Anyhow my sister has my old Bailey pageant , she's 21 years old ( the van not my sister she's older lol) she loves that van so much but I agree with her the old girl although sound and dry ( thanks to my hubby) is very tired and so dated, so today we have decided that over the winter we are going to see her as a project and re vamp her in fabrics ect to her tastes and really make her hers.
I'm going to make new curtains ( I made the set she has in the van already) and I want to make new covers for the seats , is this possible to do as the button things are puzzling me, how do you put them back in when recovered, is there a tool you can buy, and also is it hard to put new carpet in, and also the woodwork is a bit drab can this be painted? Even tho it's veneered.She wants to cath kidson floral style shabby chic look it up.
Any advice, re furb pics, tips and ideas, would be welcome
Donna :)
hi ,there are various ways to do buttons ,some you just sew on leaving a long thread between the two buttons, some have a cord with like little clips each end. some can have a wire you hook on and wraparound to tie off. you may even find its helpfull to have a word with a local upholster . my mum used to do ours on the vans we sold but these days we get regal furnishings at ilkeston derbyshire to do them .we cant buy the foam and the material for the price they charge. you may be suprised how inexpensive they are. its even possible to park in their yard overnight and they do them the next day while you wait . or they will post. as for units all things are possible if you practice enough. . use an eggshell type finish as its abit more robust i find. cheers alan
Saw a Cath Kidson re-furb in a caravan on eBay last year - it was awful, easily the worst van on eBay, and we weren't the only ones to think so as it never sold and as far as I'm aware was scrapped - we phoned the seller who said if he couldn't sell on eBay he'd scrap it.
Regarding buttons, I've used a stiff piece of wire bent over on one end to take the button cord and used that as a needle through the foam but I believe that they are available in the shops
------------- Caravanning is a way of getting a cheap holiday out of an expensive hobby
I have just refilled my mattresses and cushions on my van.
As you say the buttons are the hardest to refit.
the ones i have have like plastic tee bars on them and the only way that i could refit them was to hook a circle of strong upholstery thread round them and sew them back on them selves.
i then used a large knitting needle to make a new hole and pulled them through with a large upholstery needle.
i bought the foam replacements from the foam shop in somerset, gave them the correct measurements and they fit perfectly
John
Thanks vwalan great tips going to look at seeing how much it would cost to get it re upholstered might be best.
Totally agree Runecaster not my cup of tea at all, but different strokes for different folks, resale won't be a problem she won't ever sell it, her words were I shall keep it till it falls of it's chassis, still will be somthing to while away the winter evenings.
Thanks John yes I've had a good look at the cushions today, I can see how they work but Putting then back looked tricky , going to have a practice on somthing :)
I'm not into Kath Kidson either but her fabrics are very popular!! So as long as its not to ott i can't see why you shouldn't refurb her to your not 21 year old sister lol
Ashwellgirl I think she just wants duck egg blue for the recovered seat and curtains , and just kath kidson floral cushion so I think that should look tasteful I've pursuaded her not to paint the cabinets , I can understand why she would want to cos it's quite dark and being an older van it dosnt have rooflights like our more modern ones, I think lightening the seats curtains and carpet will help no end and will freshen it up without being OTT, it's such a lovely van 2 berth but is very roomy, get rid if the brown velour seats and choc brown carpet and the old girl ( van not sister lol) will have a new lease of life :)
Wow Sue thanks for that link, you have explained it so well and I can't wait to get cracking now :)
it dosnt matter what anyone else thinks of your sisters van if she want kath kidson and its her vanand hes not planing on selling it she can do as much as she likes. our vans old we know we will probabaly be her last home and as i am a little odd shes going to be dect out just as WE want her and if others dont like it well they dont have to come in lol. Have fun doing her up
------------- Dyslexic not stuped
It's nice to be important but its more important to be nice
Quote: Originally posted by fallenangel on 02/9/2010
it dosnt matter what anyone else thinks of your sisters van if she want kath kidson and its her vanand hes not planing on selling it she can do as much as she likes. our vans old we know we will probabaly be her last home and as i am a little odd shes going to be dect out just as WE want her and if others dont like it well they dont have to come in lol. Have fun doing her up
totally agree with you :) can't wait, she has a couple more trips away in her to go then the transformation begins, really looking forward to it, I wish I could of kept the van but it just wasn't big enough :( but at least it's still in the family.I think it will look great and will really be fun doing it , I would love to do it with my new van Bit it's only 5 years old but my OH won't let me just yet, but in a couple of years I can recover the seats and give her new curtains :)
Donna
could you not make loose slip cover for your new van some matching cusions and replace the curtins tell hubby ts to keep them all clean and safe incase you resell the van lol.
my old van had a minnie make over when we got her but were doing the big one over the winter aswell inside and out but even the minnie ones had comnets like she looks lik a fortune tellrs van with her sequnined voils in black her tiger throws on the seats and red fluffy cusions lol
------------- Dyslexic not stuped
It's nice to be important but its more important to be nice
We had a chocolate brown carpet - ripped it out and put down sticky backed lino that was made to look like planks of laminate - it worked a treat at brightening up the van and I didnt have to re-cover the seats as it made everything much lighter
------------- Hols 11
Easter - East Calder
Wee break in tent - Aberfoyle
Summer - Whitby/Barnard Castle
Aug - Craigielands
They have the stick on laminate effect strips in poundland. My daughter has used them in the house and they look great. I'm intending to do the floor of the caravan with these over the winter.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Re furbing an old van
