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Meet & Greet: Annabel Taylor (photographer and interior designer), her husband Greig Taylor (horticulturalist) and their two dogs Ted and Milo.
The property: Renovated 1970s Trail-Lite caravan in Hawkes Bay
This little pink caravan is a summertime dream. Creative Annabel Taylor, along with two of her friends, spent a year and a half completely transforming the caravan into a pink art deco paradise. The labour of love resulted in the dreamiest holiday home on wheels.
How did the caravan come about?
Being an interior designer from the UK, I’ve always had a fascination with the nostalgia involved with a caravan renovation project. My husband Greig had this 1970s Trail-Lite caravan on our orchard, which was available, and with our friends Tam and Deirdre, we decided to do a major caravan makeover. We turned her into the glamorous, gorgeous deco girl she is now, The Hot Flush.
This is my first caravan makeover but not the last – these small space projects are so much fun. My daughter Millie used the pink caravan as her 18th birthday cocktail bar and friends have used the caravan for a 21st birthday party and school graduation pre-ball drinks.
Are you creative in your day-to-day life?
I’m a photographer/interior designer and co-founded Paper Room in Ponsonby with my friend/business partner Sarah Sheild. As a result, we launched the largest range of designer wallpapers online in Australasia and worked on some incredible projects over our 10 years in business.
I moved to Hawke’s Bay six years ago, and having been inspired by the region and my husband’s great gardening skills, launched my bespoke photo murals and wallpapers business, Annabel Taylor Home. All my murals can be made to measure and printed by the incredible team at Aspiring Walls in Porirua.
What inspired the palette?
The pink caravan was always going to be our girls’ gin palace and weekend getaway so a palette of pinks was important and it inspired her name, The Hot Flush. As fans of the Art Deco Festival in Napier, we decided she should have an art deco glamour vibe and added the beautiful wallpaper on the ceiling and bought new brass light fittings once she was rewired to up the bling.
We found some Resene test pots and tried a few before we settled on the final combination inside and out.
How long did the makeover process take?
Our makeover process took around 18 months. Even though it looks like a small space, it’s deceiving because so much needed to be done.
In one sense we were lucky the caravan was in its original 1970s state but at the same time, we had to start from scratch and get it rewired, chassis checked, new tyres, renovate the interior and exterior, replace cabinetry, new upholstery, make bed platforms, add storage and a new awning.
Have you done something like this before?
This was my first caravan project. Luckily, Tam is a DIY whizz and with my interior design background as well as Deirdre’s eye for detail, we made a great renovation team.
What was the hardest part?
The relentless sanding, inside and out. It seemed to never stop – and at one stage I thought we wouldn’t have a caravan left. Looking at the great finish we got, it was well worth all the hard work.
And what was the most enjoyable?
As a group project, it was so much fun, catching up with everyone’s week. It was a great opportunity to hang out with girlfriends, get some mahi done, and then relax over a few celebratory drinks.
Tell us about the caravan’s maiden voyage
We are big fans of the Napier Art Deco Festival and had missed several years due to Covid and Cyclone Gabrielle, so we booked the Art Deco Murder Mystery Evening at The National Distillery and took the caravan to the Bayview Hotel & Holiday Park. It was a fabulous weekend of dressing up, murder-mystery shenanigans and glamping.
You have taken her to events like the Hawke’s Bay Arts Trail. What are people’s reactions when they see the caravan?
People instantly love The Hot Flush – she radiates glamorous party vibes. We used her for our Breast Cancer Foundation Brunch fundraiser, and she definitely made an impact. She loves a party and is so much fun. That is to say she sparks conversation, and we’ve met some amazing people at events.
What do you enjoy about caravaning?
A pre-packed home on wheels makes travel so easy. To make things even easier, we filled our caravan with everything from a fridge freezer and bedding to black-out blinds and an air fryer, so we’ve packed most of it already. Just pack some cocktail fixings and a lovely platter, and you’re ready for a party at your destination.
Do you have any more makeover projects on the horizon?
My husband and I are landscaping our courtyard and renovating the shed to make an art deco-style bar and entertaining space for friends and family visiting over Christmas and New Year.
Annabel’s five top tips for caravanning life
- You don’t need to travel far to have a great adventure. Explore some of your local beauty spots, you’ll see them in a whole new light caravanning.
- Great upholstery is well worth the investment – nothing beats comfy beds and a good night’s sleep.
- Plenty of storage is essential when travelling with friends or family. Safely tuck away all loose cups, decor, etc, when you tow the caravan.
- An awning is essential for shade in summer. It adds a new living space for dining and entertaining when on the road. It can be your VIP party lounge.
- There are some beautiful caravan parks around the country, with great locations, facilities and great value.
Annabel is ready to part with ‘The Hot Flush’ and has listed the caravan on Facebook Marketplace. View the listing here.
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