Redecorating the inside

[Lil'Darlin1972]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">

I'll post photos when alllllll this is done . . . . whew! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

<span class="ev_code_PURPLE">Sounds great...I can't wait to see the before and afters !!</span>

[K & G]

Go for it!

We bought a 1990 four years ago. It is a 34' motorhome (Gulf Stream).

It is just the two of us traveling North America. The last thing we needed was sleeping for six, so out came the couch, and in went a desk and second fridge. The dining area is to sit four and it left so little aisle space that two could not work in the kitchen, so we chopped the one side back to one fat person sitting. The other side backed on the bath so we couldn't do anything there, but now there is room for two to work in the kitchen.

The furniture was all rose coloured that made you want to gag, so slipcovers for all. That little chair by the entrance that is almost too small for the cat to curl up in--out the door. Replaced with a wicker basket chair. Carpet all removed and laminate flooring installed. Makes it a breeze to clean up, especially since we travel with two long-hair cats. All the curtain treatment replaced. All the walls papered with a southern-feeling pattern (palm trees and elephants). One style on top, a different but complimentary on the bottom and a border at chair rail height to separate them and nick nacks and lamps to complement. The bath of course was also papered.

Now, it feels like we could hold a dance in the living room area and it has not been unusual to have 8 for morning coffee sitting around.

To aid that, we have two foot stools for the front captain chairs (rotate of course). Those do double duty as extra seats if necessary.

The TV? That we replaced with a flat screen which is mounted on the back of the dining room bench (the one that was cut back) and mounted on drawer slides. So when travelling, you push it in out of the way. When the captains chairs are turned around, the TV slides out to the center of the room for easy viewing without twisting your neck, and yet we can still get easily around it.

We discovered when we cut that dining room bench back that the space under it was totally unused and it was unaccessible. Well, now it is storage space for bulky paper towels and toilet paper. Put in some new electrical outlets for the TV while I was at it. Put in more outlets outside as well so we can watch TV outside if we want.

Love having an older motorhome. You can do what you want and not feel you are destroying anything.

Now the place is most definitely ours and tailored just to the lifestyle of the two of us.

Mind you, the next owners had better be a max of 2

[GraciesMom]

I want to see pictures! I can't grasp what you did from the description but it sounds wonderful!

[The Incorrigible Dirigible]

K&G--I'd like to see pictures, too.

I've been surprised at how much one could do to redecorate the interior of an RV. Until you get your own, I suppose, you just don't think about it. But since we bought our coach for fulltiming in April we have repainted, reupholstered, removed valances and doors, and we're working on making a folding table to go over the engine doghouse between the front seats when we're parked.

[GraciesMom]

TID - I'd love to see a photo of the little table. I was hoping to be able to turn my steering wheel into a table, but it doesn't go back that far so that it's flat. I have a cup holder wooden thingy with a drawer on the doghouse but I'd prefer a flat table to display my Alaska stuff when I'm stopped. Can you post a photo when you're done?

[historyljc]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I was hoping to be able to turn my steering wheel into a table, but it doesn't go back that far so that it's flat. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
You can buy steering wheel tables at CW. They're adjustable to fit the angle your steering wheel is at so that the top is flat (horizontal).

[Dream Weaver]

We took out the dinette that came with our rig. We moved the sofa to where the dinette was. I use the sofa like a lounge and dh has a recliner where the sofa was. We have been very happy with this arrangement since 2001. When we decide to trade or sell, I don't think we will have any problems. I'll just tell them to use tv trays like we do or use the campground picnic table!

[GraciesMom]

The guy doing my carpet doesn't do the "cockpit" of the RV because of having to remove the seats. So I'm going to have to get someone to do that part when I get new captains chairs. I found several styles of tile that I really liked, but then I found this really natural looking wood vinyl planks that glue to each other instead of the floor. They look SO REAL and so rich . . . such a nice dark color. I'm torn between those and the stone-look vinyl squares. I've got them laid out all over the floor and I have to decide tomorrow. . . . and the fabric that I have done my entire decorating scheme around? It was on sale for $10 a yard but I didn't buy it - I figured it would be that price for a while. WRONG! It's gone up to $35 a yard! Thank goodness I only have two valances to cover. I'm doing the bedroom totally different than the living area . . . going to put shades and curtains in there . . . fabric covered room darkening shades and curtains and a fabric headboard. Nice and romantic . . . LOL!

[GraciesMom]

I had to go to South Dakota to get my driver's license last Friday, so I left the guy that was helping me do the inside of the RV to finish up while I was gone. When I got back, he had put down two boxes of the wood flooring and had done it ALL WRONG - it's a floating floor, it sticks to itself - and he had glued it down and had gaps in it big enough to stick my pinkie through in some areas and big enough to stick a nickle into in others. And had cut it badly around the corners so you could see the old floor. IT WAS A MESS. I thought he'd already put the carpet down and was working on the vinyl when I talked to him Friday night but when I got in Saturday, that's all that was done. I was livid. I had paid him $200 up front and was going to pay him the rest when he was done. He kept talking about 'GETTING IT DONE' like he was in a hurry - and had told me that I'd need to find somewhere to go and take the dogs while he was working on it. Now I know why. He didn't know what he was doing and didn't want me to see that. So - I'm out $200 for the payment to him and $150 in flooring and my floor is half finished mess!!! And I have to leave for Albuquerque on Wednesday! I will just have to bear with it until I can get there and then get back to work on it again. I have threatened him with small claims court if he doesn't reimburse me for the tile he messed up and for the time he charged me for. And I will take him to court if he doesn't refund the money.

AAAAARGGGGH! PEOPLE NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME!!

[NLOVNIT]

What an ordeal. I sure hope you can get your floor fixed. There's nothing more frustrating than putting your faith in someone else's abilities only to get the short end of the stick.

Take plenty of photos of the bad floor job. Contact another flooring expert to get a quote on how much it will cost to fix the other guy's mess. Be sure to ask for references & check this person out with the BBB &/or Angie's List before you allow them to work on your rv. Then, armed with the photos & quote, haul that first guy into small claims court & get justice!

Don't EVER let any contractor tell you to scram while they do their work. Any honest, qualified contractor will allow you to be around & will even welcome questions & suggestions (as long as you don't hover or make a pest of yourself while they're working). If they don't want you around, they're trying to hide something & that's a <span class="ev_code_RED">RED FLAG</span> something's wrong.

Best of luck to you!

Lori-

[GraciesMom]

This guy was the maintenance foreman at the apartment complex where my son lives. He seemed to do a great job on remodeling these apartments . . . that's the only reason I trusted him. Live and learn . . .

[randco]

Never pay for the labor up front. In most cases, you will always lose.

[gloriebkj]

GraciesMon....found your site. This is GloRieBKJ from the Hurricane site. I wish I could tell you a quick and easy fix for the flooring...but I think you will just have to take it up and start over. I put that flooring down in ours and I have two new knees. It is not hard to do at all. Can't believe someone could mess it up so badly. We just finished putting it in my hubby's airplane room in the stick house yesterday. I would sure try to get my money back from the person who messed it up! Then do it yourself--honest it is very easy to do............Betty

[cvrvr]

GraciesMom Two suggestion, use quake wax to secure thing from moving aroung and try cork flooring instead of wood.

George