It’s been a while since my last Big Red update. There’s been a lot going on! We have many projects happening at various stages of completion. But my favorite part of the trailer is almost done- the kitchen!
Those that know me know that I am an avid cook. Whether we’re at home or out adventuring, I (almost) always cook and prepare meals for my family instead of going out or ordering takeout. I try to keep it simple when we’re camping, and cook outside as much as possible, but I knew I would need a functional kitchen in the trailer to keep this crowd fed and happy.
We toyed with a few different layouts for the kitchen, but we settled with an L-shaped design because it proved to be the most efficient use of space. We got this regular residential sink and faucet and put it on the other side of the bathroom wall so we could use the same plumbing and tanks.
After much consideration, I opted not to get an RV range/oven combo because of the cost and weight. We went with a set-in cooktop, and my mom got me a really nice toaster oven for Christmas that I will use for baking. The fridge was one of our first purchases for the trailer. It’s just a larger dorm-style fridge, and we hope to modify it to run off of solar when we are traveling.
I really wanted butcher block counters, but those dudes are super heavy and kind of expensive! We ended up going with a thinner board that had the butcher block look, and my mother-in-law coated that thing with what seemed like 50 coats of polyurethane(it was probably more like 10).
Adam built the cabinets himself using lightweight wood. We painted them a light sage green to add a pop of color to the kitchen, and we left some of the wood bare to tie into the counters and give it a kind of farmhouse look.
Instead of doing upper cabinetry, we went with open shelving to keep the weight down and leave the space looking more open and airy. I bought some pretty baskets and Adam added a small board to the front to hold them in place while we are traveling.
On the opposite wall from the kitchen we used the same wood from the counter and built a long, narrow bar that will serve as a dining table, work space, and junk holder. My guess is that this will probably be the most-used space in the trailer. It ties the kitchen together and makes the entire space look large and homey.
Overall, I am thrilled with how the kitchen came together and I can’t wait to get in there and really use it! I still have a few details to finish up, like the backsplash that I just can’t seem to decide on. But it’s beautiful and functional, and it just makes me smile when I walk inside.