While most kids dedicate their creative energies to various arts, an Attica girl has elevated her creativity to a new level through a camper van renovation!
In 2020, 11-year-old Lauren Nelson, a girl with a knack for design, spent the last two months renovating her own camper into a cozy tiny home she calls Camp Hygge.
“I love this; I love renovating. I was very motivated by this camper. I really wanted a place where I could hang out . . . like my own house,” she said.
Lauren Nelson was browsing through a magazine when she spotted a $650 VW toy van that she wanted to have.
She shared her idea with her mom, Aimee Nelson, and that’s when her dad chimed in, saying, “That’s ridiculous; you could buy your own camper for that price!”
Surprisingly, Lauren became interested in what her dad said. So, she decided to save all her allowance and any small earnings.
She set aside small amounts, like $5 from Easter or Tooth Fairy money. She started looking for a camper that suits her renovation project.
Lauren was determined to achieve her goal.
Fortunately, her neighbor down the street was selling their 20-foot-long camper at a reasonable price despite its poor condition.
Lauren immediately fell in love with the camper and felt inspired to buy it despite knowing it was beyond her budget.
She decided to negotiate for a better price.
“He said $500, and I said $400 because that was the money I had in my bank account, and he said sold,” Lauren said.
After acquiring the camper, Lauren began the renovation project despite her lack of experience with manual work.
She persists in creating her dream tiny home despite the expenses involved.
She had to save more money to fund the necessary improvements, eventually spending $400 on furniture and accessories for her home.
Aimee shared on Facebook that many items in the trailer were gifts for Lauren’s birthday, while most decorations were from their home and potting shed, per the New York Post.
Aimee humorously remarked that her own house did not look as nice.
She mentioned Lauren’s creativity, saying she builds doll furniture and cardboard couches.
Aimee also detailed the expenses for Lauren’s project:
- The floors amounted to $139 for 100 square feet
- Chalk paint was $75
- The kitchen backsplash, appearing like tiles, was a $20 decal
- cushion covers cost $20
- Succulents and wall stickers from dollar stores totaled $10
- The hand sanitizer pump and bed pillows were purchased from Walmart for $20.
Meanwhile, Lauren said she found inspiration while watching HGTV’s Tiny House Hunters.
She discovered the name “Camp Hygge” on Pinterest, inspired by a SimpliSafe TV commercial, said WKBW.
The home is decorated with black, white, and grey colors for a clean and simple look.
Inside, there’s a cozy livingroom, a bedroom with four beds, a bathroom, and a kitchen, all organized well.
There are also extra storage spaces in cupboards in the main room, living area, and kitchen.
Her dedication to her tiny home project has led to significant rewards.
Credit is also owed to her parents for providing the necessary creative space.
Initially seen as a simple project, it proved to be a valuable learning experience for Lauren, confirming her parents’ intuition.
Lauren’s camper renovation journey was a valuable learning experience. She transformed the space into her own beautiful haven through dedication and challenge.
Now, she enjoys spending five days a week in her camper, a turnaround for her summer.
Her story has already inspired others, as Aimee mentioned receiving messages from those who embarked on similar projects after hearing about Camp Hygge.
“If you want to have some big plans in the future, you should go out and do it. Make it happen,” said Lauren.
Lauren envisions a future home renovation or forensic science career, perhaps even both.
See the result of Lauren’s camper van renovation below:
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