An Airy Bohemian RV Renovation

By Desiree Fairchild

Living on the road full time was a new lifestyle for my family— as popular as it has become, it can still sound very different to some people. My husband, Nate, and I were always moving states due to his career, so choosing this type of living seemed like a no-brainer

From the moment we stepped into our 2019 Keystone Raptor 423 toy hauler, I knew it was the floor plan for us. Not long after we purchased the trailer, I started renovating it, and realized I had started a very big project. I loved the original colors, but I envisioned taking our trailer to the next level and giving it character and functionality so it would feel like our home. I wanted to make it my own by adding a cozy, modern vibe. My goal was to create a space that felt welcoming to us as well as our family and friends.

I went out and bought a couple of cans of bright white paint from Lowe’s, as well as a whole box of sandpaper. When I arrived home, Nate said, “I’m excited to see what you’re going to do with this space.” He knew interior design had always been a passion of mine, because I’ve created an enjoyable and relaxing space for our family in every house we’ve lived in together.

KITCHEN

I started this renovation with a beautiful white and gray marble stone backsplash. Next, I sanded down all the cabinets in the kitchen. You can really wear yourself out sanding, so that part happened in stages, and was probably the hardest part of the job. Then, I started painting all the upper cabinets and slides white, but I wanted a contrast, so I painted the small pantry cabinet over the loveseat and the bottom kitchen island cabinet black. I love neutrals and warm wood accents because they can make an area brighter and give off the appearance of a bigger space, especially when you’re working with only a couple hundred square feet. I realized around this time that I wanted to give our RV a boho feel.

LIVINGROOM

Once the cabinets were completed, I added two small wooden shelves on the side of the upper cabinets for extra decor. Next, I removed the valances to open up the window space and let more light shine in, which made the area airy and modern. It really made our space feel more like a home, too.

FLOORING

I wanted to create a separation between the kitchen and living room, so we added a marble-esque peel-and-stick tile with a flexible grout and honeycomb pattern going into the living room. I knew this flooring would set off the design, and it really was a game changer.

MANTEL

Once that was done, I slowly started adding wooden accents throughout. We found white saddle stools for the island that I sanded down to the original wood. I built a valance for my custom kitchen window blinds and a wooden header and mantel for the TV entertainment area. The mantel was key for me because we enjoy decorating for holidays and I knew we could hang decorations on it.

LIGHTS

I still wanted a feeling of luxury, so I added unique, warm patterns with an area rug, pillows, and throw blankets. I also built a custom live edge wood coffee table with hairpin legs for our living room, and I switched out our lighting fixtures above the U-shaped island for baskets to create a warm ambience. What says home better than fresh, bright, beautiful plants with macramé hangers and baskets for storage? This makes a space feel relaxing and cozy.

BATHROOM AND BEDROOM

Once the main living space was finished, it was time to tackle the other rooms! For the bathroom, I added a backsplash behind the toilet and mirror, painted the cabinets black, and added some fun wall decor and a basket of hand towels. The main bedroom suite reno included wood accents on the wardrobe slide and window valance and white paint on the closet cabinets, along with finishing touches of gray wallpaper and a Beddy’s comforter set.

CHILD BEDROOM

I finished the renovation with the back bedroom, which belongs to our son, Maxton. I removed the two factory black sofas and added a long wooden desk on the HappiJac system for Maxton to do his homeschooling. This way, we could still have the room, but with the push of a button, his bed and desk could be lifted. I wanted his room to be fun but still mature as he is turning 9 soon, so we bought a versatile indoor/outdoor modern chair and patio table set, boho wallpaper, and fun decor along an “adventure” theme, which is perfect for him. We also added a plush, fluffy area rug for warmth and a cube bin organizer for all his toys, books, and Lego creations. It would not be complete if we didn’t add the ventless washer/dryer combo, making daily laundry an easier task.

Each room has been customized and renovated to fit our family’s needs, but I still find myself adding new things to make it work even better for us. We love the home we’ve created and enjoy coming home to it, because we smile and feel at peace every time we step inside the door. ■

For more on Desiree’s renovation tips, visit her on Instagram @destn8tion.