Vintage Caravan Style Book Review

Welcome to my spot on the Vintage Caravan Style Blog Hop, featuring Lisa Mora’s book, Vintage Caravan Style.

I LOVE trailers, and reading this book brought back so many childhood memories for both me and my husband.  My husband’s parents were the proud owners of a small Airstream. Of course now we wish they hadn’t sold it.  Many summer weekends were spent traveling up and down the California coast looking for the perfect spot to stop and rest for a few days.

Let’s meet Lisa and hear a bit more about her love of living Vintage Caravan Style.

Lisa Mora was born in Sydney, Australia in 1969 to an Australian Mother and American father. As a youngster she travelled all around the world with her parents in what she describes as a “gypsy” lifestyle when she began chronicling all of her adventures in journals. Having worked for many years as a freelance writer, Lisa went on to work as a staff writer for a car magazine attending many classic car shows and hot rod events with her little pink vintage trailer in tow.Her passion for these cute little portable homes soon became an “obsession”. Lisa created the world’s very first Vintage Caravan Magazine in 2011. The magazine now has several thousand subscribers all over the world. The gypsy urge still pulls her towards a life on the road and she still travels regularly capturing the stories and images of vintage caravans and camper trailers everywhere she goes.

If you’ve ever thought about buying your own caravan or trailer, then this is the book for you.  Lisa has you covered from buying and restoring, to decorating and styling the small spaces of your dreams.  Each chapter is filled with tips and ideas and TONS of pictures to inspire you.

1 … The Joy of Vintage Caravans

The first chapter gives a wonderful introduction to the history of the caravan, and takes you back to the days when trailer travel provided an exciting time for family and friends to travel together.

I think we all have moments when we long for a roaming lifestyle; it seems to be in our programming to experience wanderlust and feel the desire to roam from time to time.  ~Lisa Mora, Vintage Caravan Style, ch. 1

2 … Finding Your Dream Caravan

Where does one even start to look for one of these vintage treasures?  And what do you do with it once you’ve acquired it?  Lisa tells you what to look for and what to watch out for.  You’ll definitely need to be patient and keep your eyes open.  You never know when your caravan might just find you!  And she doesn’t stop there … she gets down to the nitty-gritty of exactly what to do to restore and repair your old new caravan for its complete makeover.

The best advice I can offer to anyone hunting for their ideal retro caravan is to become super-proactive and pester everyone and anyone you know about your dream. Tell all your friends and work colleagues, your neighbors and even the checkout girl at your local grocery store about your obsession. Older caravans are likely to pop out of the woodwork in the most unlikely places!  ~Lisa Mora, Vintage Caravan Style, ch. 2

3 … Choosing a Theme

The sky is really the limit when it comes to choosing a theme.  But the key thing to know is that your theme is all about YOU!  This is a fun and creative way to show off and express something you love … whether it be a hobby, a song, a place, a brand, a sport, no theme is the wrong thing, if it’s what you love.

One of the most appealing aspects of vintage trailers is their individuality. Styling and decorating these small spaces allows great scope for a variety of themes and provides an opportunity to create a space that truly reflects your unique tastes and style – and it is fun to do, too! ~Lisa Mora, Vintage Caravan Style, ch. 3

4 … Choosing a Color Scheme

When it comes to choosing a color scheme for your vintage trailer, the vast spectrum of possibilities is as wide as the rainbow’s end is impossible to find. ~Lisa Mora, Vintage Caravan Style, ch. 4

5 … Decorating Your Caravan

You’ve picked your theme and your color.  Now it’s time to add all of the adorable decorations.  From linens to dishes, window coverings, even all of the things you’ll need for the outside like the chairs and table and maybe even a rug or two.  I think this might just be the most enjoyable part of this journey … making it all your own.

Whether you use it for holidaying, as a backyard studio, or open your doors to others at car shows and rallies, a selection of quirky retro items in your chosen color scheme can be displayed both inside and outside your trailer to great effect. ~Lisa Mora, Vintage Caravan Style, ch. 5

6 … Taking a Road Trip

You’ve put a lot of time and hard work into making your unique caravan, and now your want to share it with others.  It’s time for a road trip!  Lisa provides several hints and tips for what to pack and what not to pack, as well as the best way to hitch up your trailer and how to get the most out of your trip down the road less travelled.

There is some beautiful countryside out there in the world just waiting for you to discover it. The dramatic changes in scenery, the way the changing light casts a glow over the land at different times of the day, the excitement of the unknown as you drive towards a destination you’ve never been to before… All these things and more await you out there on the road. ~Lisa Mora, Vintage Caravan Style, ch. 6

7 … The On-Site Caravan

Many trailer are converted specifically for on-site spaces.  Your new trailer can provide a permanent living space, or an addition to an existing structure.  How about a “guest suite.”  The possibilities are endless.

So much better than just another room, vintage caravans are more like miniature homes, allowing for even greater privacy. With everything
you need close at hand, there’s no better place to be than in your own miniature home. ~Lisa Mora, Vintage Caravan Style, ch. 7

8 … The Caravan Community

Becoming involved in social groups that cater to vintage caravan or trailer owners is a great way to network with others, sharing tips and advice on restoration, trailer identification, information on forthcoming gatherings and rallies, or to organize weekends away. Many friendships are formed as a result of this common shared interest.

Who knows, maybe one of these sweet little treasures will find its way into our family, for us to restore and bring back to life.  We might have to find two though, because I’m sure my husband and I would want totally different themes!

You can purchase your very own copy of Vintage Caravan Style here.
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