Michelle Wilson contacted me recently about a new business she started called Hornby Island Caravans located in Canada. She recently delivered her first caravan to a customer and wanted me to share with you her project. Here is a little about Michelle and her business goals.
I aim to create spaces that have a sense of warmth and character. It is very important to me that my caravans are built with natural, healthy materials and that they are designed in such a way that is mindful of the client’s needs. I spend a great deal of time in the planning stage thinking about how the space will be used and, with that in mind, how to use every bit of space in the best possible way.
I certainly want the caravans that I build to be beautiful but I think even more importantly I want that certain magical quality that you find in buildings which are made with creativity, attention to detail and an appreciation for the materials being used. My aim is for the customer to feel a sense of wellness and comfort in my buildings. If they do then I’ve accomplished my goal.
It all started with the British version of Country Living magazine. That’s where I first saw pictures of gypsy vardos and fell completely, madly, deeply…well I really, really liked them alot. Even the most simple caravans have such charm to them. The ones I have visited are really the most lovely, warm, inviting little spaces i’ve ever been in. And so I was hooked. But still, it took a while for my interest in caravans to turn to thoughts of a career since I was pretty happy and comfortable making my living as a clay artist. And then one day it just seemed silly not to make caravans, after all it combined so many of my interests and previous experiences in building, art and design.
So here I am building caravans, with the help of my husband Lawrence Nyberg, who lends a hand when it’s needed, acts as a sounding board for my ideas and is a great support in general- he is a very fine luthier the rest of the time. We live on Hornby Island, British Columbia, which is probably the most beautiful place in the world, with our two young kids, Finn and Lily and our two dogs Meili and Kaya.
Be sure and visit the Hornby Island Caravans website and contact Michelle if you want to learn more.
Very nice !!!!
Looks like lovely work.
Details and construction look to be well done. Curious about the frame/running gear. Great use of the under bed storage via outside access doors (on the website). Great job.
Hi Kevin,
The running gear is from Millside Industries, they call it a 4000 lb.capasity ATV wagon.
I love these homes I have a passion for small space living.I really like that you want to create wellness in your homes and there is a certain whimsy to them warmth and organic feel.Well done.
OMG! I am so in in love with your caravan. Beautiful design.
beautiful, Michelle. your caravans are inspiring and invoke well-being. i live on Orcas Island in the San Juans. I hope to visit sometime soon! All the best!
Michelle, this is a beautiful design and it looks like it’s very well made. It also looks like a Scandinavian sauna. Very pretty! Would you be able to build one with a small kitchen in it?
Absolutely! If a kitchen were to be added to the Vorizo model (6 x 12), it could either be in the corner where the desk/ table is- more shelving on top, a bar fridge underneath and a cook top on the table, or for more of an outdoor kitchen you could have a kitchen set up that pulls out of the back hatch. Of course if the caravan was a bit bigger there would be lots of different possibilities.
Cheers!
Michelle
Michelle, what a beautiful work of art!
Best of luck to you on your new buisness venture. If this is any indication of future work, you should have no problem growing your business and becoming a very succesful enterprise. I love your use of reclaimed and natural material. These photos are very inviting, makes you want to pick up a good book, stretch out on the bed and take in a lazy afternoon! Great Job!
Where to pee, where to pee…
Well, this particular caravan is meant as an office/guest space that would be parked near to a house but you could set up a little outhouse nearby or even a set up like the one in the Humanure book- basically a low-tech composting toilet.
Oh I love it! Just Beautiful!!
I like this design but I’d like the caravan to be longer – I need space for a cooking area and I’d also like a shower/toilet room. Do you plan to make a longer version?
Yes, in fact I’m working on a larger version now- 16’x 8′. The folks that I’m building it for don’t need a kitchen or bathroom in theirs but that would definitely an option. I’m custom designing these caravans so really there are endless possibilities. Larger than 8’x16′ is also a possibility.
Congrats Michelle!
-Deek
Relaxshacks.com
Beautiful home. I also just now found a tiny house for sale that was made using a pre-made shed from a big box store, and they did a nice job with it. The land around it is missing a few trees, for some reason, but the idea is interesting. With 7 acres, a tiny house, solar and well for $49,000, it’s not a bad price, either. (I have no interest in the property, I just thought some of your readers might be interested). If this blog allows links, you can see the listing here: http://www.windermere.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=listing.listingDetailUpdated&listingID=76715157&paginate=true
Love it! The storage under the bed is perfect. What is the approximate weight?
Somewhere around 3000 lbs.- that’s based on calculations that we did by weighing lumber etc., but we were pretty generous in our estimates.
There’s a lot of storage area beneath a bed.
*Try pull-out storage boxes/baskets.
*Try under-counter kitchen appliances.
That is gorgeous! I think I’m in love, too!
Hi. I need 6 caravans. They will not be on wheels, we are parking them permanently. If you do not make them, do you know who does?
They could be a bit larger than you are making them, they will be for vacation rental.