RV decor, plus storage and organizing

I really love to look at the posts about "glamping" and ideas for renovating an old camp trailer into a "glamper." Pretty to look at, but not totally practical if you camp frequently, boondock, or full- time. In my opinion, frilly and cutesy is much too high-maintenance. I like easy clean, easy care, minimalistic style for camping, but don't worry! I still have some glam! Having upgraded to a new 5th wheel, I don't need to paint, or remodel, but I still want to make it uniquely my own. (Why does the RV industry only use dark, earthy colors in their schemes? And storage? fuhgetaboutit!)  I've incorporated some things to decorate (comfy, cozy) and some storage and organization ideas. Some ideas are original, and some I've seen on RV blogs, or Pinterest.

I made a couple of cute pennant banners, This one is strung along the large back window, and the other is above the head of the bed. I use blankets and throw pillows for the comfort factor. I also love pictures of family, so I have tons of pictures on the walls. I love the velcro type picture hangers for the trailer. They work great.  The little round lights you can see under the cabinets are a battery operated set we found at Sam's club. They have a remote, so it's really nice when there is no electric power available.

 I love cute sayings, owls and birdies! These are above the dinette. The bird is secured with a small screw into the window valance. Our new 5th wheel has a slide, where the dining table is, The trailer is only 2 feet longer than our old one, but the slide makes a world of difference! I put a storage ottoman in to use as a footrest and an extra seat. It opens, and is a great spot for shoes. Using the ottoman, I can seat 6 around the table. In the old RV we could barely squeeze in 4.

Some silk plants help warm up the space above the entertainment center. Since I could never reach the top of this shelf without a step stool, I opted not to store anything up here. But I like the plant.
I also used some dimensional wooden stickers- you can barely see them to the right of the cabinet, but I scattered them throughout the RV.


Storage can also be decorative! I use this basket above the microwave to store plastic containers. I also use the microwave to store a loaf of bread. It's easily removed when need the microwave, but putting it in the micro keeps it smash-free! The tin sign and flower magnets add a homey touch.

Storage in an RV bathroom is usually a challenge! The medicine cabinet is actually quite roomy compared to our old camper, but I love having what I need, or may need, in a compact space. These little bins make it easy to keep lots of variety in a small space. I use small or sample sizes, take them out of the boxes, and re-stock as needed. Bins also keep things from getting jumbled and tumbled while traveling.(I put a piece of bubble plastic in front of the drawers while traveling to keep them in place.) I try not to keep things in the camper that aren't needed. Having had an RV for several years, I've learned to minimize what I think we may use, and try to take what I know we will use. We may load and unload the RV differently each trip, but not having excess, makes keeping organized much easier. If we ever had to full-time in our RV, however, I would be in a world of hurt!!

A mesh shower organizer hung from the shower curtain rod, keeps shampoo, soap, razors, puffs, etc handy, and allows them to dry.     A shelf from Ikea, stained to match the wood, holds items on the counter. It just has a piece of drawer liner underneath it- so far, it has stayed in place- even on some really bumpy roads.

The storage under the banquette seats goes in really deep. I found a couple of wire baskets to hold items I use frequently. The basket pulls out easily, and I can easily get to paper plates, cups, and silverware when we have a crowd.

  I asked farm-boy to build pull out trays to fit the pantry. There was no way my shorty self could even see into the top 2 shelves of the pantry!  This way I not only can see, but also reach, those way, way, in the back items!

 I'm also too short for this cabinet over the sink. I use handle baskets, so I can pull them out to get to the goodies inside! A small shelf doubles the storage. Taller items, like a cutting board & cookie sheet are to the right, also in a basket!

These garden items make a great cutlery and sink tray. It fits into the sink when we travel, and lifts right out when we arrive! My spoons and spatulas are corralled, and I can easily access the soap, and scrubbies!
 In our old rv I had a magnetic knife rack mounted next to the stove- It worked really well, but this rv has cutouts for the knives behind the stove-top, so I haven't put up a magnetic strip.

 Small games, books, crayons, note and color books, dvd's, scissors, pens, pencils, cards, trail guides, plant and animal reference books,etc. are stored in  mini-drawers and bins under the entertainment center. A 3-ring binder holds the registration and the user manuals for everything in the RV.






These solar deck lights are the best little night lights ever. ( I got these at Shopko) I can charge them during the day, and put them all over at night. They have a button underneath to turn them off, so they make a great bedside lamp. I also keep one in the bathroom for those night time visits. They work great next to the door, if you're coming back to the campsite after dark, or as a flashlight, or put one on the table so you can see to assemble your s'mores! We also have a few stake type solar lights we put outside so we aren't stumbling around at night. Saves a ton on batteries! They stay bright pretty much all night (if you charge them good) I've decided to keep one in my suitcase, for those trips that don't involve the trailer! We have sure loved this new RV. I'm continually coming up with new ideas to organize and just simplify- after all camping should be relaxing, right?!

We recently took the RV's and went to Zions and Bryce canyons. The kids, and grand kids came also. Ophelia is 9 months and into speed-crawling! She gets into things she shouldn't in a blink of an eye! We used the blow up pool idea as a playpen outside. She loved it. We threw in a blanket and some toys, and miss O. She was happy, and so was mom, because there was no escaping off the blanket and eating of rocks, and dirt, and twigs.... Alesia used a laundry basket for Ryder as a bed in their RV. There wasn't room near the bed for a pack and play, but the basket fit perfectly! Both babies did really well!

Both Ophelia and Ryder loved hiking! Ryder was just 1 month old, he pretty much snuggled into the carrier and slept the whole time, Ophelia waved a stick, or a piece of grass, and her pretty blue eyes and sunny smile had strangers snapping pictures of her! It was such a good time. I can't wait for for next family trip- any destination ideas?

Changes

Wow! time has flown by since I last posted. Pinterest has totally sucked me in. My blog is neglected, but I do have lots of pins (grin). I have found lots of great fall decorating ideas, so I've incorporated several of them into a design for my front porch,- its kinda of a work in progress, I'm mulling several additional ideas, Since my flowers are still alive and well, I haven't removed the summer flowers yet, so the porch has some elements that will go once the frost hits (take your time frost, I am liking this warm fall.) I have been having fun using the old door from the barn as an element in my decor.
This past year has brought lots of changes. A new and improved camp trailer for one thing. We bought a 5th wheel trailer with a slide. It is amazing the difference a few square feet makes! I'm sad that summer is so short- I love to "rough it" in my new trailer.

We also have a new grand-daughter! So. much. fun!

Ophelia, or little O, is so precious! I just want to snuggle her all day long. Unfortunately, so does her mom, so I have to share (-: My sweet daughter is a mommy! It seems like just yesterday that she was teeny like this. My son and his wife announced they're expecting also, so I will get a new baby to snuggle in April. Joy! My friend and neighbor, Raecale snapped some darling pictures of O. And some darling family pics too. She is just so talented. (she even got the fur kids to smile!) like these? She would gladly snap some of your family. Well, I will see if I can find time to un-neglect my blog. Until then, happy trails!

Vintage- Rustic Wedding

My darling niece Maele,was planning her wedding and asked me if I would help her decorate for the reception.
Of course I was so excited to help out, especially when she started telling me some of her ideas...right up my alley! Let me now confess, Pinterest has become my new best friend! Maele and I would post ideas we liked, and occasionally we would both post the same thing, at practically at the same moment, we were so on the same page it was great! She wanted something rustic, and vintage,yet wanted it to look warm and inviting.
The reception was being held in the gymnasium at the church, and you know how echoing and cavernous those rooms can be. It is difficult to hide the fact you are in a gym without spending a fortune. (which we did not have) We have old doors and windows from our many remodeling projects, and used those as backdrops.
*disclaimer*
Silly me, I forgot to bring my camera, so the pictures are mostly from farm boy's cell phone, so they are not always real clear
*sorry*
Maele and I both really like the bunting banners that are so popular now, and Maele had made several with fabric, but I came up with a vintage style banner.
For her shower I made a garland out of vintage hankies, and cut letters from cardstock to spell out the Bride and Groom's names. I used clothespins to hang them from a clothesline and used sticky dots to fasten the letters to the front of the clothespins. At the reception, we hung it from our old doors behind the video table. Also at her shower, I used mason jars wrapped with lace for the drinks, I knew she wanted to use mason jars for part of her centerpieces on the tables, so that was the start.
Maele decorated many, many, more jars with lace, burlap, bakers twine, and buttons, and used them on the tables, and around the gym to decorate. She filled one jar with flowers & one had Epsom salts with a battery powered candle. There were also pictures of the couple on each table. A colorful tablecloth, and a burlap runner tied at the ends with bakers twine completed the tables. Her colors were purple, yellow and gray. Looks pretty, don't you think?


As the guests entered the gym, we had a table set up with the guest book, and used a vintage suitcase to hold the cards.

Next to that, was a long table to hold gifts, see the cute "just married" banner Maele made?

Moving along the line, there was an antique treadle sewing machine, with a wedding quilt displayed across it.

The next stop was the receiving line.

Maele had made a garland with strips of fabric and lace to hang between the doors that were for their backdrop. Didn't it look pretty? I love the softness of the fabric with the chippy contrast of the doors. Maele and Collin and their parents stood in front of this backdrop to greet guests.



I had planned to do a word art collage on an old window, in time for Maele's shower, but unfortunately there just wasn't enough time...(I will still get it finished, Mae) So I quickly whipped up a darling wreath to hang on the window. It is made with white felt and burlap rosettes. Isn't it darling? The denim quilt on the couch is made from Collin's old clothes- things from babyhood on up. What a cute idea!

As the guests made their way around the gym the next thing they came to was my FAVORITE decoration of all! ( well one of them)

I have a favorite store in Preston I like to visit. It is called the Gingerbread House, and the owner, Diane always has the cutest ideas. Her store is kind of a cross between a thrift store (without the yuck) an antique mall and a gift shop. She has lots of vintage things and they are displayed in the most creative ways. Anyway, she had a plethora of vintage crates, and since Maele wanted to use crates as part of her display, and vintage crates are costly!, Diane kindly let us rent practically all she had, and look at this!
We used an old ladder found in our barn, and suspended it between the stacked crates. Jars of fresh flowers are hung from the rungs with wire. This picture was taken before we dimmed the overhead lights, and so the doors are quite obvious, but with the lights dimmed, and strings of white lights suspended across the ceiling, the doors and "gym" disappeared into the background. Below are close ups of the displays inside the crates.

The line wound it's way around the gym, past the crate display, and the TV, to the best part, (for the attendees) the Treats! Maele served soft serve ice cream with a choice of toppings. I found these silver trays at DI and painted them in the center with chalkboard paint. Isn't that a sweet message?
As the guests were leaving there was another table with a "thank you" for them to take, and a display of Bridal pictures suspended with ribbon from a large "frame".
All in all, I had a BLAST! I think it all turned out wonderful, and it all looked just as beautiful as the Bride! Thanks for visiting, and grab a sweet stick candy on your way out!