to be dealt with in the Pink Paradise.  The bathroom doorway and door.

The door was heavy, ugly, and to be honest, I just didn’t like it.  Not to mention that both had been chewed on by rodents..  I saved the door project for last hoping that as the rest of the remodel came together I’d know exactly what I wanted to do about the door.  Hubby and I were discussing what we were going to do with it one day and I told him I’d like a Dutch door, and nearly at the same time he suggested building a French Door. 

And here is what we created after putting our two heads together.

Hubby made the trim and the doors; I painted them.  I  just love the cottage look it gives the camper.  Plus, we can still see all the hard work we did remodeling the bathroom.

I’m now in search for some old door latches that will work on the doors.  Always another adventure!

Coming soon – pictures of her new paint job!

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1972 Frolic Camper Restoration Project

I’ve been tracking down (affordable) paint for the exterior of the Pink Paradise and as soon as she’s painted I’ll be sure to share her new coat with you.  I’m pretty certain that this will be the last post you will see about her interior restoration.  It’s been a long haul; and she took more time, money, and determination than I originally expected to put forth to finish her up, but I’m so happy with the “new” her.

I couldn’t resist sharing a few before and after pictures of her with you before I close out this chapter of the Pink Paradise.

Tell me, from the pictures below do you like her made into a kitchen or a bedroom better?

As I’ve mentioned before, the bathroom was the biggest challenge since it required a complete tear out, new plumbing and electric, and a remodel.

And what do you think of her new bathroom?  The cedar was hubby’s idea and I absolutely love it.  Smells great and looks so cute!  I’m still looking for the perfect mirror to put in the bathroom. Any ideas?

Thanks for all of your interest in the transformation of the Pink Paradise.  She is a celebrity in her own right.

I’m thinking of turning my love for these old campers into a small business.  If you’re in the market for your very own glamper then please contact me and let’s talk!

My First Night of Glamping!

Ready or not – glamping here I come!

Just so you know, I’m writing this post from the Pink Paradise!

With today being the last day of July, I was slightly discouraged because the camper remodel isn’t completely done.  Of course there are a number of legitimate reasons for this.  The extreme heat this summer has slowed us down, family emergencies, illness, broken down vehicles, and lack of money are just a few of the things that have kept us from finishing her up.  Hey, it happens.

And then I had an epiphany… Why does she have to be completely finished to enjoy her?

With that thought bouncing around in my head I quickly tracked down some bedding that would fit the camper bed.  I then asked hubby for a few minutes of his time so we could convert the dining table into the bed; he graciously obliged.  As he disappeared to work on another project that was calling his name, I lit my new Yankee Camping Out candle, poured a glass of wine, cranked the tunes, and hopped up on the bed with my computer to write.  Yep, it’s just me and PInky.

Between the smell of the fresh linens and fresh air I am in heaven. The temperature inside is perfect, the dimmed lights in the camper project a warm and cozy feeling, and looking outside all I see is darkness.

I  remind myself that one of these days soon we will finish this project.

In the meantime, I will sit back, relax, and enjoy using her just the way she is.

I only wish that all of you could be here glamping with me.  What fun we’d have!

Baby’s Got A New Pair Of Shoes! And…

With the interior of the Pink Paradise (nearly) done (I feel like I’ve said that before!) we have started to work on the outside.  The other day I spent a couple hours (no exaggeration) scraping old bumper stickers off of the siding. 

Side note: Gradually, I’ve been picking up vintage items for the camper. I’m a thrifty shopper and nearly everything I’ve bought so far has come from auctions, estate sales, thrift stores and the dollar store.

The new cedar bathroom below smells so good!

The first thing we replaced on the exterior of the camper was the tires.  The old ones were seriously dry rotted and there was no way they were going to take us very far from home.  And besides the tires, we had to replace the jack and install the propane tanks and holder. 

It does seem that some days the work on the Paradise will never end.  Yet to come, exterior lights, prep and painting, awning, and God only knows what else…

Vintage Camper Re-Plumbing–Not A Job For The Faint Hearted

The Frolic, also now known as the Pink Paradise, has had some serious plumbing issues. While much of the work is still being completed I thought I’d share an update.

Since a few of the exposed PVC pipes and copper lines showed obvious damage, we decided to remove the shower insert to get a better look underneath.

This was a good move on our part since we found the lines under it in need of replacement as well.

Here are some signs of the damage, and here are some before and after shots of the shower insert.

To work on the water lines, check the pump, and remove the fresh water tank (to clean it and check for leaks) we had to remove the table, along with the recently upholstered cushions. I felt like we were moving backwards instead of forward.

The 12 volt operated water pump (below) looks ancient, but the good news; it still runs!

While working under the seat we found carpenter ants that weren’t very eager to vacate the camper.  Here is an example of the damage the can cause.

Here is how we evicted them.  It took 2 foggers to do the job.

Below, we have replaced the ant infested wood, cleaned what was a terribly dirty and looked almost unsalvageable fresh water tank, and started running new water line. 

We found the kitchen sink faucet was filled with a mud wasp nest so we replaced that too.

And here is proof of our progress.

What’s next?  We still have to check the gas lines for safety reasons, ensure the hot water heater works, and check out the furnace too.  We need to  finish the bathroom plumbing, track down a water leak (when it rains) that we noticed in the bathroom, and hopefully after we get those things out of the way we can start rebuilding the bathroom. 

I have been working on the curtains for the Paradise.  I think you’re going to like them, but that’s a story for another day. 

So, are you ready to buy a vintage camper to re-do?  Or, do you want to hire us to do it for you?

To follow the Pink Paradise project from the beginning, and see all the updates along the way, type Pink Paradise into my blog’s search engine.  You’ll be able to read each post featuring the Paradise.

Pink Paradise–Update #2

A lot has happened in the Pink Paradise since my last update. 

We insulated and installed wainscoting on the ceiling and wall in the area where the table/bed will be. Spackled and filled holes, prepped the surface of the floor, and installed self-stick tiles where the table/bed will be.  We wallpapered behind the stove, and then took it back off after finding that the surface underneath the paper was in need of more work. We tested the electric and found the lights and the stove hood all work, puttered with the fridge and believe it works but we need to level the trailer before we go any further, repaired damaged screens, and did a little more painting.  Whew…

This area shown (below) was exposed prior to getting the camper.  The insulation was missing so we replaced it.  I wasn’t paying attention when my husband said we needed to reinforce the ceiling before putting up the wainscoting and you will see a slight sag in the new ceiling.

The floor tile (below) was so inexpensive, and was an easy quick install.

The wallpaper on the side of the cupboard (shown below) stays, but the rest of the wallpaper had to be removed. More wall prep is necessary before re-installation.  But we have lights!

Nearly every screen needed to be replaced.  They look so much better now.

There is going to be a vintage travel trailer rally here in the Finger Lakes area (Sampson State Park) in September.  I can’t wait to go check out all of the cool campers.  If we don’t take the Pink Paradise this year, I’m hoping to do so next year. 

Yet to come; covering the exposed wheel well and revising a cupboard area, trim work installation, cushions, curtains, and wallpapering, bathroom remodel, and firing up the appliances.  And once we finish the inside, we will move to the outside. 

Have a great weekend!

The Pink Paradise – Update #1

Real progress in the Pink Paradise.

When I started this project I consulted with a couple that sells vintage travel trailers in our area.  My big question to them was simple.  Do I keep the travel trailer original, or change it to something more my style.  There weren’t any nice birch cabinets to refinish in this trailer so their reply was; change it to something you like.  With that said, I have made some dramatic changes.  

The biggest challenge is working around the color of the original stove/oven.  I don’t want to replace it because it’s in excellent condition.  I think I’ve got this challenge all figured out, but only time will tell. 

So, are you ready for a sneak peek?

The bathroom before cleaning.  I found a live baby mouse cleaning this out – cute, but gross!

The bathroom after cleaning.  Ahh… Much better!

The major cleaning is done, and the persistent bees, mice and ants have been terminated, or have they?   And the bathroom is slated for a remodel just in case you’re wondering.

I had a nosey visitor stop by to check out my progress.  I think she was looking to see if I was planning on building a nesting box to accommodate her.

I removed a bulky plywood couch that took up entirely too much space in the trailer.  That will be replaced with some type of seating to cover the wheel well.  Still trying to decide exactly what.  Ideas?

No more bulky couch below.  Do you notice the pink paint?

I primed everything.  That was a time-consuming process since I decided to use a non-latex based primer and this type of primer does not apply quite as easily.  I also took all of the cabinet doors off, along with their hardware.  I can tell you that working in such a small space didn’t help speed things along either.

Remember the travel trailer before primer?

Look at the trailer after the primer, and with a touch of the pink paint.

Below, I have put the first coat of paint on the ceiling, walls, cabinets, and door latches.

Below is a picture of the start of the cherry laminate floor installation.  Hubby did the real carpentry work while I played carpenter’s helper. 

And lastly, here is the finished floor. What a transformation!

There is still a lot more work to be done, but I’m really happy with the progress we’ve made.  I promise lots more surprises.

If you missed my first post about the Pink Paradise check it out here.