Newly-weds Tiffany and Caleb Remington from San Diego, California, had been living in a one-bedroom apartment when Tiffany stumbled across something on Instagram that caught her attention: RV renovations. While she hadn’t any experience of RV life, she soon fell in love with the idea of it.
And the idea was all it took. Within one week, Tiffany and Caleb had purchased a 2000 Damon Intruder 349 motorhome for $20,000 and began renovating it the following weekend.
It’s important to note that neither Caleb nor Tiffany had any DIY experience whatsoever. So, turning an RV from drab to fab for life on the road was going to be an entirely new experience for the pair.
Let the Renovations Begin
The first thing that Caleb and Tiffany decided to do was rip everything out of the RV. They said the interior felt claustrophobic, and there was no shortage of dark wood to offer the illusion of clutter. The problem was, neither of them had any experience with power tools.
So, they learned everything they needed to know through YouTube videos and by talking to people on Instagram. They also decided to go with the unique approach of breaking things to figure out how to fix them.
They used plywood and reclaimed wood for the interior, laminate flooring, and plenty of white paint to offer the illusion of space. The Intruder also had a lot of top cabinetry for storage, which they removed to open up the space.
The entire renovation cost around $10,000 and the result was a modern and industrial-style RV that boasted clean lines while being homely at the same time.
Living the RV Life
Once the Intruder was given a much-needed facelift, Tiffany and Caleb dramatically downsized their possessions, moved into it, and cut their living costs in half. They spent a year and a half living in an RV park in San Diego and discovered a whole new way of living.
They have learned how to communicate and be closer together. It’s also important to note that they achieved this while both were suffering from health conditions.
Caleb has the genetic condition cystic fibrosis, which causes mucus to form on his organs and lungs. Each day, he has around two hours of treatment and takes dozens of pills to manage it. Tiffany has her own battles, too. She lives with chronic depression, anxiety, and childhood PTSD.
But they still managed to pull off something monumental. These new RV-goers believe that you shouldn’t let the fear of the unknown stop you from embarking on a new adventure. And while the hardest thing about RV life is getting started, it only gets better from then on in.
Unfortunately, the Intruder is now up for sale due to Caleb’s health condition and the need for a more permanent residence as a result. Still, they wouldn’t change their experience for the world.
Caleb and Tiffany Remington purchased a 2000 Damon Intruder 36-foot Class A motorhome with a Ford V10 engine for $20,000. They spent $10,000 renovating it.
Before they set about renovating it, they had to contend with a dark and drab interior, particularly centred around the kitchen.
The new kitchen was light, bright, and spacious. They painted the cabinets, removed the top ones, and built a container to hide the microwave. They also purchased faux brick walling from Home Depot and added a new butcher block as a countertop. Tying the look together was a new stainless-steel sink, iron and stained walnut shelving, and contemporary window covers.
They retained the original Domestic three-burner stovetop, fridge and freezer for financial reasons. The oven serves double duty as storage for pots and pans.
Rather than keep the original top cabinetry, Caleb and Tiffany chose to remove it and add floating shelves instead. Floating shelving opened up the space, provided the storage they needed, and allowed them to show off their plate collection.
The original interior of the RV was dark, cluttered, and dated. It was in desperate need of a facelift.
The new dining area is light, contemporary, and vibrant. They retained the dining room storage but painted them white for a much-needed freshen up. The couch also folds out for extra sleeping space, and there is under-couch storage.
The beautiful dining table is made out of scrap wood left over from cutting out their kitchen counter. They also laid new hardwood laminate flooring and installed industrial lights over the dining area that they purchased from Amazon. Caleb and Tiffany also added an accent wall coffee nook that’s both elegant and functional.
The co-captain’s chair was looking very drab and dated, but Caleb and Tiffany left no stone unturned in giving the area a new lease on life.
They removed the co-captain’s chair and installed a day bed in its place. The bed also functions as storage with a dividing wall between the door and bed.
The day bed pulls out, offering plenty of space for a quick nap during the day.
With a day bed, fold-out couch, and a permanent master suite, there is plenty of room for people to come and stay for the night.
Before the renovation, the master room was dark, crowded, and full of storage. While storage is always quite desirable, there is such a thing as too much.
After the renovation, the difference was significant. Tiffany and Caleb installed a dresser for clothing, and they retained a closet for clothing they don’t use every day. After removing the large cabinet, they installed a reading nook. The white walls also add to the light, bright, and spacious atmosphere.
The renovated bedroom now has storage underneath to compensate for the storage they removed.
The original bathroom had strong wood themes and dated decor.
Tiffy and Caleb applied peel and stick tiles and retained the original Dometic toilet. They also installed a skylight over the shower with a cabin wall accent and faux subway tile accents. The transformation is remarkable and also makse the bathroom easy-care.
You can learn more about the stunning motorhome here and follow the couple on Instagram here