Modern interior style?

[Fred1609]

Originally Posted by diva51

Ultra Leather is vinyl. Maybe a Newell has leather but not the others. Look on the back of your "leather". If it isn't suede it isn't leather. Just my observation.

Like "Rich Corinthian Leather" that came with the Chrysler Cordova.....hawked by Ricardo Montalbán

[minibike]

Jorg, I've got a German father and a Norwegian mother, so I'm used to dark vs. light decorating styles. Darker colors instill a sense of weight. I think that as long as fuel is reasonably inexpensive here, the "heavy = quality" mindset will prevail in RVs.

Coming from a Road Trek, we wanted small, light, simple (no slides) and lots of windows. We couldn't find anything we liked in modern offerings and opted to go vintage.

[ncason]

I like this conversation.

We are part of the conservative over 65 age group. However I still like contemporary light colors and fabric. We have leather furniture at home. I would never have it in a camper. It doesn't matter if is leather or vinyl. It is cold in the winter time and hot in the summer. Our rig is 12 years old and the fabric is still clean and not faded. I guess it is clean because we do not travel with children or dogs.

It is not just the cabinets and furniture that make the new campers so dark, the wall wrap is also dark, the curtains etc .are dark, even the bedspreads. My beds spread is ivory (washable of course).. With the new fabric finishes available you can have a soft fabric in a pretty pattern that does not stain easily. I think the manufactures are the stick-in-the-muds not the consumers. We have to comprise sometimes but we should have a choice besides ugly brown floors, brown or black furniture, brown walls, and brown fabric on chairs and beds.

My 6 cents worth,
Nancy

[Fred1609]

The airstream trailers use a lot of light wood/accents....makes the rig brighter

[Bamaman]

My very southern mother never liked light colored woods. She said that people of less means (in 1930's) had woods like oak and maple in their houses. More prominent people's homes were furnished in walnut and cherry woods--finished in darker mahogany finishes. There's some truth to her statement.

What our European gentleman was talking about is possibly that more RV's should look like they were designed by IKEA. In 450 square feet, IKEA could house a family of 6 people in style. And that furniture would be light enough to haul anywhere. IKEA has small square footage showcases to show form and function doesn't require 2500 square ft.

[Scarab0088]

RV makers build what sells. RV dealers buy from options that they know they can sell.

I started a thread last year called Ikea vs. Ethan Allen and found that the largest majority (at least here) preferred the look of wood (dark or light) cabinet fronts with features over featureless flat cabinets and soft fabrics (dark or light) over smooth vinyl for upholstery.

This is easy to illustrate by looking at Ketterer coaches:

Impressions

Compared to an American Coach:


The European designs are striking...but I believe American's like The "Amish quality" and that's what sells.
It is all in what the buyer wants.

Safe travels

[Glassalley52]

I agree with the OP. I'm not quite able to retire, but wish there was less "bulk" to the furnishings. I took out the recliners and put in the Ikea Prang chair in red for a pop of color. I have the itch to paint all the walls in something pale.


Sent from my iPad using iRV2 - RV Forum

[Slow Rider]

Originally Posted by Fred1609

I think its the style if the day. If you looked at rigs from the 80's there would be bleached faux wood with bright greens/blues and some purples. Same as the 70's....burnt oranges, dark browns......and green fridges..Its the style of the day....But I'm sure if you custom order you can get light wood and what ever colors you want.

ooh yeah the good old orange - dark brown 70s look. Almost forgotten this ...

[Slow Rider]

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

RV makers build what sells. RV dealers buy from options that they know they can sell.

I started a thread last year called Ikea vs. Ethan Allen and found that the largest majority (at least here) preferred the look of wood (dark or light) cabinet fronts with features over featureless flat cabinets and soft fabrics (dark or light) over smooth vinyl for upholstery.

This is easy to illustrate by looking at Ketterer coaches:
Attachment 65866
Impressions

Compared to an American Coach:
Attachment 65870

The European designs are striking...but I believe American's like The "Amish quality" and that's what sells.
It is all in what the buyer wants.

Safe travels

Yes, I agree. Ketterer is kind of extrem. For my personal taste a bit too unemotional. But as far I know, Ketterer is dedicated for a very specific (and rich) target group. They cost a fortune and are way out of range for the normal RV customer. When I think about more modern or contemporary design I have something like this in mind. http://www.niesmann-bischoff.com/arto-interieur/158/176 It´s a Class-A we designed for a German manufacturer. Well, size is of course not comparable with the ones you have in the US. What do you think about the design?

[Annierufus]

I think the design is very nice, it looks modern yet very comfortable


Joe Fenech
1998 Itasca Sunflyer
Ford 460

[minibike]

Originally Posted by Slow Rider

When I think about more modern or contemporary design I have something like this in mind. Arto Interieur - Niesmann+Bischoff It´s a Class-A we designed for a German manufacturer. Well, size is of course not comparable with the ones you have in the US. What do you think about the design?

I think the design works for a travelling RV. I like it, but it's more automotive than residential. It reminds me of the newer Road Treks (I had an older one). But I don't see it working for the crowd that parks and stays in one place for a while. As comparison; how is the Americanized La-Z-Boy recliner "Comfort Series" doing over there as compared to the Active line? Here, the Active line is a very small market, but the overstuffed Comfort series is king.

I'd like to see these come over though, the size/style is just right for us.

[micd]

I think the class B's as a whole tend to be more euro design oriented. Also the new 2015 Winnebago Braves, from what I saw in the on-line video had a more modern looking interior. Airstream also was modern but I think those are just trailers. Very pricey.

When we bought we couldn't find what we wanted in a modern coach as I wanted a narrow body not a wide body, lots of windows and simple operation with less things to break. Like minibike, in post 16, we found what we were looking for in an older coach. Surprisingly we also have a '94 Brave.

When the new 2015 Braves are out I want to take a look at them. I love how the sofa can be folded up to the wall with the tie downs beneath or folded into a bed or folded into a table. I also like the 3 point seat belts at the dinette and the lounge chair along with the more modern interior (but not the bright yellow, I like the blue/green in the Itasca Tribute line). However I think the eyebrow exterior design and graphics are pretty ugly and not fitting in with a modern design at all.

[srrobe]

Originally Posted by Slow Rider

Yes, I agree. Ketterer is kind of extrem. For my personal taste a bit too unemotional. But as far I know, Ketterer is dedicated for a very specific (and rich) target group. They cost a fortune and are way out of range for the normal RV customer. When I think about more modern or contemporary design I have something like this in mind. http://www.niesmann-bischoff.com/arto-interieur/158/176 It´s a Class-A we designed for a German manufacturer. Well, size is of course not comparable with the ones you have in the US. What do you think about the design?

I like it contemporary but not over done and looks comfortable.

[Falcon35]

I had a tour of the Entegra plant the other week.
I talked to someone there re all the black coaches.
He told me these things seem to go in cycles and that is what is selling at this time.
Have you noticed all the black cars with black wheels and black trim.
Not my kind of thing but a lot of people seem to like it.