This Dirt Cheap, One-of-a-Kind Camper Van Is a Fairytale Treehouse on Wheels

"What's cottagecore?" you might wonder. Cottagecore is an aesthetic that celebrates simple living, particularly in the countryside, encouraging an old-fashioned lifestyle characterized by rustic decor and fashion.

Meet Laura and Aaron, a couple who have been traveling nomadically for almost five years. Their self-built mobile home is based on a Renault Master minibus. The duo wanted to enjoy a simple life of freedom in nature, and that is reflected in their camper build.

Before we take a closer look at the rig, let me tell you more about the couple's budget. We don't know exactly how much the base vehicle cost. However, Laura and Aaron spent an astonishingly low £1,300 ($1,648 or €1,521) on the conversion. They managed to keep costs to a minimum by building most of the interior out of scrap wood. Despite that, the interior looks stunning.

There's not much to discuss regarding this rig's outside, as you won't find any accessories we typically see on camper vans. So, let's head on inside.

Pop the sliding door open, and you'll first notice an archway made out of branches, a beautiful detail. Moreover, fairy lights are intertwined in the branches and continue throughout the interior.

A large counter occupies part of the entrance. Like the rest of this rig's cabinetry, it features wood-burned details that give it some personality. What's more, there's a cupboard and a drawer slide holding a single-burner camping stove, which can be used to cook outside.

Step inside, and you'll notice the counter I just mentioned is part of an L-shaped cabinet that occupies the space behind the driver's cabin and continues on the passenger side of the van until the rear.

As I mentioned, this furniture is made from scrap wood and integrates various storage spaces, such as a cupboard and shelf. A beautiful upcycled vintage cabinet is also located behind the driver's and passenger's seats.

Another notable element in this area is a small sink connected to a foot pump. The stove and the sink are the only kitchen features.

Running across this camper's ceiling are three long shelves. Furthermore, what I really like about this van is that there are four large windows letting plenty of light shine inside.

The bed occupies the rear part of the inside. It's a lovely spot to relax, especially since you can open the two rear doors, lie down and enjoy the view. When the bed is set up, there's no room left to walk beside it.

However, during the day, the couple can transform the bed into an L-shaped couch couch. Since it's made out of seven memory foam cushions, the couple can remove them, flip a panel (supported by two legs) up and to the side, and put the cushions back.

The lateral part of the couch frame hides a large storage spot, while the space underneath the rear part serves as a garage. That's where Laura and Aaron hold instruments, art gear, boots, and even an inflatable kayak. The last ample storage space in this rig is above the driver's cabin: the headliner shelf. The couple uses it to store duvets, blankets, towels, and more.

A decently sized fold-up table near the couch can be used for eating or working on your laptop. It's made from the couple's favorite pieces of reclaimed wood and boasts a striking look.

Finally, I want to tell you more about the driver's cabin. Typically, van dwellers don't change the driver's cabin, with the exception of adding a few accessories here and there. Well, since the couple spends a lot of time on the front seats, they wanted the driver's cabin to have the same look as the rest of the camper.

So, they came up with various little touches that transformed this area. They added custom covers for the seats, shifter, steering wheels, and visors. What's more, they painted the entire dashboard in cream, installed wooden covers, fitted a twine rug, and added various decorative items. The driver's cabin turned out looking fantastic, perfectly fitting in with the rustic theme.

Naturally, if you want to live full-time on the road, you need at least a minimal electrical system. In this regard, the duo devised the power system behind the passenger's seat. It consists of a 220 Ah leisure battery, a 1,000 W inverter, a fuse box, and a solar charge controller connected to solar panels on the roof.

Also, as you might've noticed already, there isn't any bathroom facility. Laura and Aaron can usually find a public bathroom nearby. If not, they do it outdoors and use bio-degradable toilet paper and a shovel.

The duo uses public showers in winter and has an outdoor shower at the rear to use when it's warm outside. The outdoor shower is, in fact, a 10-liter (2.6-gallon) canister filled with water to which they connect a 12 V camping shower head.

All in all, this one-of-a-kind tiny home on wheels looks outstanding, considering the meager budget for which it was built. It may not be that practical, but it does the job for Laura and Aaron, as proven by their many years of traveling nomadically.