This 280-Square-Foot RV Is a Retro ’70s Time Capsule with a Touch of Glam
When film and television writer and creator Leah Gauthier was faced with tackling the decor of her 530-square-foot Vancouver apartment, which came with an “egregious lack of whimsy” when she purchased it almost seven years ago, she rose to the challenge beautifully.
When it came to an even harder challenge — bringing life back into this “forgotten” 280-square-foot 1979 Casa Real travel trailer she purchased a few summers ago — Leah once again excelled with her own blend of style that’s part glam and part vintage.
Leah’s apartment is located in Vancouver, but this trailer is situated inside of a summer leisure park in Birch Bay, Washington. “My best friend’s family had owned the lot next door for more than 20 years, so when this little gem came up for sale, I couldn’t let it slip away,” Leah begins sharing of the cute RV she spends her free summer weekends enjoying.
“There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about a place like this. Mornings start with coffee together, afternoons are spent helping each other with whatever project is on the go, and by evening, everyone somehow ends up around the same dinner table or campfire. It feels like the kind of summers I thought only existed when I was a kid.”
Leah’s goal when she began decorating her RV was to “make it feel like time had stood still.” She wasn’t trying to make something old feel new again. She wanted to lean into the feeling of nostalgia.
“I fell in love with this little summer place because of its history and charm, not in spite of it. I don’t think every space needs to be reinvented. Sometimes the best thing you can do is embrace what it already is and let that story shine.”
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
Share your style: House Tour & House Call Submission Form