Houzz Tours
Van Tour: A Joiner Fits Out a Four-Wheel Home for European Fun
Wait 'til you see what this Renault Trafic's kitchen can do... and it's all inspired by Australian adventures!
When joiner Nicolas Bessou’s girlfriend shared her experience of setting up a van in order to criss-cross Australia on four wheels, the latter also started to dream of holidays without an itinerary, mobility without constraint, and total freedom. He looked for inspiration on the internet, taking five months to gather ideas and refine his plan. Then, the big adventure began, with the purchase of a secondhand Renault Trafic. A month and a half later, Bessou was able to reveal the interior he built with his own hands.
It was not easy to select a van, as reliability, manoeuvrability and low fuel consumption were all priorities. Bessou opted for a Renault Trafic 3 L2H1, with a three-seater bench in front. This utility vehicle, beloved by craftspeople, is popular with van life adherents.
“I knew [this model] well, because I have the short version for my work. The 1.97-metre height means it can pass under two-metre parking restrictions, and the 5.4 metres of length make it possible to park in a town without problems and offer maximum interior living space,” he says.
That this was a good choice is corroborated by the fact that in the segment of vans below two metres in height, many decorators currently recommend this model in place of the iconic Volkswagen Transporter, thanks to its significantly lower cost and its squared shape, which is easier to furnish. “Now you’re starting to see quite a few ready-to-use fit-out kits and accessories for this model,” says Bessou.
“I knew [this model] well, because I have the short version for my work. The 1.97-metre height means it can pass under two-metre parking restrictions, and the 5.4 metres of length make it possible to park in a town without problems and offer maximum interior living space,” he says.
That this was a good choice is corroborated by the fact that in the segment of vans below two metres in height, many decorators currently recommend this model in place of the iconic Volkswagen Transporter, thanks to its significantly lower cost and its squared shape, which is easier to furnish. “Now you’re starting to see quite a few ready-to-use fit-out kits and accessories for this model,” says Bessou.
The van before works.
Bessou, on the other hand, created all of the furniture himself. Starting by unscrewing the partition wall between the cabin and the living space, he cut out the sheeting in the rear doors, and on the roof at the front of the vehicle. “In order to bring in natural light, I installed two large windows and a boat deck hatch. In comparison to a classic skylight, it’s a great trick, because it rises no more than 2 centimetres [above the car] rather than 10 or 12 centimetres.”
He also cut through the roof to install an automatic, solar-powered ventilation system.
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Bessou, on the other hand, created all of the furniture himself. Starting by unscrewing the partition wall between the cabin and the living space, he cut out the sheeting in the rear doors, and on the roof at the front of the vehicle. “In order to bring in natural light, I installed two large windows and a boat deck hatch. In comparison to a classic skylight, it’s a great trick, because it rises no more than 2 centimetres [above the car] rather than 10 or 12 centimetres.”
He also cut through the roof to install an automatic, solar-powered ventilation system.
Find a talented joiner on Houzz
The next step was to insulate the shell and floor of the van. A fan of the mountains who was planning to use the van in both summer and winter, Bessou did not skimp on the materials, taking the time to research first. “I filled the hollows of the walls with wood wool, then I put in expanded cork in panels, in a thickness of 40 millimetres on the floor and walls.”
Bessou then had to lay wiring for lighting at night. “I put a solar panel on the roof, which supplies the battery, which furnishes the van with electricity and makes it possible to stay in one place. I laid down cables for three LED spotlights and a dimmable ribbon in order to have precision lighting and a different ambiance. I knew about 220-volt lighting, but I had to relearn everything for 12 volts!,” he says.
With the furniture, on the other hand, Bessou was in his comfort zone, and created the modules directly in his workshop. “I first manufactured the bed frame, which converts into a banquette, then the kitchen modules and the closet-office in 12-millimetre poplar plywood, the lightest there is.”
In creating the furniture, Bessou always kept the final weight of his mobile home in mind. “According to the legislation, the final total permitted weight when loaded for this type of van is around three metric tonnes. It’s an infraction to exceed this.”
With the furniture, on the other hand, Bessou was in his comfort zone, and created the modules directly in his workshop. “I first manufactured the bed frame, which converts into a banquette, then the kitchen modules and the closet-office in 12-millimetre poplar plywood, the lightest there is.”
In creating the furniture, Bessou always kept the final weight of his mobile home in mind. “According to the legislation, the final total permitted weight when loaded for this type of van is around three metric tonnes. It’s an infraction to exceed this.”
The van after works.
Choosing finishes is always fun. Bessou and his girlfriend looked for inspiration extensively online. The furnished vans they dreamt of were dominated by raw wood, with its associations with cabins and chalets. Bessou also based the interior around his favourite material, taking care not to make the space too dark, given the small number of windows.
The ceiling was finished in plywood with a five-millimetre real-oak veneer, and the floor in wood laminate. Bessou fell back on a joiner’s trick on the wall: “I reused the Trafic’s original MDF lining. I grooved it and then painted it white to create a sort of panelling. It’s a trick that is used to, for example, manufacture shutters at lower cost,” he says.
Choosing finishes is always fun. Bessou and his girlfriend looked for inspiration extensively online. The furnished vans they dreamt of were dominated by raw wood, with its associations with cabins and chalets. Bessou also based the interior around his favourite material, taking care not to make the space too dark, given the small number of windows.
The ceiling was finished in plywood with a five-millimetre real-oak veneer, and the floor in wood laminate. Bessou fell back on a joiner’s trick on the wall: “I reused the Trafic’s original MDF lining. I grooved it and then painted it white to create a sort of panelling. It’s a trick that is used to, for example, manufacture shutters at lower cost,” he says.
The bed frame is 135 by 190 centimetres, almost the same size as a traditional bed, which is like attempting the impossible in a space this small. It is based on a bed base composed of slats in staggered rows (see the render below). Half of the slats therefore slide into the other section, making it possible to use it as a bench in the day time. All that’s left to do is to arrange the two mattresses, either perpendicularly or side by side.
Render of the bed frame built by joiner Nicolas Bessou.
To ensure a comfortable sleep, the couple cut up an Ikea futon to create the two mattresses. Bessou’s girlfriend made the sheets, pillow cases and curtains.
To ensure a comfortable sleep, the couple cut up an Ikea futon to create the two mattresses. Bessou’s girlfriend made the sheets, pillow cases and curtains.
The wall opposite the bench is fitted out with a large storage unit, which includes a fold-out table. This is always accessible, even when the bed is folded out.
“We got the idea from a friend who had furnished a van and had to work in it. The table is useful for having lunch inside or, more often, to set up a computer to watch a movie, for example,” says Bessou.
“We got the idea from a friend who had furnished a van and had to work in it. The table is useful for having lunch inside or, more often, to set up a computer to watch a movie, for example,” says Bessou.
In a van, everything needs to be in its place and has to take up the least possible space. Other units were therefore planned to store the couple’s clothing and accessories. All of the doors are equipped with locking buttons so that they don’t open while driving.
Compared to many others, this furnished van offers numerous work surfaces. Initially there were no fixed boxes on top of the units, but after the first trial run, Bessou added them in order to be able to leave some things out without them rattling about during the drive.
Compared to many others, this furnished van offers numerous work surfaces. Initially there were no fixed boxes on top of the units, but after the first trial run, Bessou added them in order to be able to leave some things out without them rattling about during the drive.
On the kitchen side, the couple went for originality. Most mobile homes have a kitchen on the left – as in the iconic VW California van – or on the right, next to the sliding door – as in most RVs. Bessou, on the other hand, placed the kitchen with its back to the front bench seat, which offered the luxury of extending it in an L shape. “For a while we explored ways of creating a living room in the front with two turning seats, but we wanted to keep the original three-seat arrangement, and there are no benches that turn around.”
And those aren’t the only surprises the van has in store, as the module that contains the two-hob gas cooker and the sink slides entirely out of the side door. “My girlfriend furnished her van with a kitchen that slid out at the back, and she really liked cooking outside in Australia. We wanted to recreate it but, when I made my renders on Sketchup, I had trouble fitting it at the back. I tried again with a module at the front, and here is the result.”
The sliding module is equipped with closed cupboards for storing dishes and pans. It also has a drawer for cutlery and a space for the bin.
On its left side, a two-element cooker with screens on either side is built in beneath a moveable cutting board which is made of oak just like the worktop. The cooker is connected to a 13-kilogram Twiny gas bottle. “We can cook inside, right under the skylight. When it is nice out, we slide the kitchen furniture outside. The portable stove and the gas canister are moreover removable, so you can cook on a table outside,” says Bessou.
On its left side, a two-element cooker with screens on either side is built in beneath a moveable cutting board which is made of oak just like the worktop. The cooker is connected to a 13-kilogram Twiny gas bottle. “We can cook inside, right under the skylight. When it is nice out, we slide the kitchen furniture outside. The portable stove and the gas canister are moreover removable, so you can cook on a table outside,” says Bessou.
Nessou also designed his removable gas system with a view to his next technical inspection, as he is not sure whether the current setup will be acceptable. “I respected the standards and coloured within the lines with the electricity and water, but for the gas, the sliding kitchen module is not compatible,” he says. He designed each module in such a way that he can easily remove them should he run into problems at his first technical inspection.
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As for the water, Bessou had installed a 10-litre tank under the sink for grey water, with a level indicator. He makes sure to wash dishes with non-polluting products with a view to the sewage.
The 30-litre water supply is tucked into the corner. It can be accessed when the kitchen is rolled towards the outside. To make resupply easier, Bessou installed two jugs of 10 and 20 litres, respectively.
The 30-litre water supply is tucked into the corner. It can be accessed when the kitchen is rolled towards the outside. To make resupply easier, Bessou installed two jugs of 10 and 20 litres, respectively.
On the floor in front of the jugs is the refrigerator. “It is a 45-litre, off-grid compressor cool box that runs off of the solar panel. We chose it over a real refrigerator for budgetary reasons: 400 euros [$645AUD] versus 600 euros [$970AUD] at the base price,” says Bessou. Even if cool boxes have their detractors, because you have to stack the food and because it is sometimes difficult to get to what you want during the meal, this format makes it possible to store rather more in a compact volume.
A worktop over the refrigerator offers an extra surface when the other one is used for cooking. All of the worktops were oiled with Rubio oil, which protects the wood. The little compartments hold spices. Bessou took out his pretty glass jars for the photo, but for safety these are usually held in the upper cabinet, which serves as a pantry.
After this grand tour of the little interior, the more observant among you might wonder where the bathroom is. “I get asked this question all the time!” says Bessou. The bathroom is exterior. With a shower head connected to the faucet – which is extra water efficient – a pop-up tent and biodegradable soap, they can keep up perfect hygiene in summer. In the winter, campground showers are the adventurer’s best friend.
As for the toilet, it is present in the van, in a dedicated unit under the bench. “I built a dry toilet out of wood with a reservoir for the sawdust and a compartment for compostable bags,” says Bessou.
Let’s finish off with the outdoor furnishings, which are indispensable to anyone wanting to live in connection with nature. An awning, which creates shade on hot days (not pictured), can be set up on the side of the van thanks to a rail that Bessou had fixed just above the sliding door.
As for the garden furniture, it is stored entirely lengthwise in the boot, which can be accessed under the bench. Bessou built the table himself out of an oak top and foldable aluminium legs he bought on the internet. The chairs are also foldable, and the carpet is a well-known accessory for van life enthusiasts, usually placed under the front step. It reduces the amount of dirt that gets tracked inside the living space. Bessou thought of everything: “I even have a 12-volt vacuum cleaner stowed near the bin. It can be charged from the plugs that we installed at the level of the kitchen.”
Bessou and his girlfriend only needed a month a half to furnish the van just before the summer holidays. The first real outing was a weekend at Lake Saint-Pardoux, not far from Limoges, France. This was when they carried out the photo shoot seen here. Afterwards, the couple took the steering wheel for summer holidays, without a set itinerary, criss-crossing the Alps, falling asleep to the sound of the horns on the hills at more than 2000 metres, then plunging down to the Mediterranean to take to the beaches when the sun turns reddest, leaving with the memories of the stars in their eyes.
Soon, they will have another big cause to celebrate: they are expecting their first child, and look forward to discovering nature together in complete freedom. They just have to adapt the van with dedicated furniture.
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature in this van? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Read more overseas stories, beginning with: Moscow Houzz Tour: A Chic Grey Interior for a Colourful Life
What’s your favourite feature in this van? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Read more overseas stories, beginning with: Moscow Houzz Tour: A Chic Grey Interior for a Colourful Life
Van at a Glance
Who lives here: This van was designed by joiner Nicolas Bessou and his girlfriend, who are in their 30s and based in Limoges, France
Van dimensions: 1.96 metres wide, 5.4 metres long and 1.97 metres high
Size of interior, excluding the cabin: 3x1.6 metres
Date completed: In the European summer of 2021
Duration of work: 1.5 months
Joiner: Nicolas Bessou of Poligone Créations
Total budget: Approximately $44.000AUD
“After nine years as a software engineer in the Paris region, I wanted to give my life more meaning,” says Bessou, who completed his retraining as a joiner in February 2021. Having set up shop as a sole trader in Limoges, southwest-central France, he wanted to focus on outfitting alternative housing, in particular tiny houses. Since turning a van into a living space dovetailed with his professional ambitions, he threw himself into the task just before the summer holidays, refining the interior furniture he created himself, mostly out of wood.