Our Show Us Your Resene Reno series has showcased everything from extreme rebuilds to cosmetic glow ups. Each project is a celebration of individual creativity. Inspired by every shade of the rainbow, each caravan celebrates the versatility of the Resene product range for DIYers. In this issue, we share some of our most memorable favourites.
The nomad life
Armed with little more than a can-do attitude, determined Southland teacher Megan Ide transformed her 1979 Nomad caravan from an aged brown colour palette into something altogether more joyful.
While the caravan itself was in pretty good condition, Megan was inspired by American-style diners and wanted to banish every trace of the dominant brown colour scheme.
“Before embarking on the makeover, I did give the colour overhaul very careful consideration,” she says. “I had to weigh up whether the cosmetic changes would de-value it from its original state or add value, but in the end went with my vision of creating a more uplifting atmosphere and I have absolutely zero regrets.”
The result is unashamedly cheerful. Megan has successfully blended pinks and greens, managing to avoid an overload of pastels or saccharine sweetness.
Her strategy was to source her fabrics first, as she knew that working with Resene paints afforded her plenty of choice when it came to paint-matching. It was a well-informed decision, allowing her to choose complimentary paint colours that tied the entire theme together flawlessly.
Megan applied Resene Lustacryl Alabaster Semi-Gloss Waterborne Enamel to her walls and ceiling as a neutral base (but with depth and warmth), which allowed her to add bold accessories and fabrics without overgilding this cosy space.
To help tone down her flamingo print cushions and pink checked curtains, a soft Resene Lustacryl Niagra Semi-Gloss Waterborne Enamel was applied to all cupboards and hatch fronts.
Megan mixed her Resene Lustacryl Alabaster with the Resene Lustacryl Niagra to achieve her perfect shade of mint – a last-minute change of heart that didn’t cause any significant inconvenience.
“I learned new skills as I went, and also discovered confidence when it came to painting, finishing and styling the space.
“My advice to others is to test an area of your caravan first, even if you’re sure of the colour you want. I chose Resene Lustacryl Niagra as it perfectly matched some bed linen I purchased.
“And while it was a great match, I changed tack halfway through completion. I’d already painted three cupboard fronts, before deciding I wanted more contrast. It was really simple though – I just sanded it back, mixed Resene Lustacryl Niagra with Resene Lustacryl Alabaster with a 1:8 ratio and applied the lighter shade.”
Some of Megan’s decisions were also made to ensure the interior appealed to her daughter, who was just five years old at the time.
“The number one highlight of the caravan is sharing the experience with her. Even if we haven’t travelled to a campground or new destination, we can go and sit inside the caravan space and it’s like a holiday anyway.
“She just loves our wee caravan, and Glendhu Bay is one of our favourite spots to visit.”
There’s never a dull moment either, as Megan is used to people peeping in her windows, drawn by the colour palette, and asking questions about it.
The renovation has armed her with an impressive set of abilities – including sanding, masking, painting, minor repairs, sewing, upholstery and applying vinyl tiles.
She has also paid attention to decisions made along the way and her advice to others renovating or updating their caravan is to test an area of your interior first, and to take advantage of being able to purchase test pots.
“Often it’s not until you have the product on and can visually see the colour in its surroundings that you can make a final decision. Caravans are a tricky space as they are small and often some areas flood with more light than others.
“I’ve also learned embrace the process and to embrace the huge array of Resene paint options available to achieve what was previously only a dream interior.”
Vintage glory
A passion for rescuing retro caravans and offering them a second chance at life is what drives restorer Mark Brown through the inevitable challenges that arise with neglected and derelict caravans.
His remarkable restorations are not only testament to his work ethic and craftsmanship, but also his discerning eye for design, colour and quality. At the heart of the success of many of his creations are thoughtful Resene colour pairings and meticulous preparation with Resene products.
“I’ve been able to achieve great results and a lot of that is down to the quality finish Resene paints deliver. It really ups the ante when it comes to the final look of each caravan.”
Two of Mark’s recent projects have attracted an enormous following on his NZ Caravan Restoration YouTube channel, where he shares his progress, restoration tips and the exact Resene products used to achieve an interior and exterior finish that is both sleek and durable. Depending on the requirements and materials of each caravan, Mark selects the relevant Resene surface preparation products, primers, sealers, undercoats and topcoats.
The sunshine yellow Maisy and ‘shades of blue’ Peggy Sue are excellent examples of how thoughtful colour choice creates personality.
Mark pored over suitable Resene colours, using specialist products from Resene’s sister company: Resene Automotive and Light Industrial.
Maisy’s paint scheme includes Resene 1K etch primer grey, Resene 1K acrylic primer surfacer grey, Resene Acrythane 2K TPW01 white, and Resene Acrythane 2K Moon Yellow.
“I’ve been able to achieve great results and a lot of that is down to the quality finish Resene paints deliver. It really ups the ante when it comes to the final look of each caravan.”
For Peggy Sue, Mark chose Resene 440 ZP primer, and Resene Nason NI-610 2K PU topcoat in Tropical Blue, Bondi Blue, and NAS-104 White, for a stunning light blue, dark blue and white colour palette.
“I moved to this Resene system for Peggy Sue as it doesn’t require a separate etch primer, which saves both time and money,” shares Mark.
“The benefits of using a Resene 2K paint system for caravans includes durability, weather resistance, and a stunning gloss finish that turns heads on the road, always a talking point wherever I stop.”
Foxxy lady
Restoring caravans is a fine art – and even more so when trying to stay true to a certain era and vintage.
Foxxy Lady is a 1963 Roadmaster and Central Plateau owners Zoe Rossall and Ryan McLean entered into Foxxy Lady’s transformation armed with previous expertise, enormous enthusiasm and a determination to stay true to her 1960s origins.
“She was definitely in a sorry state when we first laid eyes on her,” admits Zoe. “Not just cosmetic issues either – she had a leaky interior, rusty chassis and peeling paint, among other problems, but we were always prepared to put the work into lovingly restoring her.”
After taking care of structural issues and relining and painting the ceiling and interior walls, Ryan built bunks for the kids that could double as a day bed. Zoe painstakingly stripped the old exterior paint back, and took to refreshing the inside with gusto –making double sided curtains so the funky retro material faced inside, with thermal-backed material to the outside.
New foam squabs were made and covered with old retro wool blankets, sourced from op shops, but the really key decisions were about colours and paint.
“Given her heritage and the fact we intended to use her as a family caravan rather than a showpiece, we also knew that we needed to select really good quality and durable paint for the interior.
“We chose to use Resene paints so we could be confident that she’d stand up to the rigours of life as a family caravan. Plus, while researching paint colours from the 1960s, we couldn’t go past the aptly named Resene Half Baked, Resene Moonbeam and Resene Woodstock.”
“Ryan and I have always loved renovating, be it houses or caravans,” says Zoe. “It’s really rewarding taking something that is old, tired, and worn out and giving it a new lease of life, transforming it with some love, time and energy to be enjoyed for many more years.
“We absolutely love her. When we retire, we’ll spend even more time creating wonderful memories on the road. Foxxy Lady will always be a member of the family for every generation to use – and no doubt turning heads wherever she goes.”
