Interior architect Jean Chandler has been designing workplaces for 14 years, and making things out of wood and metal since she was a kid. And three years ago, she was able to be her own client, customizing this studio space in Brooklyn to exactly how she wants to live. It’s a life which includes an unusual flatmate: a 1967 Ford Falcon Club Wagon.

Jean grew up in the North Woods of Michigan, and though she has a career she adores in a city she loves, she found that living so far away from nature was draining. “I actually had a session with a life coach who helped me become aware that it is a dream of mine to have a lifestyle where I could, in the most stylish and on-brand way possible, expose East Coast city dweller friends of mine to the type of lifestyle I grew up in,” wrote Jean. “This allowed me to stay put in NYC and work on my career which I also love. It was a way to bring people along on a journey of getting to know a side of me I had not been given an outlet to show in NYC.”

And so, after purchasing Bellflower (the van is named after the Los Angeles neighborhood Jean purchased her in), Jean found herself with an issue of where to put a big vehicle in a city not exactly known for its great parking options.

“It was a pain to garage the van when I was living in Williamsburg,” Jean admits. “I had to pay an oversized vehicle fee and walk a mile to just pick it up. Not to mention, anyone with a 50-year-old car will tell you—they break. You have to learn how to do basic repairs and you need space to be able to do it in. I was so lucky to have discovered this space, it’s been so perfect for all of my adventures and it’s a cozy rest spot, too!”

Jean actually spotted this rental space—a studio apartment with a garage door—while it was still being constructed, and was able to envision a home where both she and Bellflower could exist peacefully. It took six months, less than $10,000, and some help from friends, but Jean was able to design a home exactly how she wanted it… called the #VanHouse.

“It took time to build all the pieces and I would work on each project a little bit each night after work, until it was all done. The kitchen had to happen first; living without a place to store and prepare food made me feel really ungrounded. The loft went up in a day; four really good friends came over to help me fasten and lift the walls up. I spent the next two days hanging joists and fixing the flooring sheets in place. Prior to building the loft I was sleeping in the van as a bedroom!”

It’s an unusual arrangement—certainly not for everyone—but it’s ideal for Jean, who reports that friends have had breath work groups, concerts, and parties at her unique home. And of course, this sort of set up allows Jean to combine living in NYC and recharging in nature. “Every year I bring friends on a 2,000-mile road trip, we call it Dream Trip. Sometimes we camp and sleep in the van, sometimes we roll it into major cities and hang with the locals.”

How long does Jean plan to live with a van as a roommate? She says as long as she can; van living might just be in her blood: “My mom is an artist and a musician and my dad was an auto body guy, mechanic and a builder/fixer of all things. We lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I made art with my mom and she taught me guitar. My dad taught me how to weld and turn some wrenches. When I was little our family had a 1968 school bus that had been converted to an RV and several vans. I guess my family was living the #vanlife far before it was trendy.”

Jean is also the founder of Womanufacture, workshops for women on crafts and trades that are often aimed at men. “The business was a dream for many years and has been established now for three years! We have done a saw-milling workshop in upstate NY and a mechanics workshop at the Classic Car Club in Manhattan, along with several other upcoming workshops.”

My Style: Nordic minimalism.

Inspiration: Nordic architecture and design, travel, modern design, classic cars.

Favorite Element: 12-foot garage door.

Biggest Challenge: Making each element as I went along. Having the patience to work my day job and then construct during the nights and weekends was difficult, but I am so happy with the way it all turned out. I let the simplicity of the common building materials lead my design and build of the project.

What Friends Say: Most people come over expecting a raw garage experience. Most are delightfully surprised with the warmth, the lighting, and materials expressed in the space. I have a lot of crystals and artifacts from my travels on display and people comment that they feel positive vibes when visiting the VanHouse!

Biggest Embarrassment: Showering in a utility sink.

Proudest DIY: The loft! I did have the help of four amazing friends though. A coder, graphic designer, lawyer, and a TV commercial producer. Hanging all the joists myself and screwing the flooring sheets down was the biggest sense of accomplishment I have had since graduating college!

Biggest Indulgence: My 1967 Ford Falcon Van! It is the most expensive piece of furniture I have had by far! It’s more than that though, I definitely road trip with it every summer. When it’s not out on the open road, it doubles as a guest bedroom.

Best Advice: You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have style. Design is a balance; I like to pair iconic pieces with handmade and thrifted objects.

Dream Sources: @_sightunseen_, @utilitariomexicano, @yellowtrace, @milan.design.week, @matterstore

GARAGE
Vintage Van — Found for sale on Instagram in Bellflower, California
Locker Storage – Thrifted in Manhattan
Tool Cart — Thrifted in Brooklyn

LIVING ROOM
Couch — Article
High Table — Thrifted in Brooklyn
Table Lamp — Flos
Rug — esalerugs.com
Floor Lamp — West Elm
Side Chairs — Herman Miller Eames wire chair with IKEA sheepskins
Soft Planters — Pottery Barn Kids
Wall Sconces — Gold mirror dipped bulbs
Black Obsidian Skull — Senora Market Mexico City

KITCHEN
Stove — Double burner camp stove
Fridge — From Walmart with mint spray paint and car emblem hack
Countertop – Custom-painted terrazzo pattern with epoxy coating from Amazon
Side Table — Thrifted in Brooklyn
Wall Shelves – Custom design and build, materials from Lowe’s
Art — Donated by dear friends

BEDROOM
Bed — West Elm
Nightstand — Custom design and build
Side Table — Custom design and build, materials from Lowe’s
Desk — Custom Oak and Black Walnut by Rob Krejci
Desk Chair — Herman Miller Setu Chair
Desk Lamp — Flos IC
Clothing Racks, Mirror — IKEA
Bookshelf — Custom design and build, materials from Lowe’s
Loft/Stair — Custom design and build, materials from Lowe’s
Vision Board — Thrifted from Brooklyn junk yard
Rugs – Vintage Navajo and Oaxacan

BATHROOM
Utility Cart — IKEA
Round Wall Mirror — IKEA
Side Table — Custom design and build

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