I bought an old static caravan for £150 – I parked it on mates’ land & saved enough cash for a mortgage
WE all dream of the good life, but few of us ever embark for a new life in the country.
However, one stylist has revealed how she turned an old static caravan into her dream rural retreat – much to the horror of her neighbours.
Whilst the rest of the country was trying to survive the pandemic, Hannah Bullivant spent lockdown finalising her move to the countryside.
It was part of a grand two-year plan by the interior stylist to downsize and save for her first home.
With her husband Dave and their two kids, Frankie and Auden, the couple would convert an old static caravan into a ‘luxury lodge’ and live rent free in a friend’s field.
During this time, the couple hoped they’d save enough for a deposit on a house and move out in 2023.
The static home would then become an idyllic retreat for both families’ loved ones.
Eager to keep the friendship intact, the Bullivants drew up a contract and got to work.
Almost immediately, they found the perfect caravan to renovate from a salvage yard in Sandwich.
Though its grotty interior would have put off even the most capable domestic goddesses, Hannah was unfazed.
“It was £150 including delivery,” Hannah told The Guardian, adding: “Basically, it was a piece of c**p. Our mission was to make it look nothing like a static caravan.”
However, it was anything but a smooth move for the mum-of-two.
Having put in their six months’ notice and rapidly begun decluttering, the couple then had to get their new home to a field in Oare, Kent.
Understandably, they were a little weary given the village’s tight turns and historic homes.
The couple even dropped leaflets through doors, begging locals to move their cars on the day the home was delivered in January 2021.
Residents weren’t impressed though and even took to calling Dave’s mobile phone to complain about the project.
“It caused such a furore,” Dave explained, saying: “People were coming out on to their doorsteps to voice their concerns. It took all of my placation skills to calm everyone down and explain that it’s all going to be OK.”
Whilst the locals may have been able to rest easy after the move, the family had to work around the clock to get the home finished on time.
This was made even harder by the caravan’s interior which needed more than just a spring clean.
Though they’d thought a lick of paint would have solved their problems, the couple ended up renovating the entire home after discovering a leak in their bathroom.
Costs soon began to spiral as they replaced a large section of the floor and internal walls, with the Bullivants having to be clever about where they sourced materials.
From Facebook Marketplace to friends and family, she saved money where she could and even managed to acquire a kitchen cupboards and double glazing.
They’d also given up the majority of their possessions, meaning the family had few items to furnish their new home with.
Having put her heart and soul into the project, Hannah’s caravan was eventually finished though.
In addition to cosmetic work, the family had added stylish wallpaper, a deep bath and even a log burner.
Having captured the epic makeover on TikTok, Hannah’s videos rapidly went viral.
Her story even caught the attention of national newspapers, all of whom came knocking at the interior stylist’s door.
Whilst it’s certainly been a labour of love for the couple, the project has allowed them to have a perfect country retreat.