Aiden and Nicola live full time in Frank, their self-renovated 1984 Toyota Coaster, along with their furry baby, Luna. For the conversion, the couple dove headfirst without much preparation and learned how to make fixes and develop new skills along the way.
Although they hope to one day travel around their native Australia in Frank, Aiden and Nicole live and work in Mareeba on an organic lemon myrtle farm. For now, Frank is a beautiful stationary home that allows the couple to live the sustainable lifestyle they love.
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Turning Frank into a suitable home was quite the process, as the previous owner's layout was not to Aiden and Nicola's taste. They gut-renovated the space and installed a gorgeous wood slab countertop found on the side of the road for $150. To minimize waste, they used drawers left over from the previous fit.
The couple found their beautiful textured basin sink at a vintage and antiques shop. They secured it to the counter in a bed of silicone for extra support. The antique-style brass faucet pairs perfectly with the sink.
The kitchen takes up the bulk of the van space, with wood slab countertops on either side. To the left, they have ample prep space and storage for fresh food. Across the way sit the sink and roomy refrigerator, which Nicola covered in wood-vinyl laminate. It was originally stainless steel and didn't work with Frank's organic decor.
The back of the van makes up the sleeping and lounging area -- Luna's favorite spot. The back shelf offers storage space above a large open window. Built-in shelving was tricky to achieve in this area that holds neighboring air vents, but the couple made it work with the help of some handy friends.
The driver's seat console area features astro turf flooring. To achieve this look, the couple removed the carpet and cut the turf to match, securing it atop the original flooring.
It was a lot of hard work, but Aiden and Nicola love the result. They enjoy the natural look and feel of wood walls and flooring, combined with tons of light coming in through ample windows.
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In the kitchen, plenty of cabinet space and overhead shelving make storage a cinch. The biggest priority on limited counter space? A decked-out coffee maker that provides morning fuel before work on the farm.