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Before the world changes in 2020, Charlotte and Nico went on a magical campervan trip in New Zealand, and fell in love with the concept of nomadic living. So they ended up buying and converting a really cool boxy van into their “beach cabin-on-wheels.”
Both inside and out, this van has an airy nautical feel with baby blue paint and natural wood tones. They have a beautiful copper sink, lots of storage, a two-burner cook top, and a fixed bed in the back. Right now, they’re exploring Albania and fighting winter temperatures. Read our Q&A with the awesome couple below!
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Their Gorgeous Baby Blue Van Conversion
Images © @mauiandus/Instagram
The boxy van shape allows for a big rooftop deck.
Images © @mauiandus/Instagram
This definitely feels like an airy beach cabin.
Images © @mauiandus/Instagram
The eclectic cabinetry looks amazing.
Images © @mauiandus/Instagram
That ceiling must have taken so much work!
Images © @mauiandus/Instagram
They’ve seen some incredible views!
Images © @mauiandus/Instagram
The fan lights are a cute touch.
Images © @mauiandus/Instagram
Love their snuggly Star Wars attire here.
Images © @mauiandus/Instagram
The baby blue exterior is so cute.
Images © @mauiandus/Instagram
What’s your favorite part of their rig?
Images © @mauiandus/Instagram
Images © @mauiandus/Instagram
Interview:
What got you into tiny living?
We went on a campervan trip in New Zealand pre-covid, and we fell in love with the idea of travelling in our own tiny home. We discovered that we really didn’t need much with us and loved the freedom living on the road offered. Plus, we both love to travel and this was a great way to see the world and work on the go!
Did you build your home or buy it? How long did the process take?
We built Maui entirely on our own! We watched thousands of YouTube video tutorials! We sprayed the exterior ourselves and did everything in the interior, from gutting out the original shell, to the insulation, the woodwork, and of course the decor! We planned for about 10 months to convert it, but it ended up taking us two years. We tell everyone who wants a van, that if you have a timeframe in mind, then double it!
How has tiny living changed your life (for better or worse)?
It has changed our lives for the better with the fact that we get to spend so much time together. When we worked in the office 9-5 – which, let’s face it, was probably more like 9 – 7 or even 8 pm, we got home late and would cook together but then go to sleep and start it all over again the next day! Now we get to work alongside each other and spend real quality time, which we love.
What’s the hardest part of tiny living?
Being constantly on the move. Even though this is one of the best things, it can also be one of the hardest. Sometimes we do crave to be rooted somewhere for a period of time. We love seeing new places and exploring new cities, but sometimes it’s nice to park up for a longer period of time when we find somewhere nice. Whenever we go to the next place, we need to make sure we can find internet, water, supermarkets, LPG gas for heating and cooking, and petrol. You do have to be quite organised and plan ahead for certain places.
What’s the most rewarding part?
The freedom that comes with van life. We love being able to get up when we want, do our own working hours, and have a different office view every week!
Any advice for people looking to go tiny?
Choose the type of tiny home you want wisely. Consider if you want to stay in one place or if you want to travel. If you want to travel, then what type of van do you want? Consider if you need to have a bathroom. Consider the age of the van you’re looking for. The older the van, the more challenging to find parts. But if you do go to certain countries, you may find that your tiny home on wheels is popular in that area! We have found that various are really popular in Morroco and Albania!
Learn More:
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- From Studio Apartment to Minibus for Freedom
Our big thanks to Charlotte & Nico for sharing! 🙏
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Natalie C. McKee
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That kiss at the end was certainly integral to this post. 😂
Looks perfect for this couple — I really like the windows close to the bed — so nice to able to look outside and often open for fresh air. In fact, the bed looked so cozy — it made me sleepy!!!
Cool 😎
What do you both do for a living that you can travel around the world and get paid at the same time. Or did you both just have enough money in the bank, quit your jobs, and decide to take a hiatus for a long period of time and just live the life O’Riley for a while!!! 😉
There’s another article, on Camping Expedition website, that covers more details about them but both of them work remotely…
Nico runs an agency specializing in branding and packaging for high-end liquor companies. His clients are based all over the world. So he works across different time zones with the help of a network of contacts and freelancers he has built.
While Charlotte runs a Yoga & Wellness brand – Hello Spirit. She runs weekly classes on her YouTube channel and creates content for brands on her Instagram.