3 Kids, 2 Dogs and 1 Old House
  • Home
  • Our Family
  • Categories
    • Categories Part 1
      • PARENTING
      • LIFESTYLE
      • TRAVEL
      • HOME DECOR
      • MARRIAGE
      • FOOD
      • PARTY
      • PETS
      • PREGNANCY
      • SKIN JOURNEY
    • Categories Part 2
      • JEWELLERY
      • BEAUTY
      • FASHION
      • TOYS
      • SPONSORED
      • GIVEAWAYS
      • MOM WITH TATTOO’S
      • MIXED RACE RELATIONSHIPS
      • OTHER
  • Work with Me
  • CONTACT ME
  • Home
  • Our Family
  • Categories
    • Categories Part 1
      • PARENTING
      • LIFESTYLE
      • TRAVEL
      • HOME DECOR
      • MARRIAGE
      • FOOD
      • PARTY
      • PETS
      • PREGNANCY
      • SKIN JOURNEY
    • Categories Part 2
      • JEWELLERY
      • BEAUTY
      • FASHION
      • TOYS
      • SPONSORED
      • GIVEAWAYS
      • MOM WITH TATTOO’S
      • MIXED RACE RELATIONSHIPS
      • OTHER
  • Work with Me
  • CONTACT ME

3 Kids, 2 Dogs and 1 Old House

LIFESTYLETRAVEL

Optimus – Interior Reveal of our 1974 VW Jurgens Campervan (Finally)

30 October 2018
4 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
campveran, south africa, family, travel

CHILLING OUT IN PONGOLA

I know, I know.  We’ve lived in this thing for 4 months, how dare I only show you the inside of the van now?

Well, I probably don’t have to tell you this, but moving lives of 5 people into storage before cramming what’s left into a van to travel around Southern Africa isn’t what I’d call easy.  I don’t know how these guys overseas make it look like the day they left they had everything sorted.  They’re either lying or well, just better at it than us.  Either way we literally threw the last of our belongings into the van during a torrential downpour the morning we left and it took us about a month for everything to settle into its own little nook or cranny.

I actually laugh at the stuff that we brought with us in the beginning – scatter cushions, extra bedding, gowns for all of us, 2 jackets each, picnic baskets and so much more I can’t even remember.  Luckily we sent some of it home and the rest has found a place in the van.  Even then we still have so much we’re going to leave behind when we stop home this Christmas.

But this is not about that.  It’s to show you all the hard work that we have done on the van and how Optimus has transformed (get it, huh, huh?) from the old school, heavily mouldy yellow and brown mess into what we live in today.  Is it completely perfect?  Maybe not.  But it’s home to us and we love it despite Seth’s ill intentions of wanting to paint my black ceiling white!

FRONT CAB OF THE 1974 VW JURGENS CAMPERVAN

We left the bulk of the front of the cab untouched.  We loved the old retro feel about it and it all worked so it wasn’t worth trying to change it.  But what we did do was open it up by removing the panels that closed it in (where the old shower was).

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

GIRLS BED AREA

The girls are probably the luckiest in terms of their bedroom.  It’s always there waiting and ready for them with their glorious Granny Goose linen.  They don’t have to make and unmake their bed every single day and get to enjoy crawling up there whenever they like.  Granted it does get seriously hot up there as soon as the sun comes up, but I think it’s a small price to pay.

living in the campervan

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER – HELLO GRANNY GOOSE BEDDING!

THEIR DOLLS AND CUBBY FOR THEIR TOYS

THEY USE THESE “STEPS” TO GET UP

KITCHEN AREA

This area was really impractical for our needs.  It was really small to be able to move around in and also didn’t leave any room for Knox to sleep.  Thankfully Seth is an architect so he designed a brand new situation for the middle area.  We removed all the cupboarding, painted all the walls white and I spent many nights applying (then removing) wall paper before painting it a glossy black that I love.  Everyone else in the family now wants white, but I’m not giving in.  Everything here was built from scratch by Seth with the help of Brian and Papa.  They worked really hard and I think it shows.

This kitchen area doubles as Knox’s bed area at night too, you pull the kitchen counter forward then Knox’s mattress rests on the folded down passengers seats that we also installed.

campervan, van life, vanlife, cape town, south africa

DURING – MOST CUPBOARDING RIPPED OUT

VIEW OF THE FRONT END – PAINTED WALL, STEPS TO GIRLS AREA

THE KITCHEN WITH FANTASTIC BLACK BACKSPLASH

OUR BEDROOM THAT’S ALSO THE DINING ROOM!

By day the dining area seems like all it can be but at night a nifty table leg change converts the table to a bed area for Seth and I to sleep in.

Let me show you the bed first.  We’re using exclusively Granny Goose linen.  From the sheets to the down duvet that has really kept me warm, even on the coldest nights in the middle of snowy Lesotho.

Now for the table. Seth worked out some crafty magic and made it so the table leg swings up or down to convert it into one form or the other.  It worked out really well and spend many hours huddled around this table working, schooling, eating and having fun.

WORK TABLE BUT ALSO MAIN BED

NOW LET’S TALK STORAGE…

We have very little space for things so everything has its spot and it needs to stay there.  This is where we put everything.

ONE ON THE LEFT IS GIRLS TOYS, BOOKS, GAMES, ART THINGS AND THEN THE TWO ON THE RIGHT ARE THE ONLY GROCERY CUPBOARDS

OUR BATHROOM CABINET, PROVING THAT NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IT WILL ALWAYS BE A MESS

TWO HOLES AT THE BOTTOM ARE CUBBY AREAS FOR SHOES, THE FRIDGE/FREEZER SLIDES OUT AT THE BOTTOM, THE LEFT DRAWER UNDER THE PAN IS THE CUTLERY AND THEN THE RIGHT CUPBOARD IS FOR POTS, PLATES AND CUPS

THE KIDS CLOTHES LIVE HERE IN THE ONLY REMAINING CUPBOARD FRO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN

THERE IS A DUPLICATE OF THIS UNDER THE OTHER SEAT BUT IT HOUSES THE ADULT CLOTHES, THE UNDERWEAR, THE BEACH STUFF, REALLY WARM CLOTHING WE NO LONGER USE, THE GAS CYLINDER AND SETH’S TOOLS

THE CUPBOARD UNDER THE STAIRS DOESN’T HOLD ANY MAGIC (GET IT?!) JUST WATER AND CLEANING TYPE THINGS

And that’s it folks.

I hope that you enjoyed the little reveal into the inside of our 1974 VW Jurgens Campervan, affectionately known as Optimus, as he is right now.   Despite giving us grief with the engine only really working when it feels like it, we’ve really loved our time on the road and look forward to much more to see and do in our beautiful country.

If you’d like to follow along with us, you’re welcome to join us on:

  • INSTAGRAM –
    • @cindyalfino – Here you will find a daily wrap up of exactly what we got up to on that day, where we were, what we did, the pro’s and con’s of life on the road. Oh, and stories, lots of stories.
    • @moderndaddiy – Seth, my funnier half, often posts stories that are worth watching.
    • @alfreenos – For those more “Instagram” worthy images that are less about real life on the road and more about pretty pictures of things that we have seen.
  • FACEBOOK –
    • If you don’t have Instagram then this is the place to catch up with the daily posts and even watch the stories.  As well as see latest blog posts as they come out
  • YOUTUBE –
    • Seth works really hard on putting out awesome vlog style videos on the places that we have been, things we have done and life on the road.  It’s really worth checking them out if that’s your vibe.
  • NEWSLETTER –
    • You can also subscribe to the newsletter which only goes out once in a blue moon when I get a chance to write it.  It’s not just one of those spammy ones that only contains links of blog posts, I always include something personal about what’s happening right now that would probably not appear anywhere else.

 

 

Optimus – Interior Reveal of our 1974 VW Jurgens Campervan (Finally) was last modified: October 30th, 2018 by 321Blog
1974 VW Jurgens Campervancampervan revealcampervan reveal south africaSouth Africavan revealVW campervan
14 comments
4
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
previous post
Coffee Bay – A Long (But Breathtaking) 10km Hike To The Hole In The Wall
next post
Life In The Van – Captured By Zorann Elizabeth #Vanlife

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

14 comments

Janine Riley 30 October 2018 at 6:07 PM

I think you guys have been genius in how you have maximized the space, given everyone their spot and yet still maintaining the sheer coolness of the Jurgens camper van. I really hope that you get all of the mechanical issues sorted because Optimus is a beaut and deserves to be loved!
Your trip is very inspiring – my husband and I are working toward early retirement and are trying to choose between cruising (on a yacht) or van life so I have followed your adventures with interest.

Reply
321Blog 31 October 2018 at 1:40 PM

Seth really worked so hard on the design and deserves all the credit. Ooooh, cruising on a yacht sounds amazing but also freaks me out totally, but I can see the appeal

Reply
Janine Riley 30 October 2018 at 6:14 PM

Wow!

Reply
Ashley 31 October 2018 at 8:11 AM

This is AWESOME. Thanks for sharing. I a m pretty sure I looked for before/after pics of the van before. Now I know why I didn’t find any. You are making the best memories for your kids.

Reply
321Blog 31 October 2018 at 1:10 PM

Yeah it took forever! But I’m glad it’s finally up!

Reply
Jodie 31 October 2018 at 9:13 AM

Wow – that is IMPRESSIVE! Where do Knox’s toys stay btw as you’ve showed the cupboards for the girls’ toys but not his 🙂

Reply
321Blog 31 October 2018 at 12:07 PM

Ah, yes forgot to add that one, he has a cubby next to his bed behind the front passenger seat

Reply
Mignonne van Heerden 31 October 2018 at 1:53 PM

This is absolutely a wonderfully thought out living space. Excellent photos, wonderful use of space. You guys ROCK!!!

Reply
321Blog 31 October 2018 at 4:29 PM

Ah thank you! I was so stressed about the images, so thank you for taking a moment to say that you enjoyed them!!

Reply
Life In The Van - Captured By Zorann Elizabeth #Vanlife - 3 Kids, 2 Dogs and 1 Old House 31 October 2018 at 4:28 PM

[…] Despite the first month or so in the van being a challenging time, I think we are finally in the swing of it.  Everything has its own place in the van, most things fit and we have a rhythm going that keeps the days flowing smoothly.  (On that note, we did a little Before and After of the van to see how we altered it to accommodate the five of us, if you want to take a look). […]

Reply
Dianne 1 November 2018 at 11:28 AM

The inside of your campervan is awesome. Your hubby is super talented with his design and everything looks so cozy and comfy especially the girls’ room. You have all put a lot of care and thought into making it look amazing.
PS I adore your pink kettle ?

Reply
321Blog 4 November 2018 at 10:43 AM

I totally agree – Seth is a campervan genius. My kettle is the highlight for me too – it’s one of my fave things in this van 😉

Reply
Lalannie Knoll 4 November 2018 at 4:49 PM

Thanks for this update! You guys have made the camper into a home. Love how everything has its place as in such a small space it can get wild. It’s like a great big puzzle. This proves that less is more!

Reply
321Blog 8 November 2018 at 12:49 PM

It really does feel like home to us now.

Reply

About Us

About Us

HI THERE - WE'RE THE ALFINOS

After living a very normal suburban life we packed up everything to live in a VW van for a year as a family of 5. Now that we have traveled our beautiful country we are back to normal but trying to remember what it was like to live with less, spend time in nature and build on our family bonds. Join us on the journey.

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube Bloglovin

Catch Us On Facebook

Facebook

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kqh5upir7c

Some Of Our Best Posts

  • Say Hello To Our Little Herb...

    5 Nov 2019
  • Maletsunyane Falls – The Highest Single...

    17 Oct 2019
  • WIN A Rookie USA Voucher for...

    10 Sep 2019
  • Our DIY Harry Potter Party

    8 Aug 2019
  • CURRENTLY – We’re Home, Now What?

    14 May 2019

On Pinterest

@cindyalfino

Check In On Instagram

Instagram requires authorization to view a user profile. Use autorized account in widget settings
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube
  • Bloglovin

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © CINDY ALFINO. WEBSITE BY BIRD & DESIGN.


Back To Top