Often perceived as a lifestyle better suited for singles or couples, van life can also be done as a family, especially if you have the right rig and take some time to plan ahead. The Nutshell camper van, for instance, has been designed to allow a family of three passionate about the outdoors to experience this lifestyle together.
Many families dream of a slower pace of life and choose full-time travel as their daily routine. While most of them pick a large RV or motorhome for life on the road with kids, others prefer van conversions because they are much more versatile and easy to drive and maneuver.
Built by British company Vanpuravida, Nutshell is based on a Volkswagen Crafter LWB, a large and reliable van that lends itself naturally to camper conversions. We've already covered several builds completed by Vanpuravida, a van outfitter specializing in custom luxury camper van conversions with bespoke layouts, and all of them managed to impress with beautiful styling and high-end finishes for a truly unique living space.
The Nutshell camper van is based on the Chelmsford-based company's Himalayas layout and will be home to an adventurous family of three who plans to embark on a van life journey for an undefined period of time. It has a platform bed at the rear with a large garage underneath, a generous kitchen, a lounge, and a luxurious front bathroom, allowing owners to experience a simpler way of life, explore new places, and make great memories without compromising on home comforts and style.
Photo: Vanpuravida
Built for convenience and practicality with enough modern amenities to make life on the road easier and more comfortable, this van conversion also impresses in terms of styling. It boasts a spectacular interior with a smartly designed layout, a coastal color palette, and beautiful finishes that give it a refined look.
Light tones of blue, gray, and natural wood create a warm, inviting ambiance and a feeling of spaciousness. What's more, beautiful woodworking details adorn the pristine white walls, while the opening side and back door, along with smart lighting throughout, keep the interior incredibly bright and open.
The living space is completely separated from the van's cab, which makes you feel more like you are in a small home than in a van. As you slide open the side door, there is a small "hallway” with a cabinet that works double duty as shoe storage and seating bench. It also incorporates a secret toe-kick bowl drawer for the family's pet.
Photo: Vanpuravida
The bathroom is right behind the cab on the driver's side and is quite generous in terms of size for a camper van. Also, it might be the most luxurious part of this build with a full-size shower whose walls are covered with 3D tile effect PVC panels, a bespoke shower tray, brushed bronze fixtures, a composting toilet, and a large mirror.
A gorgeous kitchen occupies the center of the van and features custom blue cabinetry made of excellent quality plywood, bamboo countertops, and a beautiful accent wall/backsplash with nature-inspired motifs. It is large enough to enable different cooking possibilities and comes equipped with a gas two-burner cooktop, an oven, a microwave, and a round sink with bamboo cover. An under-counter Vitrifigo fridge is also included and can store enough food to feed the family for a few days.
Another standout feature inside Nutshell is the convertible dinette situated across from the kitchen. It comprises two benches and a table with a removable leg and can easily turn into a lounging space by lowering the table and adding a cushion. A sliding section on the side of one of the benches helps create an L-shaped couch for even more seating space and improves the livability of this van.
The removable table can also be attached to the side of the couch and create a nice little nook for working remotely or even taken outside the van for an outdoor dining setup.
Photo: Vanpuravida
The rear of the van is occupied by the bedroom, which includes a queen-size bed built on a raised platform and a couple of overhead cabinets for clothes storage. A knee wall made of narrow wood slats creates a sense of separation between the kitchen and the sleeping space. And since the bed is pushed against the back doors, the owners can fully enjoy the surrounding views and feel the breeze while relaxing in bed if they crack them open.
The garage space under the bed, accessible from both the inside and the outside, houses the electrical components, neatly placed inside plywood cabinets that offer easy access. It offers plenty of space to stow away personal belongings, outdoor gear, and larger camping items, thus helping to keep the interior clean and uncluttered.
Nutshell is bound to offer its owners memorable off-grid adventures, as it has been equipped with 330 Watts of solar panels, a 320Ah Lithium battery, and a Victron power inverter. Vanpuravida also installed massive underslung water tanks, an Expanse Whale GE water heater, an air heater, and a 30-liter LPG tank with refillable bottle system.
Since this is a custom van conversion, no details of the final cost are available, but Vanpuravida's Himalaya model typically starts at £39,990 (which is approx. $49,860), sans the cost of the base van.
After spending a few years as a copy editor, Ancuta decided to put down the eraser and pick up the writer's pencil. Her favorites subjects are unusual car designs, travel trailers and everything related to the great outdoors. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News