Houzz Tour: Van Gets Outfitted for Vacation Adventures
A carpenter converts a van’s interior into a tiny home for travel complete with kitchen, bed and seating area
When French carpenter Nicolas Bessou’s girlfriend shared her experience of setting up a van to criss-cross Australia on four wheels, he also started to dream of “holidays without an itinerary, mobility without constraint and total freedom.” Bessou looked for inspiration on the internet, taking five months to gather ideas and polish his plan. Then the big adventure began with the purchase of a used Renault Trafic. A month and a half later, Bessou was able to reveal the interior he had built with his own hands.
It was not easy to select a van, as reliability, maneuvrability and low fuel consumption were all priorities. Bessou opted for a Renault Trafic 3 L2H1, with a three-seater bench in front. This utility vehicle, beloved by craftspeople, is popular with van life adherents.
“I knew [this model] well, because I have the short version for my work. The [6.5-foot] height means it can pass under [6.7-foot] parking restrictions, and the [17.7 feet] of length make it possible to park in a town without problems and offer maximum interior living space,” he says.
That this was a good choice is corroborated by the fact that in the segment of vans below 6.6 feet in height, many decorators currently recommend this model in place of the iconic Volkswagen Transporter, thanks to its significantly lower cost and its squared shape, which is easier to furnish. “Now you’re starting to see quite a few ready-to-use fit-out kits and accessories for this model,” Bessou says.
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“I knew [this model] well, because I have the short version for my work. The [6.5-foot] height means it can pass under [6.7-foot] parking restrictions, and the [17.7 feet] of length make it possible to park in a town without problems and offer maximum interior living space,” he says.
That this was a good choice is corroborated by the fact that in the segment of vans below 6.6 feet in height, many decorators currently recommend this model in place of the iconic Volkswagen Transporter, thanks to its significantly lower cost and its squared shape, which is easier to furnish. “Now you’re starting to see quite a few ready-to-use fit-out kits and accessories for this model,” Bessou says.
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Before: Bessou, on the other hand, created all of the furniture himself. Starting by unscrewing the partition wall between the cabin and the living space, he cut out the sheeting in the rear doors, and on the roof at the front of the vehicle. “In order to bring in natural light, I installed two large windows and a boat deck hatch. In comparison to a classic skylight, it’s a great trick” because it rises no more than four-fifths of an inch rather than 4.5 inches above the car.
He also cut through the roof to install an automatic, solar-powered ventilation system.
He also cut through the roof to install an automatic, solar-powered ventilation system.
Before: The next step was to insulate the shell and floor of the van. A fan of the mountains who was planning to use the van in both summer and winter, Bessou did not skimp on the materials, taking the time to research first. “I filled the hollows of the walls with wood wool, then I put in expanded cork in panels, in a thickness of 40 millimeters [1.6 inches] on the floor and walls.”
Before: Bessou then had to lay wiring for lighting at night. “I put a solar panel on the roof, which supplies the battery, which furnishes the van with electricity and makes it possible to stay in one place. I laid down cables for three LED spotlights and a dimmable ribbon in order to have precision lighting and a different ambiance. I knew about 220-volt lighting, but I had to relearn everything for 12 volts,” he says.
With the furniture, on the other hand, Bessou was in his comfort zone, and created the modules directly in his workshop. “I first manufactured the bed frame, which converts into a banquette, then the kitchen modules and the closet-office in 12-millimeter [half-inch] poplar plywood, the lightest there is.”
In creating the furniture, Bessou always kept the final weight of his mobile home in mind. “According to the legislation, the final total permitted weight when loaded for this type of van is around 3 metric tons [6,614 pounds]. It’s an infraction to exceed this.”
With the furniture, on the other hand, Bessou was in his comfort zone, and created the modules directly in his workshop. “I first manufactured the bed frame, which converts into a banquette, then the kitchen modules and the closet-office in 12-millimeter [half-inch] poplar plywood, the lightest there is.”
In creating the furniture, Bessou always kept the final weight of his mobile home in mind. “According to the legislation, the final total permitted weight when loaded for this type of van is around 3 metric tons [6,614 pounds]. It’s an infraction to exceed this.”
After: Choosing finishes is always fun. Bessou and his girlfriend looked for inspiration extensively online. The furnished vans they dreamed of were dominated by raw wood, with its associations with cabins and chalets. Bessou also based the interior around his favorite material, taking care not to make the space too dark, given the small number of windows.
The ceiling was finished in plywood with a 5-millimeter [one-fifth-inch] real oak veneer, and the floor in wood laminate. Bessou fell back on a carpenter’s trick on the wall: “I reused the Trafic’s original MDF [medium-density fiberboard] lining. I grooved it and then painted it white to create a sort of paneling. It’s a trick that is used to, for example, manufacture shutters at lower cost,” he says.
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The ceiling was finished in plywood with a 5-millimeter [one-fifth-inch] real oak veneer, and the floor in wood laminate. Bessou fell back on a carpenter’s trick on the wall: “I reused the Trafic’s original MDF [medium-density fiberboard] lining. I grooved it and then painted it white to create a sort of paneling. It’s a trick that is used to, for example, manufacture shutters at lower cost,” he says.
Read more travel-oriented design stories
The bed frame is 53 by 75 inches, almost the same size as a traditional bed, which is like attempting the impossible in a space this small. It is based on a bed base composed of slats in staggered rows (see the render below). Half of the slats therefore slide into the other section, making it possible to use it as a bench in the day time. All that’s left to do is to arrange the two mattresses, either perpendicularly or side by side.
Render of the bed frame built by Nicolas Bessou
To ensure a comfortable sleep, the couple cut up an Ikea futon to create the two mattresses. Bessou’s girlfriend brought out her sewing machine to make the sheets, pillow cases and curtains.
To ensure a comfortable sleep, the couple cut up an Ikea futon to create the two mattresses. Bessou’s girlfriend brought out her sewing machine to make the sheets, pillow cases and curtains.
The wall opposite the bench is fitted out with a large storage unit, which includes a fold-out table, not unlike a secretary desk. This is always accessible, even when the bed is folded out.
“We got the idea from a friend who had furnished a van and had to work in it. The table is useful for having lunch inside or, more often, to set up a computer to watch a movie, for example,” Bessou says.
“We got the idea from a friend who had furnished a van and had to work in it. The table is useful for having lunch inside or, more often, to set up a computer to watch a movie, for example,” Bessou says.
In a van, everything needs to be in its place and has to take up the least possible space. Other cabinets were therefore planned to store the couple’s clothing and accessories. All the doors are equipped with locking buttons so that they don’t open while driving.
Compared with many others, this furnished van offers numerous work surfaces. Initially there were no fixed boxes on top of the cabinets, but after the first trial run, Bessou added them to be able to leave some things out without them rattling around during the drive.
Compared with many others, this furnished van offers numerous work surfaces. Initially there were no fixed boxes on top of the cabinets, but after the first trial run, Bessou added them to be able to leave some things out without them rattling around during the drive.
On the kitchen side, the couple went for originality. Most mobile homes have a kitchen on the left – as in the iconic VW California van — or on the right, next to the sliding door — as in most RVs. Bessou, on the other hand, placed the kitchen with its back to the front bench seat, which offered the luxury of extending it in an L shape. “For a while we explored ways of creating a living room in the front with two turning seats, but we wanted to keep the original three-seat arrangement, and there are no benches that turn around.”
And those aren’t the only surprises the van has in store, as the module that contains the two-burner gas cooktop and the sink slides entirely out of the side door. “My girlfriend furnished her van with a kitchen that slid out at the back, and she really liked cooking outside in Australia. We wanted to re-create it but, when I made my renders … I had trouble fitting it at the back. I tried again with a module at the front, and here is the result.”
The sliding module is equipped with closed cabinets for storing dishes and pans. It also has a drawer for cutlery and a space for the trash bin.
On its left side, a two-burner cooktop with screens on either side is built in beneath a moveable cutting board that is made of oak just like the countertop. The cooktop is connected to a 11-pound Twiny gas bottle. “We can cook inside, right under the skylight. When it is nice out, we slide the kitchen furniture outside. The portable stove and the gas canister are moreover removable, so you can cook on a table outside,” Bessou says.
On its left side, a two-burner cooktop with screens on either side is built in beneath a moveable cutting board that is made of oak just like the countertop. The cooktop is connected to a 11-pound Twiny gas bottle. “We can cook inside, right under the skylight. When it is nice out, we slide the kitchen furniture outside. The portable stove and the gas canister are moreover removable, so you can cook on a table outside,” Bessou says.
The pro also designed his removable gas system with a view to his next technical inspection, as he is not sure whether the current setup will be acceptable. “I respected the standards and colored within the lines with the electricity and water, but for the gas, the sliding kitchen module is not compatible,” he says. He designed each module in such a way that he can easily remove them should he run into problems at his first technical inspection.
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As for the water, Bessou had installed a 8-gallon tank under the sink for gray water, with a level indicator. He makes sure to wash dishes with non-polluting products with a view to the sewage.
The 8-gallon water supply is tucked into the corner. It can be accessed when the kitchen is rolled toward the outside. To make resupply easier, Bessou installed two jugs of 2.6 gallons and 5.3 gallons, respectively.
The 8-gallon water supply is tucked into the corner. It can be accessed when the kitchen is rolled toward the outside. To make resupply easier, Bessou installed two jugs of 2.6 gallons and 5.3 gallons, respectively.
On the floor in front of the jugs is the refrigerator. “It is a 45-liter [11.9-gallon], off-grid compressor cool box that runs off of the solar panel. We chose it over a real refrigerator for budgetary reasons,” about $430 versus $645 at the base price, Bessou says. Even if cool boxes have their detractors because you have to stack the food and because it is sometimes difficult to get to what you want during the meal, this format makes it possible to store rather more in a compact volume.
A countertop over the refrigerator offers an extra surface when the other one is used for cooking. All of the worktops were oiled with Rubio oil, which protects the wood. The little compartments hold spices. Bessou took out his pretty glass jars for the photo, but for safety these are usually held in the upper cabinet, which serves as a pantry.
After this grand tour of the little interior, the more observant among you might wonder where the bathroom is. The bathroom is exterior. With a shower head connected to the faucet — which is extra water-efficient — a pop-up tent and biodegradable soap, they can keep up perfect hygiene in summer. In the winter, campground showers are the adventurer’s best friend.
As for the toilet, it is present in the van, in a dedicated unit under the bench. “I built a dry toilet out of wood with a reservoir for the sawdust and a compartment for compostable bags,” Bessou says.
Let’s finish off with the outdoor furnishings, which are indispensable to anyone wanting to live in connection with nature. An awning, which creates shade on hot days (not pictured), can be set up on the side of the van thanks to a rail that Bessou had fixed just above the sliding door.
As for the garden furniture, it is stored entirely lengthwise in the trunk, which can be accessed under the bench. Bessou built the table out of an oak top and foldable aluminum legs he bought on the internet. The chairs are also foldable, and the carpet is a well-known accessory for van life enthusiasts, usually placed under the front step. It reduces the amount of dirt that gets tracked inside the living space. Bessou thought of everything: “I even have a 12-volt vacuum cleaner stowed near the bin. It can be charged from the plugs that we installed at the level of the kitchen.”
Bessou and his girlfriend needed only a month and a half to furnish the van just before the summer holidays. The first real outing was a weekend at Lake Saint-Pardoux, not far from Limoges, France. This was when they carried out the photo shoot seen here. Afterward, the couple took the steering wheel for summer holidays, without a set itinerary, criss-crossing the Alps, falling asleep to the sound of the horns on the hills at more than 6,500 feet, then plunging down to the Mediterranean to take to the beaches, leaving with the memories of the stars in their eyes.
Soon, they will have another big cause to celebrate. They are expecting their first child, and look forward to discovering nature together in complete freedom. They just have to adapt the van with dedicated furniture. Do you have any tricks or ideas to share with them?
Detailed budget
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- Used van: $16,635
- Furnishings: $4,520 (including body work, casing, furniture, accessories and electrical wiring.)
- Estimated labor costs: $7,500
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Van at a Glance
Who lives here: The van was designed by carpenter Nicolas Bessou of Poligone Créations and his girlfriend, who are in their 30s and based in Limoges, France
Van dimensions: 6.4 feet wide, 17.7 feet long and 6.5 feet high (1.96 meters wide, 5.4 meters long and 1.97 meters high)
Size of interior, excluding the cabin: 52 square feet ( 4.8 square meters); 9.8 by 5.2 feet (3 by 1.6 meters)
Budget: About $29,000
“After nine years as a software engineer in the Paris region, I wanted to give my life more meaning,” says Bessou, who completed his retraining as a carpenter last February. Having set up shop in Limoges, he wanted to focus on outfitting alternative housing, in particular tiny houses. Since turning a van into a living space dovetailed with his professional ambitions, he threw himself into the task just before the summer holidays, refining the interior furniture he created himself, mostly out of wood.
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