17B with gaucho bunk beds: modifications, décor, and storage solutions

[Jon & Adrienne]

We are a family of four and got our 17B in April. We have been very busy getting it all set up and are finally finished! I collaborated with an interior designer friend of mine (Seattle Urban Getaways) on the decor. I spent a lot of time gleaning ideas from this forum and other trailer groups. I also poured over pictures on Pinterest and Google Images and did a lot of Amazon searching.

Thank you so much to everyone on this forum for all your great ideas and helpful posts! We want to return the favor now, so I’ll post pictures and more detailed info of our modifications in separate comments below. I always appreciated product links in other people’s posts, so I will include those for things we ordered online. Highlights include:

• Bunk bed guard rails and ladder
• Pegboard
• Chalkboard fridge
• Ceiling light decal
• Subway tile backsplash
• Wallpaper on bathroom
• Bathroom interior
• Outdoor towel drying rack
• Kitchen storage solutions and trash cans
• Containers for overhead bins
• Foam strip on top of door to prevent head banging
• Blackout curtains
• Foam mattress topper and RV Superbag bedding

[Jon & Adrienne]

We ordered the gaucho bunk bed option, which is available in the 17B. This allows the smaller dinette to also convert to a sofa or bunk beds. The 19 has a cot option.

We have two small kids and worried they could roll off the beds and would have a hard time getting up and down from the top bunk on their own. We wanted a solution that was safe, stored easily, gave the kids independent access to their beds, and looked good.

For the top bunk, we bought:

• 1x8 board
• 1x4 board
• Loctite Power Grab all-purpose glue
• Dish foam wrap roll
• L Brackets (we used 4 smaller ones for the guard rail board that was also supported by the wall, and 4 larger ones for the load bearing ladder board)
• Bunk bed ladder

We had the boards cut to the right size at Home Depot. To provide extra cushioning, we wrapped them in the dish foam using both Loctite Power Grab glue and a staple gun. ETI gave us the extra custom fabric from our seat cushions, so we next wrapped the guard rails in our seat cushion material. We drilled holes and attached it to the long bunk bed board using L brackets. For the ladder support board, we also installed screws with spacers to keep the ladder from moving out of place. We cut the bunk bed ladder to the right size using the instructions provided.

For the bottom bunk, we ordered a foam bumper and wrapped the long side in the custom fabric using the Loctite glue.

When in dinette mode, the long board and the ladder can be stored behind the gaucho seat back. The bumper from the bottom bunk can be stored in the overhead shelf.
Based on the recommendation of another forum member, we also bought magnetic lights that can give light to the bottom bunk. This kind is great, because it can be bright or dim for a night light.

Before:
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After:
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Magnetic lights for lower bunk.
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This is where the ladder and long board store when in dinette or sofa mode.
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Dinette option. Notice we put the bumper in the shelf above.
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Gaucho sofa option. The mirror makes the cushions look a little more chopped up than in reality. The table makes a base, and the two back cushions go in the center.
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Some of the supplies:
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[Jon & Adrienne]

This is a functional accent wall. It serves as our entryway and gives us a place to hang our coming and going things: keys, hats, sunglasses, headlamps, etc. It also gives us a spot for our broom, scissors, paper, books, pens, and markers.

To cut the pegboard, we first made a life-size template using poster board. We learned how to scribe the curve by watching this Youtube video. We first scribed along the ceiling, and then taped up wood to scribe exactly where the pegboard would hit the ceiling. The sides of the wall were not perfectly parallel, so we also had to measure and account for that. Once we had our life size template that fit perfectly, we traced it on the pegboard, and then cut the pegboard with a jig saw. Cutting was tricky, but we ended up with a perfect snug fit! We cut out holes for the awning and light switches.

We cut furring strips, painted them, and screwed them into studs on the wall. The pegboard both rests on the floor and is screwed into these furring strips, so it is very securely attached.

We painted the pegboard and screw cap covers a blue color. Then bought pegboard hardware and decorations for the pegboard.

Before:
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After:
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Entrance before:
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Entrance after:
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Scribing the curve on poster board
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Then we scribed the curve exactly where the peg board would be by taping up wood blocks to the correct depth.
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Furring strips:
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I have a magnetic flower vase that I can attach to pegboard hardware and put real flowers in – I took peonies, my favorite flower, on our first trip.
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[Jon & Adrienne]

We took out the fridge panel and used the back side for this project. We sanded it and then painted it using this Martha Stewart guide for custom color chalkboard paint.

Our interior designer friend did the chalk art for us.

Before:
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After:
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[Jon & Adrienne]

I really wanted to do something on the ceiling and poured over tons of ideas. In the end, we decided to do a decal around the light over the larger dinette because of ease of application and it being impermanent. I first tested some of the decal pieces on a vinyl wall sample from ETI, and it removed with no trace.

We ordered this 3-D Reflective Decal in the 22inch diameter.

We removed the light cover and used it to trace on the decal. I cut out the decal center part that would not show. Then we put it on the ceiling using the hinge application method.

instructional video

Then we put the light cover back up, and it looks like the decal comes right out of the light!



Then we put the light cover back up, and it looks like the decal comes right out of the light!
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Before:
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After:
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Hinge application method:
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Easy peel off application:
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[Jon & Adrienne]

We were inspired by many others on this forum who have installed backsplash and wanted to do the same.

First, we painted the brown countertop trim and screw cap covers. I color matched it to the cream trim in front; we used Benjamin Moore Aura interior paint in semi gloss OC-7 Creamy White. For the screw caps, I pried them off with a screwdriver and then stuck them on little balls of playdough to keep them from moving around when I painted them.

We installed Smart Tiles peel and stick subway tiles in Metro Campagnola. I bought them at Home Depot. I tested them on both a vinyl wall and wood sample from ETI, and they both peeled off without damage.

I also installed a peel and stick edge trim.

Additionally, we have a custom faucet that ETI installed for us. It is this one: Nola Single Lever Pull-down Kitchen Faucet Stainless Steel Finish.

Before:
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After:
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I could slide the painters tape slightly beneath the edge of the trim. This painting part of the project was a bit time consuming.
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For the tile with screws, I drilled a hole in the tiles before installing them.
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[Jon & Adrienne]

We used a peel and stick wallpaper on the bathroom. We ordered two of these treetop rolls from Wayfair.

Again, we tested the wallpaper, and it removed without a trace.

Installing this turned out to be rather tricky. We cut it with a razor blade, and it was hard to get a perfectly straight line right along the edge. Also, we had to measure exactly for leaving space to hang a mirror.

We bought this lightweight mirror from Target and hung it with 3M Scotch Permanent Double Sided Extreme Mounting Tape.

I bought this over-the-door hook rack as a place to hang our kitchen towel or extra things as needed. We bent the hooks to fit snugly over our door and taped it at the top of the bath door with VHB tape so it doesn’t slide around.

We love the end result and how it brightens the space! It makes the bathroom feel more like its own room rather than blending in with the rest of the cabinetry. The mirror also helps the narrow space between the bath and the wardrobe not feel so tight.

Before:
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After:
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In process:
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[cpaharley2008]

You guys have been busy....

[Jon & Adrienne]

I ordered a 21” wide bath mat , then cut it down to a 21” square size, and sewed the edging back on the side I cut. It gives the floor warmth, and then we set it just outside the bath when we shower.

We tried to keep the bulk of items down low so that they do not get into our elbow space. Useful items:

• Large tension rod to put along the ledge so we can store bath items.
• Small tension rods to hold items in the medicine cabinet. (Thank you to the forum member who gave us this idea and product link!)
• Suction cup towel bar
• Suction cup squeegee
• Suction cup hanging garbage bag with lid – fits the tight space, gives room for maximum trash, and keeps dry behind the curtain during a shower. The plastic on these felt a little cheap and were slightly bent, but they were the best trash solution I found for a tricky space.
• Folding step stool so kids can reach the toilet and sink.

Also, for anyone else with little kids, a potty toilet trainer seat fits to the side of the toilet.

Before:
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After:
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Tension rods in medicine cabinet:
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[Jon & Adrienne]

Since we have four people, I was looking for an outdoor towel drying solution. However, I wanted to have a backup indoor option. I was very happy to find a collapsible towel rack that fits our towels AND fits in the back of our Toyota Highlander in case of rain. Once the towels are dry, we just fold them up and bring them back inside the trailer.


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