First off...apologies to all of the FT purists that will cringe at what we did to our coach. I know this kind of thing isn't for everyone, but for our family, the updates we have made really opened up the space and made it so much brighter and happier!
That said, go check out the quick Tour Video on YouTube and let us know what you think!
RV RENOVATION // A Tour of Our Newly Renovated 24 Year Old Foretravel... (https://youtu.be/8LVSQ4SISDg)
Blessings,
The Walker Family
PS...thank you to everyone who helped us with long-term storage recommendations for our coach. She is safely settled into her climate-controlled garage home for the next several months until we return from Hawaii!
(https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66037338_10220912407548856_5593890746340999168_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_eui2=AeHR36q9zgSIOMDcZQRRyOZ88d_DGzEJFTtTPOPJx4-RrfjWQ7oTM9npt36M-a7kvHDEOhyasYP4YQFOjuEDObciHPPtWXpgwUWJDb3S6ks_oQ&_nc_oc=AQmXd8z-kALeR-wDzujkjJYJb53MTJf0XuwoIEFAPabfCYvWPQ0OuJGUoAYynoT3F_E&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=b65b5b414e0f314d7b8a33b3d1f13e33&oe=5DB85148)
Hey - it's your coach, and you can do whatever you please with it. It sure is BRIGHT...I'll have to agree with that. :thumbsup:
I think it looks great and makes it roomy and bright.. Great Job ^.^d
I love it.
jor
You guys did a great job. We like the bright, open look and the green is beautiful. We removed our valances also.
Trent and Siobhan - this sure makes me think about what is possible in an RV. When I first saw it, I didn't realize I was even looking at a Foretravel, even though you have the exact same layout as my U280. Wow. The bunk bed idea is very interesting and innovative, I love the backsplash, and now I'm thinking about getting some chalkboard material for my refrigerator as well. I'm glad this makes you happy. It certainly made me happy to see your creativity.
Have a great time in Hawaii!
There is an old saying of, "To each his own." I personally can't stand the new look of your coach--but it's yours and not ours and so I'm very happy for you and glad you like it!
96 and up have white wall paper
That's one of the reasons (along with the tambour cabinent doors) that we're really thankful for the walnut paneling in our 1995. To us, at least, the wall paper really cheapens the interior appearance.
Kinda has a farmhouse appearance to the inside. I think it's cool as can be.
So glad you guys like it. You always worry that you are going to offend a previous owner, especially folk like you guys who put a TON of love and care into it <3
Thank you! So glad we can give inspiration! I have to give credit where it's due though...the lovely backsplash (my favorite part since day one) is the work of Joodyo (the previous owner). They did a fantastic job loving this coach and caring for it before we ever got it and the backsplash was something that just gave me inspiration <3
David I sold and used countless walnut paneled Foretravels. Love it.
Let me tell you about a lady customer who poked her head in a GVF and backed out immediately.
I knew what she was going to say but I asked anyway. "Don"t like it?"
She said she was a physiologist and that this coach must have been built in and for use in a sun belt state.
"What?"
She finished by mentioning that the northern made and used coaches had lighter interiors as there was less hours of sunlight per day and the darker interior was depressing in a northern climate and/or winter time.
Duh.,,.
As a personal info thing the person at Foretravel who picked countertops(burl) and fabrics and the wood colors was Marie Fore C.M.s wife. Nice church of the Nazarene lady from East Texas in the 60's and 70's.
I like the Walker's coach, but not for me.
Bob, I'm not one that buys (hook, line & sinker) the notion of psychologists that make their all inclusive statements. Like dark IS depressing.
We like our dark wood coach and are not depressed by it & we live in Washington.
My coach only depresses me when it decides to do a mutiny on the bounty. And shop labor rates.
I think it looks great!
And it gives me the thought of doing it to ours.
I really like the clean fresh look.
Well done guys, I like your gusto.
JohnH
I wonder if it were just the kitchen area that was painted. Maybe just a partially lightened interior.
Love the look and the creativity
This is really interesting info!
I have been wanting to do it for a while, but I honestly was so afraid to make such a big change, but I'm so glad we finally did. :)
Awesome! Great job in making this coach your own. Light and lively! There is another YouTube video from RV Love. They purchased a 2000 Country Coach and did a fantastic job in the remodel. Nice and bright!
Our '95 U320 had the all walnut interior that I just found lovely. In fact, I ripped out the dreadful (to me) fabric valances and David Flanagan and Bookie made me seriously nice wooden ones to replace them. I believe Keith Elms and his lovely wife are still enjoying the "English Library" look of all that wood. That being said, if I were traveling with 5 boys ... a family of SEVEN!! ... and wanted a brighter look that made things easier to cover scratches and bumps and keep fingerprints wiped clean, I can't think of any better way to decorate than what Siobhan has created in her coach! It is not meant to remain a "monument" to Foretravel! It is a home and a lifestyle ... and the fact that it can be adapted in such a dramatic way is a real testament to the durability and timelessness of a 25 year old machine! Well done, kiddo!!
I like it-now get some bright red kitchen appliances for the counter top.
Your coach is beautiful! You have added light to what was very dark wood. It looks like a comfortable farm home only mobile. Having lived in Washington state since I was born, I have to say I would lighten my 2012 nimbus up a bit more if I still lived in the grey gloom we had about 8 months of the year.
Glad you took such a bold and innovative step to make the coach your own. Best of everything as you continue your travels and with your trip to Hawaii.
Very nice work... and,, you don't have to " Howard's " the wood anymore.
That was a very constructive and thoughtful comment. Thank you! :D Foretravel truly is a work of art. You may not be able to see the fact that it's walnut underneath all the paint anymore, but you definitely know it every time you open a cabinet. We have a lot of friends who live in 5th wheels and they know just by opening our door and walking up the stairs that our coach is a work of high-quality art ;) Now it's just had a little face-lift...lol!
True. We just have the wood floors to take care of now. And lots of wiping of little dirty finger prints (which the kids can now clearly see they are leaving all over the walls and they get the privilege of being the one to get the Norwex cloth and wipe them off :D )
The beauty of the RV lifestyle is the freedom to experience life more freely and openly. We're all proud of Foretravel quality and all you've done is make that quality cosmetically right for the Walkers. And when you're done I'm also confident there'll be a family that will love your coach just as you have.
If Joanna of Chip & ever sees this "modern country style" coach they may get into the RV flip market. Nicely thought out.
Pamela & Mike
First off...apologies to all of the FT purists that will cringe at what we did to our coach.
I know that I'm in the minority here but you will have to count me in the "cringe" crowd........ :o
As long as you guys are happy with the results .............. that's all that matters, it's your coach after all and you have to make it work for your family. For me the beautiful woodwork is ONE of the main attractions of a GrandVilla Foretravel. There is no way that I could have painted over the awesome walnut woodwork and cabinets. I love the warm "cabin" feel of the walnut interior, heck I don't even like the new LED lights that everyone else does, too bright.......... prefer warm or soft white lights . I dislike painted walls and wallpaper so much that I removed 90% of the drywall in the farmhouse we bought and replaced it with tongue and groove cypress and clear varnish. Can you tell I like the look of wood? ;D
Anyway .......... enough of my rant and Kudos to you two for making the coach into something that works for you and makes you happy. A gutsy move for sure, and lots of time and money to make it happen. ^.^d
Safe travels...............
I bet your farmhouse is beautiful and I actually would probably have done the same in a more open space. There's a place and a feel for everything. I actually love warm lights and beautiful wood too. It's part of what I loved about Foretravel in the first place. It just was too much dark for too small of a space for me in the long run. I have a really hard time, physically, with lack of light. I get super gloomy and headachy, so this actually physically makes me feel better because even on overcast days the white takes what little light there is and bounces it all around the place. <3
You are a darn good painter..Had to have taken a number of coats . I like what you've done even though I'm some what of a purist.. looks really nice.
I would have never even considered doing that to walnut. That said I really like the "homeyness" the "airyness" and the "brightness". Leaving the cabinet doors unpainted makes for a nice contrast and a place to use your leftover wood polish. I like the look. You made it look like a home. Well done.
Roland
A bold move Walker family ! I can understand the need for a bright interior with five kids, the wood paneling is for many the reason to own a Foretravel. Personally I find that most Newell and Prevost conversions are too glitzy for my taste and the wood paneling is soothing. When we were children our colour palette was a rainbow 🌈 that turned rather bland in later life.
HOLY WOWIE WOW WOW!! I TOTALLY dig it!!! My mouth was agape for the first several minutes, and then I just breathlessly uttered the words "I LOOOOVE IT!!" We both think it looks super amazing!!!!
Thanks to Carol, for expressing this above statement in such a thoughtful way. Man, life is just too darn short to not do what you want to do. I completely respect and applaud your guts to go ahead with your vision and have it turn out so danged beautiful. It works PERFECTLY for you guys. And that is ALL that matters. You have a vibrant family, and you are both very full of life people, and of COURSE you want your surroundings to reflect that. It DOES now. You are more YOU now than ever. How cool that you are teaching your boys to "go for it." You have to allow yourself permission to just live and do you. YAY for you guys!!! This looks WICKED AMAZING!!! I am all smiles for YOU!
I am also loving your freedom and gusto for doing it. I always have the same haircut, and get so envious of all the girls that have wild and fun flirty hairstyles and hair colors. I am so dang traditional and it takes a LOT for me to step outside that box. You just BLASTED THAT BOX TO SMITHEREENS and it is SO LIBERATING and EXHILARATING to see it being done. Rock on, WalkerFam7! You nailed it. ^.^d
You hit on something with the Prevost/Newell. It was the ultra high gloss of the Prevost/Newells that put me off. Even in the darker tones. Whereas the Walker bus being paint has a more satiny wood look to it as opposed to the plastic look of the million $ buses. But then both my wife nor I can stand stainless steel appliances either.
At least you have hair. I've had (out of necessity) the same look for a long time. It's hard to change style when there ain't nothing there to style. :))
Hi Carol,
Yes it's still a library.
Keith
Wow! I like your style. Fun!
We have the light wallpaper walls in our coach and like them. Just enough wood for my taste.
What's the old saying? "You pays your money and you takes your chances!" I enjoyed seeing you make your coach YOURS.
Great job!
Hahaha...I love this comment <3 Made me smile. Thank you!
Looks Great!! We purchased our Foretravel recently after finding your YouTube channel followed by tons of research. We had been quietly talking about what it would look like painted and you have given us the inspiration to take that leap. Thank you guys for stepping outside the box and showing us what is possible!
David
The solid dark wood takes a bunch of lumens to see whats going on. Nice job , brightening it up .
Maybe we will consider wall papering some areas.
Only way to show an old Foretravel was to turn every light on in it
So great! Glad we could inspire! I will warn you, it is a LOT of work (lots of sanding and priming over and over) but it's so worth it if this is the look you're going for! Can't wait to see what you guys do! WTG on purchasing a Foretravel!
We started with the bathroom to try out the brightening effect because it's the smallest room and bathrooms tend to be lighter for the most part. We loved it so much that we decided to do the rest of the coach.
There are a lot of really great peel and stick wallpapers out there that wouldn't permanently change the wood and are super easy to install. That's what I plan on using in our bathroom eventually. There's a company I really like that has many different beautiful styles. It's a little more expensive, but I figure if I'm putting up something I want to love and plan on keeping it for a while I want something quality. Wallpaper | Murals | Walls Need Love® (http://wallsneedlove.com/)
You are right about that. All of the tours and other videos we have ever done in our coach we had to have every single LED on inside to light it and even then we sometimes used another light to supplement. For this tour I don't think I had any lights on at all.
I like lighter colors too. Slide in and no lights on.
Just curious as to how the paint is holding up, did you sand everything down to bare wood? Your coach looks fantastic!
Jim,
Yours is one of the very few U320's or U295's that I have seen with lighter toned wood. Is that maple in your coach? Looks really nice. Foretravel seems to have rarely used maple in their coaches...
Don
Yes maple, Foretravel made 7 Designer Series over the years, and 5 came with maple, but think you could pre order maple if you had a new coach built at the factory.
Love that maple!
We sanded the wood down pretty significantly, primed with oil base primer. sanded again, primed again and sanded again before painting. Before we put it into storage the paint was doing just fine. There were a couple of places where we had let the cabinets shut before the paint had cured and it stuck and came off when we opened the door, but once it had a good week to cure we haven't had any other problems with it.
It looks great! Keep on doing the Lords work. Like the video channel.
God bless you and your family. Love your family and the commitment you have to family and the Lord.
It's a testimonial to Foretravel that you can customize and use your coach for your family and your work.