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A Scandi-Boho-Cozy Small/Cool Space

Finding a van that checked off as many boxes as possible was crucial in making this work. The loft bed over the cab was a must-have because my daughter needed a space of her own. The daybed and swivel chair create a cozy living area, and by adding a round top to the stool, we get a dining table. (Image credit: Evelyn Bielmann)

A Scandi-Boho-Cozy Small/Cool Space

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Name: Evelyn Bielmann

Size: 112sq ft

Home type: Vintage RV camper van

Location: London,Ontario

Years lived in: We bought it last summer but we are presently sheltering in place with family.,owned

Household: My 15-year-old daughter and our dog, Hershey

Have any design professionals worked on this space: My brother and nephew are design/build professionals (Hutton Bielmann Design)

Describe your space:

我的女儿和我是渴望有一个adventure and do some traveling. Once we researched our options, we bought this 1985 Dodge van that we found online, and sold most of our stuff! I love to decorate so it was important to me that we didn't compromise on style just because we were moving into a camper van. My goal was to distill the essence of the style of our previous home into 100 square feet. What makes this the smallest, coolest space is that it is on wheels! We have solar power and can be off grid, go anywhere we want, and yet still have the comfort of being in our own home.

Did you DIY anything in your space? And, if so, what's your favorite DIY?

We knew that getting an older camper van, we would have a lot of DIY projects to tackle. We bought this one in particular because the layout worked for us so we didn't need to make any structural changes, but it still had the original 1980s fake wood paneling and red velour upholstery everywhere! Painting and sewing covers was an obvious fix, but covering the ceiling panel in the cab was a dilemma. Our solution was to glue down pieces of vegan leather in a random patchwork pattern. I'm so pleased with the results! It looks authentic to the vintage of the van but we are no longer seeing red!

What's your favorite product that you bought for your space and where did it come from?

The bathroom space had been used as a storage area by the previous owner so I bought a toilet/bidet from Amazon and had to get all the plumbing redone at an RV shop. That was the biggest expense we had since we couldn't do it ourselves. The bathroom is SUPER tiny so there really wasn't much that I could do in terms of decoration, but I did have to install tile around the toilet. I found the black and white stick on tiles at Home Hardware for only $20 for a box of 10. It was exactly the right amount needed to cover the floor and create a feature wall that adds a much needed visual pop!

What inspires you?

I grew up in the '70s and so the resurgence of this boho style appealed to me on a visceral level. I have found that what inspires me has come full circle. So much of what I value in our space now reminds me of our home growing up. My mother always created a happy sense of place with lots of plants, books, artful objects, and playing music while she cooked. As a mom, I can only hope that our home provides my daughter with the same feeling of joyfulness, and inspires her creativity.