wall panel

desert_sailing · May 29, 2020

Had a hard time deciding whether to post this here or in the conversion part.

So I blacked out and insulated the ginormous back side windows. I had originally planned on just putting luan and painting white. I have a great artist friend and I have a bit of creativity flowing and so a plain wall didn't seem very fun.

I thought about painting a nature scene mural of maybe my van traveling about.. I would carry the scene all from one side all across the back doors and then onto the following side. A panorama mural showing critters and locales.. mountains and stream cacti and coyotes.

As I have now started sleeping in the the rig to learn. I have noticed it is not very cozy at all. especially in bedroom mode. It has a very sterile feel and really isnt snug in the slightest.

SO... I am going to do the panoramic mural... but instead of using paint.. I will use fabrics to "warm" it up a bit. And make me a snuggly den,

Any advice on the best approach? If possible I would just as soon skip the step of cutting and mounting the luan. I assume a good spray adhesive should hold the pieces of fabric in place.?

Things always look and sound better in my melon... I hope I can collaborate well enough with my artsy friend to make this cohesive and not a potential rats nest.
I had no idea that the minimum size cut is 1 inch on all fabrics at Joanns... You don't have to buy a yard??...LOL I bought the clouds today, some kind of swirly fake fur stuff.

Right now it really feels coffin like when in bed mode...not the most welcoming space...at least not yet.

desert_sailing · May 30, 2020

Don't you know I will have a little Acropolis tucked in?

Joanns also has 1/4 cuts I think she said.. 18 inch by 21 i think.. for on avg it looked to be 2 bux. I think I am going to do this like my "winter count". With each new great place or experience I will add another little piece. They had some really cool dark blue and dark purple cloth with glitter? in it.. would make an outstanding night sky.. with a couple silhouettes of coyotes and cacti.

That website is great for all the fabric selections..451 pages! The stretchable quality is great.

As I am looking at where the last remnants of the build budget go... I realize creating stuff is a hell of a lot more fun than buying stuff!

travelaround · May 30, 2020

I like to buy from https://www.fabric.com/ ... I've been happy with what I got from them though of course the price could be lower. Does anyone know where I can get fabric cheap?

I'm at the point where I need to panel the fan "or something" and also considered fabrics. My idea was to have a variety of panels of just the right size to fit from rib to rib of the van ceiling... and to have panels of fabric on the sides... maybe quilted, over the insulation that's already there. I would make it look like a patchwork quilt with a variety of colors and fabric patterns, and hold them in place with magnets. Then when my mood changes, the panels change. I can take them down to wash them. I think it would be cool in some ways.

On the other hand, if I want a kitchen in there, would it become a fire hazard? The kitchen could not be bolted to a fabric panel. So I might still go with wood - but that adds a lot of weight to a van.

The jury is still out on this one.

desert_sailing · May 30, 2020

Thats a great idea. Nothing says comfort like a patchwork quilt! I also like the idea of being able to change it up when the mood strikes. Being able to wash them is another plus.

The fire hazard issue is definitely also on my mind. SO much so that I will be completely moving the cooktop ONLY to the far side doors ..maybe a good 3 feet or more from the fabric start. I have a small sheet of stainless steel sheeting used for backsplashes. I may use a bit of that as well to further distance the fabric area from the cooking.

Would be great to see what you come up with. Please share some pics.

I will start this up next week and post some progress pics. HAHAH my van is going to look like a preschool art project.. I should maybe go with a quilt pattern as well.

Actually now that I think about it, doing it in a patchwork square style story would be pretty cool. Instead of a freehand fill up a wall. I could do it as each experience/memory could have a scene on a square. I wonder how hard it is to make a quilt square?

hmmm

Matlock · May 30, 2020

Nothing holds moisture and odors better than fabric. What little cooking I've done inside the vehicle always results in yucky smells and damp clothing and bedding.
If unavoidable, I pull a plastic cover over the bed/seating area when cooking until well after the meal. This does help.

If I can't take it out and launder it I don't want it inside my vehicle. Until needed everything fabric is kept in plastic totes. Dirty/soiled items are stored outside until laundred.

Just my 2¢

B and C · May 30, 2020

A roof vent with fan would help with the moisture and smells. A van vent-a-hood. Open a window on the other side of the cooktop from the fan. Worse come to worse, put an actual RV vent-a-hood in.

vanbrat · May 30, 2020

Maybe you could try some smallish throw pillows (Double as storage bags) in different colors. They would be washable, scotchguardable, and some thing that when you get tired of the color and stuff you can change it up easier. As far as wall coverings you could hang pocket thingies that can again double as storage. Look on ETSY to see what they might look like. If you just want a fabric mural there are spray on adhesives. or there are iron on adhesives that you could use. The spray on is much messier and the iron on is easier, but may fall off in hot weather. Hot glue does that and if it is iron on it is hot glue. Ask the nice folks at Joann's fabric. Auto fabric is something I have not much experience with, I prefer cotton stuff mostly. I have a pocket thing that I made for my 'headboard' wall on my van and I like both the way it holds stuff night standishly and the way it softened up the look of the wall. I also made a couple of quilts for my bed so it is comfy, and comfy looking. Not sure hubby likes it. But then again as long as he is warm and comfy he is ok with it. I have 3 pillows that I can fill with winter stuff in summer and summer stuff in winter. As far as the smell of cooking getting on stuff....That is why my kitchen is on the back and more outside then inside. Also that is what fabreeze is for.

vanbrat · Jun 3, 2020

I forgot. There is a fire retardant batting used for pot holders that might be something to line your piece with. Not really cheap but I have used it and it is easyish to use