Last week, I put the final layer of flooring down which completed the first stage of my van conversion. After installing two layers of sub-flooring and framing the wheel wells, it was time for the hardest decision yet: picking out the color of the floors.
For someone who is very specific about the aesthetic of spaces (especially ones I live in) and has strong preferences in color, I did not take this decision lightly. The color of the floor would determine the other stylistic choices later in the build… pressure was on. I browsed the different laminate wood panel flooring options in aisle 12 of Home Depot, looked at samples countless times, but was still filled with indecision. It reminded me of being at the nail salon picking out what color I wanted for a mani pedi.
If you know me, you know that I’m not someone who routinely gets their nails done and acrylics freak me out. But, on occasion, especially after a long squash season, I treat myself to a mani pedi. Looking at the wall of nail polish, trying to decide on a color, while the lady at the salon waits for me gives me a rush of anxiety. I often end up choosing impulsively resulting in hot pink barbie nails that haunt me for the next month as the polish slowly chips off.
Back in aisle 12 of Home Depot, the same rush wafts over me, however, with no one waiting on me, I take my time to decide. There’s less risk, for sure. There’s no bright pinks or purples, just different shades of wood. I can’t really go wrong, yet it still feels like a significant choice.
I chose a light wash grey panel that has some natural highlights as well as some darker undertones, which will allow for some flexibility for the color palette of the rest of the decor. I want the interior of the van to be light to contrast the black exterior and am envisioning white walls with natural wood countertops. ~Coastal Boho~ is what I’ve determined the specific name of the aesthetic I’m aiming for to be.
The installation of the floor panels was difficult- extremely difficult. Don’t let the middle aged men who make YouTube tutorials on laminate flooring installations fool you. They make it look so easy.
Completing the floor was a huge milestone in the build and it made me feel like “wow, this is actually happening”. But, before I continue with the build, I have to first install all of my electrical equipment, which has already proved to be a challenge. This is the one part of the process I don’t feel knowledgeable enough to do on my own. Having a reliable electrical system is crucial for the off-grid adventures I plan on having, so I am working with an electrician to make sure it is done correctly. This poses its own set of obstacles. Communication and coordinating with an electrician is difficult. I have everything I need and I’m ready to go, but working around someone else’s schedule is slowing me down. I’ve found myself getting annoyed and frustrated by the lack of visible process I’ve made on the actual van the last week, but I’ve had to remind myself to let that go. I want this done well, and have no strict departure date, so it’s worth the wait.
In the meantime, I’ve been doing research on my route and welcome any suggestions on cool places to visit! I’ve also taken to Tik Tok to further document this process and my journey. I started a job remotely. I’ve been spending time on my own designs and thinking about how I can combine and grow my van content and Ablaz Design Co. into something cool.
While I’m definitely someone who likes to hit the gas, floor it, and get things done, slowing down a little, paying attention to details, and taking my time isn’t so bad either.
ABLAZ 