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AMY SMITH LINTON

The Winnie Gets a Makeover

11/6/2017

13 Comments

 
I woke up inside the Winnebago over the summer to an unpleasant epiphany: the interior was just ––just –– just fugly.

Shiny gold drawer-pulls, fake oak, awful dingy tan upholstery.  It's clean, heaven knows, but the overall effect ––! 


Granted, the Winnie is all about the destination.

About being able to haul all the gear and a boat and brew my own coffee in the morning.

About making an egg-salad sandwich or taking a whiz while bopping down the highway. 


But once the scales fell from my home-decor eyes, I could barely stand it.

​140 square feet of multi-layered hideousness.
Picture
As happens, I turned to Pinterest. That fantastic internet time-eater that indexes the world's collective creativity for endless browsing-and-daydreaming pleasure.

​I have a soft spot for turquoise-and-red 1950's-style 
Shasta travel trailers. I think Vardo carts are also captivating. Who needs more space than that?  

Realistically however, the Winnie is a utilitarian vessel.

​She could be tarted up or stuffed full of whimsy, but at the end of the sailing day, she's still where we drop our salty sailing clothes and hang our salty sailing hats.
Still, something had to be done. A fan of direction and themes, I set myself a design goal: cozy and fresh and comfortable. Not fussy. Not mortifyingly dated or dingy. Machine-washable.
Luckily, paint is cheap. Gripper primer and Cabinet Rescue paint will cover a multitude of decorative sins, including (gulp) textured vinyl wallpaper and laminate. How had I never noticed the breadth of its ugliness?  

I mean, for reals: what in the world did the windows do to deserve those treatments ––!?

The mechanics of the Winnie's makeover aren't very interesting: some light demolition, sixteen miles of masking tape, bolts of attractive fabric, elbow grease, more hours down the rabbit hole of Pinterest, and the like.
Picture
The settee cushions went to local upholsterer, as I knew I'd make hash of the long zippers.  I did the rest of the sewing, with some help from my favorite sailmaker. 
Picture
​The Winnie must keep her aluminum-foil thermal window shades, because, you know –– the solar-oven effect.

I like to think it's a nod to that brave little toaster, the 
Cassini spacecraft.  In truth, passers-by are probably more liable to draw the connection with the blacked-out RV in Near Dark instead.

Ah well.


Velcro makes the shades more flexible and useful, if not one whit less tacky. 

How long did it take? Probably longer than I think: taping the whole cabin was a full afternoon, but each coat of paint was a matter of an hour.  Four coats of paint including primer, five when I went the wrong way with my choice of color. 

I was hesitant about drilling holes in the walls until it occurred to me: this is a 2006 truck. What could I possibly do to make the interior design worse? 

Here's how it turned out so far. Still some things left, but that's home life. 
I splashed out on a trompe l'oeile window treatment for the back escape hatch. I had UPS print up a large vinyl copy of a photo, which I then glued to a thin fitted wooden hatch.

​It blocks the sun and –– framed by plain cotton curtains –– it gives the Winnie just a smidgen of whimsy.  


Picture
13 Comments
Bonnie sevier
11/6/2017 08:19:00 am

As someone who spent 25 summer traveling in a RV I’m very impressed they are all beige Wonderful Job!

Reply
Amy
11/6/2017 08:29:53 am

Thank you Bonnie!
We missed seeing you this weekend –– hope the recovery will be fast and easy!
XO

Reply
Sarah Ellen Smith
11/6/2017 10:56:11 am

Love the transformation!! Can't wait to bunk in with you all some Christmas time. Great Job Sis

Reply
Amy
11/6/2017 03:34:26 pm

Thanks, Sis!

Reply
Greg
11/6/2017 05:04:55 pm

your layout is similar to ours, I can see janet following your lead on the redo. They all do look the same. what impressed me was the systems are the same as a small cruising sailboat. I love Wrightsville Beach too. My first station in the CG 43 yrs ago. My sister lives 6 miles away. I'm retiring Dec 1, if you ever need ground crew. You did a wonderful job!

Reply
Amy
11/6/2017 08:22:57 pm

Greg, Congratulations on your upcoming retirement! Holy Smokes -- already?!
It's funny how much like a boat the Winnie is on the inside. We refer to sides as port or starboard (or near or off, when I am feeling equestrian, which is confusing to Mr. Linton), and are hoping to put some of the same clever design ideas into our less movable housing options in the future (The Farm!).
Thanks for the kind words, and I hope you can stretch out your Moth regatta for a week or so!
XO

Reply
Bonnie Burns
11/7/2017 08:21:48 am

Looks wonderful Amy. You inherited your mother's ability to make an attractive home wherever you are, Love You

Reply
Amy
11/8/2017 10:04:51 am

Awww, Thanks Aunt Bonnie! XO

Reply
Cath Mason
11/7/2017 05:15:14 pm

Looks calming, peaceful, beautiful, Amy

Reply
Amy
11/8/2017 10:05:39 am

Thanks, Cath Mason.
It's anyway not fugly to me any more!

Reply
face hurts from smiling whilst bopping down the highway
11/7/2017 06:12:56 pm

The actual job's creative and physical work aside, that's the funniest chunk of writing I've read anywhere, in a long while.

Reply
Amy
11/8/2017 10:06:51 am

Thank you! I am glad to entertain -- it warms the cockles of my little heart to hear that it gave you a grin or two!

Reply
ursus americanus
11/9/2017 09:03:35 am

Myakka to the Adirondacks, the ever-resourceful blackie in search of a pic-a-nic basket, I'm told nowadays specializes in remodeling kitchens, automobiles, and about faints when he sees a Winnebago.




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