All the extra info you need for your campervan redo. Beep, beep!

From removing old coverings to refitting and adding the finishing touches, this pattern sheet takes you through the steps of a Kombi

refurbishment. It includes kitchen cabinetry, a retro table, curtains and a reupholstered seat and bed combination. Start your engines!

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The classic orange paintwork influenced the new interior scheme.

before

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Begin with a clear idea! Before you commence, create a mood board of what you want your finished van to look like. Drawing inspiration from the outside colour of your van, lay out a selection of complementary fabric samples for seats and curtains, choose paint colour chips for cabinetry and select any new hardware. Do your research and make sure all the supplies you need for your van refit are available – then get going!

Mimic the old interior layout, adding new painted ply cabinetry, vinyl flooring and upholstery to boot!

The ideal spot for a cuppa! A new table with retro design, finished with aluminium flat bar trim around the edges.

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Better Homes and Gardens fan Anastasia, 15, took up a job delivering papers when she was just 10. By the time she was 14 she had saved enough money to buy what she’d always wanted – a VW Kombi van. This one is a 1974 model and was looking a little tired and in need of some lovin’, so Better Homes and Gardens TV presenters Adam Dovile and Demi Harman came to the rescue.

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stepsKOMBI REFURBGather your suppliesn Vinyl flooring in colour and

finish of your choice n 6mm marine plywood

(used for interior wall linings) n 12mm marine plywood

(used for cabinet faces, doors, and seat fascia)

n 18mm marine plywood (used for cabinet panels, bench top and table)

n Kombi seat-to-bed mechanism, to suit

You’ll Also NeedUtility knife; double-sided tape; aluminium floor trim; drill, bits and countersink bit; pop rivet gun; stainless-steel pop rivets; power saw; handsaw; jigsaw; PVA; wood filler; sandpaper; undercoat (we used Dulux 1 Step Acrylic Primer, Sealer & Undercoat); semi-gloss enamel (we used Dulux Super Enamel Semi Gloss in Vivid White and Quince Jelly); clamp; 30mm wood screws; L brackets; 15mm and 30mm stainless-steel pan head screws; piano hinges; hacksaw; cupboard door handles; 20mm aluminium flat xbar; construction adhesive; painter’s tape; clamps; fine sandpaper; rust converter; paint brushes; spray paint for metal

Notes 1. All plywood components are pre-painted prior to installation. Apply an undercoat and two topcoats of semi-gloss enamel to plywood components, following manufacturer’s instructions. 2. Adjust material quantities to suit your needs. 3. Use the following information as a guide only. You are responsible for checking all rules and regulations with relevant authorities that may apply to the refit and safe use of your motor vehicle. Here’s howCLEAR THE SPACESTEP 1 Remove old cabinets from van. Since these will be used as templates for the new cabinets, take care when removing and dismantling

them. Take note of which piece goes where so you can easily rebuild it later and take lots of photos throughout the process for future reference. Carefully remove upholstered items (padded seats and mattress), fabric curtains, vinyl flooring and old seat mechanism (this is the mechanism that allows the back seat to fold out to a bed). Keep old hardware in safe spot, clearly labelled just in case. If necessary, take upholstered items to a tradesperson to have them recovered. Stitch up a new set of curtains in your fabric of choice, copying dimensions of old ones. Discard unwanted items.

REFITTING THE INTERIORSTEP 2 Lay new vinyl flooring on floor panel inside van. Using sharp blade of utility knife, carefully trim excess vinyl around edges of floor at walls and at door. Secure vinyl to floor panel using double-sided tape. At door, place a strip of aluminium floor trim over cut edge of vinyl and screw trim to floor panel to secure.

STEP 3 Carefully remove old wall lining panels and use them as templates to mark and cut new wall panels from 6mm plywood. Check new panels for fit on walls of van. Adjust if necessary.

STEP 4 To secure wall panels, drill holes for pop rivets through new wall lining panels and body of the van behind. Place pop rivet into rivet gun and push through a hole. Pull the trigger on gun to tighten rivet until panel is fastened. Repeat for all fixing points, placing sufficient rivets so panels are firmly secured.

STEP 5 Place a sheet of 18mm plywood face down on your workbench. It’s important plywood sheet is face down as power saws cut on upstroke, meaning a cleaner finish on face of boards. Place each old dismantled cabinetry piece face down on plywood sheet and use a pencil to trace around them. Clearly label each so you know where it goes later.

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The old stove behind the passenger seat made way for a padded storage box – the ideal spot to keep picnic gear for when you pull over and enjoy a lazy afteroon in the sun. Don’t forget to pack the chairs!

STEP 6 Cut out all required components. To do this, cut along marked straight lines using power saw, stopping at any internal corners. Finish the cuts at corners using handsaw.

STEP 7 Use jigsaw to complete any curved cuts.

STEP 8 Where necessary, mark lines of shelves on inside of cabinet side panels. Drill an even spread of pilot holes on the side of line where shelves will sit.

STEP 9 Turn cabinet side panels over then countersink pilot holes on outside face of panels using drill fitted with countersink bit.

STEP 10 Assemble all cabinetry. Apply PVA to shelves and butt into side panels. Predrill shelves through countersink holes, then glue and screw in position.

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Job done, crank out the tunes on a retro-look wireless.

STEP 11 Use wood filler to fill screw holes. Let dry. Sand smooth, then wipe away dust. Apply undercoat and paint in 2 coats of white enamel. Let dry after each coat.

STEP 12 Place cabinet units in position in same configuration as before they were removed. Make front edges of units flush and clamp together. Predrill, countersink and screw together using 30mm wood screws.

STEP 13 Secure cabinets to walls and floor using L brackets and 15mm stainless-steel pan head screws.

STEP 14 Cut cabinet face panels from 12mm plywood. Apply undercoat and paint in 2 coats of white enamel. Let dry after each coat. Fit face panels in position. To do this, screw through face panel into cabinet using 30mm stainless-steel screws.

STEP 15 Cut doors to size from 12mm plywood. Apply undercoat and paint in 2 coats of white enamel. Let dry after each coat. Using hacksaw, cut piano hinge to size, screw 1 side to door then screw other side to cabinet face panel using supplied screws. Drill holes in doors for handles and attach handles to doors.

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The seat-to-bed mechanism allows you to recline right back, creating a cozy bed where you can enjoy a good night’s sleep. Sweet dreams!

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STEP 16 Position new seat mechanism in van and bolt in place. Copy the old fascia of seat onto 12mm plywood. Cut out, paint and install.

STEP 17 Before installing benchtop, screw L brackets to cabinet sides, flush with top of cabinet.

STEP 18 On 18mm plywood, mark and cut benchtop to sit on cabinets. Install benchtop in position then, from underside of benchtop, screw through L brackets to secure. Refit items such as sink and plumbing fittings. Cut 20mm aluminium flat bar to suit benchtop edges. Spread construction adhesive along edges, press aluminium into adhesive, flush with top face, and use 15mm screws to hold in place.

STEP 19 Using 18mm plywood, construct a simple open-topped box unit to go behind passenger seat. Butt-join corners of box, predrill, apply glue and secure with screws. Use L brackets to attach unit to floor.

STEP 20 Cut 2 panels from 18mm plywood, 1 to match external dimensions of box and 1 to match internal dimensions. If you wish, have larger panel upholstered. Screw through smaller panel to base of larger panel to make a lid for the box.

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7. The table is removable, but in its upright position there’s enough space for a few people to dine and enjoy.

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MAKING THE TABLESTEP 21 Using old table as template, mark and cut new table panel to size from 18mm plywood. Undercoat and then paint table with 2 coats of white enamel. Let dry after each coat.

STEP 22 Clamp aluminium flat bar to 1 long edge, flush with square end. Tightly wrap it around edges, excluding the edge that will attach to wall.

STEP 23 Remove shaped aluminium and apply construction adhesive to sides of table. Reposition aluminium on table edge and press into glue so it’s flush with top face of table. Predrill and attach aluminium with 15mm screws, evenly spaced. 25STEP

STEP 24 You can leave your table white or use painter’s tape to mask up any design you wish. For a diamond pattern like ours, apply 2 evenly spaced strips of painter’s tape, centred to the length of the table. Mask up an even spread of diamonds between the 2 long strips. Paint diamonds in 2 coats of orange enamel. Let dry. Remove tape. If you would like to create an overlapping diamond pattern like ours, mask up a new series of diamonds offset to the first. Paint diamonds in orange enamel. Let dry. Remove tape.

STEP 25 Attach old table fittings to cabinet for table to clip into and also attach fittings to table.

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PAINTING THE BULL BAR STEP 26 To revive a rusted metal bull bar, sand over surfaces with fine sandpaper to remove any surface rust. Brush away dust. Use a paint brush to apply a coat of rust converter to surface to prevent future corrosion. Let dry.

STEP 27 Protect surrounding areas of vehicle with a drop sheet, plastic sheet or thick cardboard. Spray bull bar with 2–3 coats of a suitable metal paint in colour of choice. Let dry after each coat.

FINISHING TOUCHESSTEP 28 Fit upholstered seats and mattress inside van – looking good!

STEP 29 Fit curtains in place and you’re ready to hit the open road.

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STOCKISTSProject supplies: Power tools, Bosch Australia 1300 307 044, bosch.com.au 2440 x 1220mm hardwood marine plywood, 18mm $134.50/sheet; 12mm $78/sheet; 6mm $43/sheet. 48mm double-sided tape, $6.64 per roll. Roberts 1.65m pewter floor trim, $13.85. Stainless-steel pop rivets, $7.50/120pk. PVA, $16/500ml. Timbermate woodfiller $8.76/250g. 30mm wood screws, $3.68/25pk. 50mm angle brackets, $4.26/4pk. 10g x 15mm stainless-steel pan head screws, $16.56/100pk. 10g x 30mm stainless-steel pan head screws, $24.78/100pk. 610mm piano hinge, $24.50. 128mm chrome door handles $12.50/2pk. 20 x 3mm aluminium flat bar, $14.51/3m. Heavy-duty construction adhesive, $5.20/350g, Bunnings (03) 8831 9777, bunnings.com.au Back seat-to-bed mechanism, Classic Vee Dub (02) 9638 4200, classicveedub.com.au 1 Step Acrylic Primer, Sealer & Undercoat, $74.35/4L. Super Enamel semi gloss in Vivid White and Quince Jelly, $85.15/4L. Dulux Metalshield spray paint, $9.95/300g, Dulux 13 25 25, dulux.com.au Geometric fabric (used for curtains), Spotlight 1300 305 405, spotlight.com.au Tartan fabric (used for upholstery), The Fabric Store, (02) 9211 2217, thefabricstore.com.au Shopping details: Orange marquee PVC folding chairs, $19.98 each, Bunnings Warehouse. Opposites Attract cushion in Grey and Coral, 45cm $45. Castle and Things velvet round cushion in Pink, $49. Beach Boy tumblers with three stripes, $45 each, Koskela (02) 9280 0999, koskela.com.au

PRICES ARE INDICATIVE AND TO BE USED AS A GUIDE ONLY.