THIS VINTAGE CARAVAN POST WAS FIRST AIRED ON AUGUST 1ST 2009…
I HAVE UPDATED IT AT THE END OF THIS POST…
Well here we are! The sun was shining today and I was able to get out in the garden and take these pictures of our 1952 Vintage Holivan Caravan….now we have given it a make-over!
If you remember, the whole inside had been stripped out apart from a make shift bed, but this is what appealed to us in the first place! Well apart from the fact that the caravan was so damn cute!
We started by painting the inside of the caravan white…you know me! I love a white background….to me it is like a canvas and then we decorate with the colours that we love! which is mainly primary!
We have found it really easy to decorate, as most of the items you see in it, is from our other house! Remember we downsized last year…well there was quite a few items that I just couldn’t bare to part with and it has really helped with the decor. Off course there a few pieces that you will recognise from previous flea markets that we have visited too!
We are going to be using our little Holivan Caravan as a creative space for Mr Happy and I…it really does feel lovely, the moment you step inside it! All cosy and warm…it feels like you are on holiday.
Earlier today, after taking the pictures, I took my computer in there (oh yes we have electricity!) and started editing them….It felt wonderful and after a time, I curled up on the bed and went fast to sleep!
Can you see here we have used vintage fabrics as well as new ones and of course our signature union Jack…Big up Blighty!
So now lets venture over to the other side of the caravan…
Here we have a little Ikea bathroom cabinet bought at a Boot Fair a couple of weeks ago for £10.00 and decorated with 1950’s vintage material and hearts that I bought at a Boot Fair in Somerset…this will soon be full of crafting materials, as its so perfect for the job!
This is the area where the original kitchen would have been, but we have created this little area!
How could we decorate without this iconic ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ piccy so apt for these times.
That little Belling cooker is sooo vintage isn’t it! and it works! so we can make a nice cup of tea in here! and even breakfast!
It wouldn’t be us now would it without those vintage postcards! remember my post about my Nanny Hilda and how she loved those type of cards! 🙂
Our little Holivan is full of whimsy and vintage charm…its full of things that brings a smile to our faces, bits and pieces from both our pasts, that we cannot bare to be without.
And look who is making himself right at home!
How much is that doggy in the window!
I hope you have had fun looking around our Jolly Holivan Caravan, as much as we have enjoyed decorating it 🙂 I’ll bring you some more pictures soon of what we take into it and the crafts we create from it 🙂
Have a great weekend gals…Lets hope the sun shines 🙂
UPDATE July 2012
Since this article was written over 3 years ago now, Our Holivan has been the inspiration for many many guys and gals buying and decorating their own individual vans, for holidaying or for creative spaces in their own gardens…you could call it Caravan Fever!
Our Holivan has been featured in many many magazine articles and books, some of which are featured on our PRESS page…as you can imagine we are very proud of the phenomenom that we have helped to create…this van was bought as a place of sanctuary for my hubby, a ‘crafting van’ the pictures that you see here are of when it was first decorated…as you can imagine…3 years on, it does look rather different!”
So please do take a look HERE and HERE on Holi’s progress…she really is a gem and quite famous now….Last year we bought her a big brother….this time a vintage 1960’s Cheltenham…when the rain stops…I am going to give it a makeover too!…but he is so full of character, I kinda like it the way it is and for now it is a daytime space for my son…anyway, we’ll see…as I said, when the rain goes away I might give him a little makeover too….but when my son moves out… I will be having it as my own little crafting sanctuary…BLISS!
WATCH THIS SPACE.
Oh and suggestions please on how to get rid of grown up adult children that should really be married by now and have a place of their own!
UPDATE April 2020
Since then a lot has happened, we no longer own any caravans, we moved to a disabled friendly modern house back in 2015 that didn’t have an accessible side entrance for the caravans, so we had to sell them, it was a very sad day indeed to see them go…but onwards and upwards, so Nanny Hilda used to say!
But on a plus side, I do have a lovely garden that I have designed myself and only last year I bought a summerhouse which I have been having fun decorating and hope to be adding more furniture and happy house collectibles in the near future.
D Y I N G here . . . Oh my goodness! Cutest thing EVER!!!
This looks like the cosiest living space ever! I absolutely adore it!
Thank you for the wonderful blog. It is indeed informative and useful We are into the same business. For know more about us, please visit Caravans and Camper Trailers today.
Really awesome post. You have some really neat items.
ergh *grabby hands*so much want! xox
Guuuurl….It's a Cath Kidston dream!!! LOVE it!!!♥
This is brilliant. great idea!
How lovely is this!??? I am crazy about your little caravan – I want one, too :)It is a gorgeous place !!!!Love to see more of your cool blog!bey for now, nina
Oh wow, this is awesome!
OMGosh…I just totally put your camper on my blog from Romantic Homes Magazine…I was DYING to know how the inside looked…I could only see a tiny photo of the outside! I have GOT to share with my readers the other photos! They are gonna be so excited to see the inside! TifRamblings of a Southern Bellehttp://www.her-southern-ramblings.blogspot.com
What a fabulous Blog! It's so pretty! A joy to behold. Thank youJulie x
OMG! That is sooo cool! What a wonderful retreat!
Love your caravan, I dream of having my own one day to work in!
Absolutely beautiful!! Love all the gorgeous details! xo Heather
I love your caravan!!! Its amazing so cute!!!!
I am in love with that little camper. You did a swonderful job on it. Happy camping. Smiles, Susie
Haha Happy you're so funny. Here's a hint about the (adult) kids. My mama kept taking me back through my 20s and even in my 30s … when I married (at 39), a few years later my hubby and I took my parents in and cared for them until they passed away. . . um, just something to thank about 🙂 Hugs ~ Mary
Hello chickadee! I love youe caravan and often look at her for a little cheering up or inspiration! Just wanted to tell you as Amanda Bloom Hairdressing is 16 months old now…I never tire of the wonderful signage you designed for me. I feel so proud of my little salon everytime I drive up to it! Our sign says it all and soooo many of our clients came to us the first time because of it. I though I would love to do a little feature about you on the salon blog. Would that be ok with you. Can I show your caravan etc and tell people about your wonderful creativity? Let me know. Love Amanda xxx
AMAZING! I don't know what else there is to say 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing!
Great, great, great, great ….Lovely hugsMolly
This looks great!!!! 😀
I love it !!it is soo nice and beautiful 🙂
oooo i so love your caravan ,u have done it a treat so lovely xxx Pauline
I LOVE the canisters in the pic with the Gnome. Are the purchased or handmade? Oh I want some for my vintage trailer.
I want one!!! 🙂
The caravan is beautiful!! love your blog too, saw some caravans to hire for shoots on http://www.jjlocations.co.uk but not has beautiful as yours – they also had a lovely summer house reference 1856 which really reminded me of your blog. Love it thanks for keeping me entertained
Oh my word…. That caravan is AMAZING!!!! Now I want one.
I absolutely love this page, so full of beautiful things that make me happy! I really hope I can get myself a little caravan to do the same x x x
Hi there!I just found my own vintage camper to doll up and came upon your site while looking for inspiration. Saving this link for sure! Adorable work. -Alana
This Caravan! This is so very lovely..so fresh and wonderful and exactly what I needed to look at on Christmas-dayI wanted to ask you if I could borrow some pictures from your caravan to show at my blog ***Love Lycke
i couldn't stop smiling when i saw your gorg caravan what an amazing job and just such a magical special space and place, i don't think i would ever want to come out of there, pure heaven. Dee 😉
You have a very special place there I am most envious … enjoy x
I love your blog so much and especially the sweet green mobile home.I wanted to let you know that I featured your caravan on my blog . I hope you don't mind? Have a great day!
I want one ,that is so cutie .When can I move in ?Kathy
Just beautiful!
What an absolute delightful post and tht caravan – to die for! I waaaaaant one!Pam
I love this. I just bought a camper trailer and was looking for ideas. This rocks! I put your address on my blog.
Oh my goodness, I just came across your blog, I love all of it. The patterns, colors! Awesome! AND! so is your precious caravan. I SO WANT ONE! Happy times are yet to be had in your darling caravan.
Oh my word! We had a trailer (caravan) just like that, too and we sold it last year!! I'm kicking myself now! I would have loved to have done something like that to ours. You have a beautiful blog! I've just found it this morning and I look forward to exploring it!Nicole
i want a caravan just like yours. how great is that!
Do i like this post? No!!! I LOVE IT!!! I will be back and take the afternoon off to read more. All the best I have become a follower. Love how your stories pop and the colours jump right off your page.
I have wanted a vintage trailer for FOREVER! If I had one, I would decorate it just like yours. I love love love the interior photos with the "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster and all your Union Jack goodies! I am American, but am fascinated with you Brits and your Union Jack, and utterly adore all Cath Kidston!
wow!!! it´s so charming and enchanted… I see that you work a lot with fabrics, vintage ones…. just incredible lovely, all your blog too.cariñosmaría cecilia, from chile, southamerica
Your Holi is over the top cute!!!You're such a talented decorator and it really has the Happy touch!What a wonderful gem!Tinaxx
So, so, fun! ♥
Sötaste jag någonsin sett! =)
Thanks guys for all your interest – yes it is fine by me if you want to borrow my piccies – as long as you link back – I am happy :)Its been lovely receiving all your comments – thanks from the bottom of my heart – I love ya all xx
I freaking love it! can i borrow some pics for my blog, i link back 🙂
OMGoodness! I really love the caravan, I want one! I think I am turning green with envy. I love what you have done with the inside too. What a haven, I hope you have many, many, happy hours there.
i LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this little thing that you have created! i would just die of happiness if i had one of these set up in my back yard to escape to. amazing.
Amazing how incredible well you made it look!Compliments!
this is so great, i think its lovely. The decor is just to die for. you have excellent taste!www.lyingislovely.blogspot.com
Perfectly charming! Great job!
I LOVE IT!!!!! How cool would it be to have a whole caravan of these going down the road to an art retreat!! I can't wait to show my hubby what I want next, hahaha.
Absolutely gorgeous..about to put up and decorate a 10'x10' summer house in a similar way….very inspirational love it
Well done! That is the cutest caravan I have ever seen. Just discovered you today but I love, love, love your style so I'm going to check out some older posts. Hoping you have a sunny day!
WOW! ive just come across to your blog from Pretty Little Things blog. And im so glad ive found you. I am in love with your camper van, ive never seen anything like it, so perfectly decorated, everything in just the right place. Yours in one of those blogs from which i eagerly look forward to the next post! im off to explore the rest of your posts :)Rose
Hi I just found your blog, and I am sooooooo hooked, WOW love it! I LOVE your little camper.. IS it arlight if I borrow a few pictures and mention you in my next blog post? I just think that is the cutest thing I have ever seen. Thanks for your time,MechellePink Daisys
Hi.Congratulations on your vintage caravan, so beautiful specially the vintage fabrics you have. Its kind of a little home with a small garden outside, so perfect!
Goodness me where have I been? I have missed this treemendous love in! (Oh yes in Cornwall!)Anyway, Happy? no no no Absoloutely Cocka-hoop I should say, what a joy of a blog and what a jolly caravan!Love Sarah x
I absolutely love your vintage caravan! I bought a vintage caravan also and am in the process of doing it up, the inside is pretty much finished but its having a full respray this week which i can't wait for. There are some original photos on my blog which you can have a look at if you want. I will be doing the big reveal in the next couple of weeks so feel free to have a browse and 'follow me'! Laura x
What a fabulous space! I love all the color!!!-Amy(Crafting by Candlelight)
It's beautiful. Can I come and play? Reminds me of my childhood places in England…
OOps sorry another one! Ive just recently started a blog, its not as good as yours by any means, or anything like!!! But I would love you to pop by my blog and have a look! Suzie xxx
I have to add too from my other comment a min ago, I also could eat red with blue, I just cant stop putting more red, white and blue around my home. Can't get enough of it. Suzie. xxx
When can I move in?? 😉 Oh, how I love your little camper. My sister in law has one that she's re-done in a similar way and, ever since, it's been my dream to do this too. Lovely!
What can I say, I just love ,love love it!!! I love vintage fabrics, stripes mixed with checks and florals. I just adore the whole look, it is just so me! Its gorgeous and I WANT one! I'm in England too. I am in awe! Suzie xxx
Sweet! THat is the cutest darn thing ever! I adore it. I used to have a vintage VW bus that I decorated in the Gypsy style…I plan on getting another one! You are inspiring moi !!!!
what a gorgy blog!
I loved your vintage trailer. It is so cute! Also keep up the good work on your blog…I love reading it!
I am so jealous of this little caravan! Love your blog, nip over to mine as I have given you an award. Jane xx
I love it, what a cute space. I just bought the Blogging for Bliss book this weekend and found your blog in there. Congrats on being featured:) Now I'm off to look around some more.
Hello! I just recently found you pretty little blog from the book I just bought: Blogging for Bliss. I just wanted to stop by and say hello. Your an incredibly talented person… There is so much eye candy on your blog I love it!
SwEEt !
Oh, the vintage Holivan is just adorable! There is a real movement in restoring these precious pieces of the past…I've so enjoyed looking at the pictures..I must get my sister to come look at them..her and her husband are full time RVer's so I know she would get a giggle out of seeing how precious this is.Great job!!I was trying to visit you to leave a PINK Saturday comment but wound up here instead..LOLDrop by for a visit anytime..I'm always close by.Stephanie
How ADORABLE and totally VINTAGELICIOUS is your camper! The decor, the fabrics, the colors are "to-die-for"! Can I come and live in your lovely camper?! Your blog is wonderful and always a treat to my senses! Thank you for sharing! What a "pick me up" to be able to escape to such an inspiring place!
In love of your vintage jolly Holi looked so cheerful:)XOXOZoe
It's so pretty. You'll have a great time!
How adorable!!First time to visit:)))What a delightful Trailer!So nice meet you,Smiles,kayellen
It is wonderful. Really so well done Rosie I just love it.Cx
Happy cannot describe what I get from your blog. Delerious is more like it LOL. What a little treasure you've created. Hugs, Mollye
Dearest Happy, I once lived in a 5th wheeler and I called it the "Happy Camper". Ah….those were the days! Come on over to my blog when you have a moment…It is called Once Upon a Fairyland. Dedicated to happy times, gnomes, elves and all things that make us smile!
I love, love, love your little caravan! So charming and cozy:).
You have inspired me to get on and decorate my little garden summer house.I love your caravan and the colours are sooooo yummy.Do come and visit my blog sometime.Happy days…Bellaboo.
Love Love Love your little caravan/canned ham hideaway! Lets go camping together!:DWishing you Smiles and All Sunshiny Days!Christine
Your vintage trailer is adorable and you did a wonderful job restoring it to a creative space! Love the colors you used! Needs to be in a magazine! You have given me some fun ideas for my little 1957 Jewel Travel Trailer!Hugs!Maryjane
I absolutely adore your camper and the way you have decorated it! Congrats to you.
This is my first visit to your blog.I really enjoyed the tour of your Caravan; you have done a great job, and thank you for sharing your lovely pictures.Please come over my blog for a cup of tea.
absolutely gorgeous, you should be very proud. I have today posted a pic of the little caravan i made, even smaller than yours!!!! x x
What a fun post. Great photos and a nice tour of a delightful hideaway.Congrats on the Blogging for Bliss profile.
Heavenly pictures, deserving of an award and so I have granted you one! Tagged you today in my post, and done you a little picture!Pomona x
I don't know what to say, I'm lost for words!
You've done a fantastic job! Really impressive. And you've provided me with the ammunition I need to persuade my husband to have a vintage caravan in the back garden for my office. I've been hankering after one for years.
This is wonderful . I found myself more & more jealous as I went through the pictures-haha. Can I come for a stay?Lovely work!
pour me some tea….fry me some toast…..i'm coming across the pond!!!!then a pint of ale and i'm ready to sleep.you could charge rent for that darling, darling, darling camper.it is STUNNING. i love it.love the thought of making everything white so those sweet primary colors will pop!!! such talent.thanks for the inspiration…..sue
I love every inch of it. This will be a post I will return to again and again to see the eye candy and pretend I am inside with the happy (Haha, "Happy"!) colors and goodies.How fun to have something so useful and beautiful….a little escape place, eh?Amy
Oh wow, it's fab, you are a clever thing!
Oh, that is the cutest dang thing…I want to move right in! One of my fave movies is "The Long, Long Trailer" with Lucille Ball and I've always loved those quaint vintage trailers – the smaller the better. Great job!
Absolutely love your blog – have only just discovered it. Am now a follower on twitter too!
You are all welcome to come and stay honey's!…honestly Its been lovely reading all of your comments…what a happy time we have had…its great to be in this blogging world with similar minded people….We love you all, keep 'em coming 🙂 you lovely peeps xxxxxxx
Oh it looks absolutely wonderful Happy. Now can I come & spend my summers there???Pretty please?loveAlisonx
I wanna live in your caravan!Please, I'm really small :DI loooove it, I'd love you to be my neighbourg! haha♥
Your blog is really delicious!!KissesAnnaPaula
OH MY GOODNESS, HAPPY! This is the most adorable little "canned ham" (that's what we call tiny, vintage campers here in the U.S.) I've ever seen! It's decorated like a dream…red and aqua are my favorite colors…I don't know what your blog looked like before, but it is completely FABulous now! I think I was you in another life…or you were me…or we were we…or…something. Kindred spirits, for sure! Now following your blog, twitter and facebook…woohoo! I LOVE making new friends!
Ohhh how wonderful!
How Wonderful! Love, love, love it!Rachel x
Happy, Happy, Happy… I had to hold a mirror up to my mouth to make sure I was still breathing and alive – for certain when I saw you Happy Shabby little caravan/trailer… I thought I died and went to heaven.This is EXACTLY what I dream of having in the little forest beside my house. And not just the caravan exactly like yours… but your Happy Shabby deco too. PERFECT. One day I'll have my Happy Shangri-La, and I want it to look JUST. LIKE. YOURS.
I need a cigarette. Seriously. I'll be right back… I have to go compose myself.
oh oh oh oh oh!
WHAT??? Stop it!! That is the cutest thing ever!
Just delightful!
We've had a 1964 Avion for a couple of years that we've been planning to restore. It's going to be a lot of work. Seeing your fixed up camper was just the inspiration/motivation I needed to get out there and work on it again. Thank you! Emily
i have always wanted to get a little caravan!you have created what I have been imaging in my head!I'm very jealous!Sam x
Love it , love it , love it !
Oh your little Holli Van is the cutest thing I have seen in a very long time. I absolutely adore her, even her name. :)You have done a beautiful job fixing her up. I wouln't ever want to leave if she were mine. Cerriwww.littlepinkstudio.typepad.com
Let me add my ooohs and ahhhhs! So cute, so fun, so absolutely perfect! Fabulousness!
I think this is my most favourite blog post I've ever read! I just love all of it soooo much, your caravan is amazing.Mel xxx
That is so cute,cute, CUTE!! The perfect place to steal away and dream, sleep and craft too! I'm green with envy! I enjoyed your virtual tour! Suzie
Really cute and much of inspiration! I've wished for a caravan to style my way! Now I see it's not impossible!Looking foreward to more pics!
So great! If I win the lottery, I'm going to buy an old caravan and fly you over to New York to make it look just like that!
Hello Happy, love it, love it, love it! I could play in there all day long.Bertie x
How gorgeous, I am so jealous ! I love everything about it. You must have worked so hard to get it looking so lovely. Let's hope the sun comes out for you tomorrow.
I'm moving in – this is the most fantastic caravan I have ever seen. I have a little Westie called Archie so he will be right at home with Max 🙂 xx
Wow that is fab and what a great idea, such a beautiful creative space and very inspiring. Stamps feet, I want one!
Right my bags are packed :~)X
What a lovely little creative space! Just adorable!
I love you're caravan it's so bright and cheerful. You're blog is great, so full of life.Adele
LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!!! LOVE IT!!!!What a fantastic idea!!!!! IT'S GORGEOUS!!!!!SHARON XX
Wow thats a summer house with knobs on!!! Its so amazingly gorgeous my teeth hurt! and I mean that in the most nicest way possible.Your holi rocks, and now I want one just like yours. lol.Have fun in your lovely new space.MBBx
Truly amazing!
just absolutely fabulously wonderful!! I love this.. Can I come live in it!?hugsvivian
That's both cute and practical – what a wonderful new space!
It's gorgeous, well done, you did a great job. xx
I love it!! oh my! I live in Indiana, USA, but don't be surpised if one more you come out to your Jolly Holi and I'm sitting there waiting for you to make me a cuppa.
i absolutley love it.. i want to live in it..or atleast come for a holiday!!!well done on a lovley job!xx
Lovely, pretty, sweet cozy and fuuuuuuunnnnnn!!!!
Wow! It looks absolutely fab and soo much fun. Everything inside is just gorgeous. Not jealous in the slightest ;o) Every garden should have one, such a good job you did xx
I absolutely love it!! Am even more jealous than I was before! Hope you have much fun in your new 'home'.. best wishes from Cornwall x
That looks fantastic!I've got a few of those Ikea rugs, they remind me of mangle cloth. Great aren't they?Sian x
Good morning;)Linked your cutie caravan on my blog, hope its oki that i borrowed a pic;)have a nice saturday.Love.
What a creative person you are. It's adorable. Half folly half clubhouse.
OMG, she is so damn cute! I am soooo jealous. Can I come over and stay please?Have a great weekend((hugs))Beki xxx
It looks lovely…I glad I have my camper otherwise I would be really, really jealous! x
Love it!Decorated in such superb style.A bed and facilites to make a cuppa, who could ask for more?Lisa x
Completely and Utterly Fantabulous!!!Superfalacagalisticabsolutatamagica!XXX
Happy I'm sitting here swooning right now, your caravan is amazing!!!Hmmm now I wonder how my parents would feel about living in a caravan in their back garden?!Your post reminds me I have a little something for you to say thank you for all the work you do with my blog. Are you happy to give me your address?Thank youVictoria xx
I'm in love!!!!G.
Oooh, I want to move in!!
That is so lovely – can I come and spend a day with you…….
How utterly gorgeous. I shall be showing my darling husband this post as this is truly my idea of a caravan…perfection! Brilliant job decorating and thank you so much for sharing!Kiss Noises Linda
It's lovely! You've made it so beautiful I want one! Salx
Oh Happy I've just already sent you an email and decided to pop on over, I hadn't realised you had finished the holivan already..wow! it looks stunning! I LOVE it soooooo much..!! you should be in a book of your very own with all your fab ideas and wonderful style! gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. xx
Oh, be still my beating heart!I want to run away and move in…it's absolutely perfect!xo, K.
How stinkin' fun is that! My word, it is just perfection. mmmmmmm. xo, suzy
Amazing!!I cannot believe how beautiful one small space can be! How peaceful it must be to curl up with a good book and let the breeze blow through.You are surely blessed with this treasure.
speechless! i'll trade you for my 'tiny house' :)smileslori marie
Ooooh, my little cupcake, how sweet is that?!?! Darling, darling, DARLING!!!! Squeeeeeeal…. I'm doing our pop-up camper now in "froufrou" and roses style but I doubt it will compare with that little caravan. BUT Love Bunny told me I could so he could get me into the wilds of Idaho and I love th' man dearly so I've got to make him happy and go sleep with th' bears a couple times a year anyways, chickee. Ooooh, but now I'm wishing we have one of those…….*Sigh*……..xoxo,Connie
SO darn cute I LOVE it and the way you have charmed it out just pure heaven. I just know you are sure to enjoy it. I want one!Hugs, Diane
*Charming* Makes me SMILE!warm hugs, diana