'We turned a drab caravan into a £300-a-night Barbie dream house'

How we took a caravan from drab to fab

If you were asked to picture a staycation caravan on the south coast of England, you’d be forgiven for conjuring images of a cold holiday home with a drab interior, beige décor and old-fashioned furnishings. However, not all caravans lack personality, as stylists Cassandra Doyle and Diana Civil prove. Together, they turned a dowdy camper in Camber Sands, East Sussex, into a bold, ultra-stylish holiday let known as Dixie Daydream.

Click or scroll to take a tour of their cool and colourful retreat and find out exactly how they did it...

Project origins

Cassandra and Diana met on a photoshoot several years ago and have been working together ever since, establishing their own company, The Style Producers. Their job involves lots of travelling across the UK. "It was during one long, five-hour car journey to Newcastle that we got talking about our passion for interiors," Diana explains. "This chat sparked the inspiration that led to the delight that is our glamour-puss caravan.”

During the conversation, the pair decided to create an amazing holiday home that they could rent out to keen guests. They began searching for affordable options in Camber Sands. “The area was the obvious choice. Di lived there previously and knew the surrounding area well.”

A blank canvas

The stylists soon found a 420-square-foot static caravan for sale at Parkdean Resorts, located right on the beach. Costing £40,000 ($51k), the Willerby Linwood caravan was originally built in 2019 and was in like-new condition, having had only one previous owner. Plus, being in an established caravan park meant their future guests would have access to the on-site facilities. With its beige and grey interior, faux wood elements, unattractive fixtures and serious lack of personality, the property was a complete blank canvas for the duo to play with. This image shows the main, open-plan living space when Cassandra and Diana first bought the caravan.

Design inspiration

Once the duo had purchased the tiny home, it was time to figure out how to transform it. “We work as stylists and art directors, so we have exposure to interiors inspiration on a daily basis,” Diana says.  “We'd both fallen in love with a gorgeous navy, leopard print carpet, during a photoshoot for Carpetright." The pair jumped at the opportunity to "unboring the flooring" and the carpet became the starting point for the interior décor, inspiring them to adopt a maximalist approach to the makeover.

As for the name, "we were championing Dolly Parton," Diana explains. "If Dolly had a caravan it would be Dixie Daydream."

Playing with colour and patterns

With a love of bold colours and patterns with an unexpected twist, Cassandra and Diana focused on creating vivid, eye-catching and unique spaces, filled with one-of-a-kind trinkets and furnishings. “We had great fun putting the room schemes together,” Cassandra says. “People often believe smaller spaces call for more pared back designs and pale colours, but we disagree – adding colour and punchy patterns to even the smallest of spaces adds personality and character."

Wonderful wallcoverings

As well as the carpet that lines the main living space, Cassandra and Diana also took inspiration from the wallcoverings they chose for each space. "The wallpapers were actually the key to each room scheme, as we wanted a bold focal point for each area," Diana says.

In the living room, pastel lilac wallpaper has been paired with colourful and eclectic furniture, retro artwork and heavily patterned soft furnishings in a range of complementary hues. "Our set builder friend, Tim, was heroic and put up all the cladding," they explain. Once the ceiling was covered in a fresh layer of timber battens, the pair painted it in a pinky lilac shade.

Waste not, want not

Cassandra and Diana did most of the work themselves, from stripping out the caravan, to wallpapering, painting and making soft furnishings. However, they called in a few favours from industry friends where needed. Keen not to waste anything that could be salvaged and upcycled, they chose to retain the original grey sofa, hiring Third Person Upholstery to recover it with a vivid, mustard yellow velvet. Tassel trim finishes the bottom of the sofa, while the arms are padded out to make them oversized and comfy. "With its new glam look, our sofa has a whole new lease of life," the duo told their Instagram followers.

Sourcing products and materials

When it came to sourcing items for the interior, Cassandra and Diana shopped in high street stores and bought some items online. "We visited vintage shops and flea markets, too," Diana says. The duo even commissioned a few specialists for certain elements (more on this later).

"We were also fortunate that Wayfair had a product line launch tie-in with our makeover. They provided us with some amazing products in exchange for some press stays to promote the items!" One of the property's biggest transformations has to be the fireplace. Previously rather ugly, the electric fire was part of a built-in wooden unit, on top of which sat the TV.

A dazzling transformation

These pictures highlight just how amazing the change is. Cassandra and Diana created a stud chimney and their set designer friend Tim finished it with pink tiles. Wayfair provided the contemporary electric fire that decorates the chimney. A large pink bucket chair, retro wall art, and a bold green lion statue finish the space. “Mr Lion was chosen as a lifestyle prop for a TK Maxx fashion shoot we worked on,” the women told their Instagram followers. “He was painted in his rather purr-felt shade of mint."

Before: dining area

The property also boasts plenty of clever ways to make the most of the limited space available. "We like to think we've been really creative with our planning and space-saving solutions throughout Dixie," Cassandra says. "We built hidden storage into the back of the fireplace and also incorporated furniture with storage." The pedestal on which Mr Lion sits is actually the Olivia bedside table from Barker and Stonehouse, repurposed as a very handy cocktail cabinet. Another in-house bar lies inside the once-unassuming closet in the dining area...

After: dining area

Thanks to timber battens and a lick of paint, the old closet is now a chic and stylish storage unit, where guests can prepare their favourite tipples. Thanks to their savvy, upcycling approach, and the fact they did the majority of the work themselves, Cassandra and Diana managed to keep costs down. However, they do admit that they didn’t really go in with a specified budget.

Before: living space

“We didn’t follow our own advice and work to a budget,” Cassandra says. “We just knew what we wanted visually and went with the flow, trying to be as cost-effective as possible.” The duo spent money wisely on key items, such as upholstering the original furniture and installing practical divan beds with storage underneath. They also invested in good-quality mattresses and bedding – essentials for any successful holiday home! Thanks to their skills and experience as stylists, the pair has changed every inch of the interior, rendering the rooms completely unrecognisable.

After: living space

This after shot highlights how amazing the makeover really is – you'd never guess this was a caravan, would you? The once uninspiring dining zone featured an ordinary, built-in wooden table with bench seating. Now, the space boasts a statement dining table with a smoked glass top and conical, brass base. Yellow metal chairs, a rattan light fixture and bold pink dog ornament finish the space perfectly.

Before: kitchen

Incredibly, Cassandra and Diana finished the drab to fab renovation in just three months. "We bought Dixie in January and finished the refurbishment in March," Diana explains. "It wasn't ideal, as it was sub-zero temperatures outside!" One of our favourite parts of the makeover is the kitchen. Previously rather unappealing with basic cabinets, ply finishes and brown worktops, it wasn't exactly a space where we'd love to cook!

After: kitchen

This gorgeous upcycled kitchen is almost too good to be true. The pair utilised the existing cabinet doors, painting them in a bold Barbie pink shade. Pink tiles were installed above the stove, alongside bright wallpaper. The cluttered wall units were also removed, allowing the window to draw in plenty of natural light. "We specifically wanted a gold brass worktop for the kitchen, so we had this specially made. It's not your usual caravan worktop," the duo explain.

Before: en suite bedroom

When Cassandra and Diana first bought the caravan, this is how the master bedroom looked. Drab and lifeless, its off-white walls were paired with a faux wood headboard, old-fashioned curtains and basic, built-in furnishings. However, once the pair got their hands on the space, it was completely transformed. Say goodbye to boring...

After: en suite bedroom

Of course, the design of this room started with the wallpaper. "We are obsessed," the duo told their Instagram followers when discussing the wallpaper, which they sourced from Hovia. "When we saw this print we knew it was perfect for Dixie." The paper covers every wall of the master bedroom, leading to the couple nicknaming the space the Tibetan Tiger Bedroom. The room also benefits from mustard and navy accents, tiger table lamps, a large wicker headboard and two compact rattan side tables.

After: en suite bedroom

Tim applied wood cladding to the room's ceiling before Cassandra and Diana painted it a rich salmon shade. In a small corner of the room, you'll find a bespoke dressing table, where lucky guests can pull up a pew and do their makeup. The space is finished with a yellow and white candy stripe stool, a large mirror and a statement wall light that provides the perfect amount of light. The pair also transformed the room's compact bathroom, which features a toilet and basin, applying a pretty floral wallpaper and a cork wall where Polaroids and posters can be pinned.

Before: twin bedroom

Next up is the second bedroom, a twin with two single beds and equally uninspiring décor and fixtures. “We love making a statement with our décor and we’re always up for a craft challenge, too,” the pair told their Instagram followers. So, when it came to adding a bit of extra wow factor to this bedroom, the duo decided to spread the love with a supersized headboard…

After: twin bedroom

The headboard is one of the room’s standout features. An inspiring DIY project, Cassandra and Diana made the headboard by drawing a heart shape onto a piece of reclaimed plywood. “We covered it with wadding, topped with our bold red Maestro 3750 velvet fabric, stapled in place for a nice neat finish,” the pair explain. “Once covered, we attached a split batten onto the back to fix it onto the wall and hey presto, a swoon-worthy headboard in a trice!"

Before and after: twin bedroom

The room's red and pink zebra print wallpaper, by Lust Home, was the starting point for the rest of the space, which was finished with a painted vermillion ceiling, zebra-shaped wall sconces with red velvet lampshades, zebra print cushions and pretty pink finishes. Even the radiator and door were painted, the former pink and the latter red, using eco-friendly paints by Little Greene. A slimline metal locker by Mustard Made replaced the ugly ecru-coloured closet that previously stood in the corner of the room.

After: design details

The room's plain, rectangular mirror was also swapped for a cool, vintage-inspired piece that is now the centrepiece of the room's Selfie Wall. There are almost too many cute and quirky design details to take in, from hidden pink flamingos to 50s pin-up photos that add to the tiny home's Barbie-inspired aesthetic.

After: third bedroom

Amazingly, the tiny home squeezes in a third bedroom. Just big enough for a double bed, the snug space is made entirely inviting thanks to its dark, floral wallpaper by Wayfair, a mirrored ceiling, fringed window dressing and brass wall sconces. In fact, Cassandra and Diana both agree that this “jump into bed” room is their favourite in the caravan. "It might lack space but makes up for it with heaps of personality," they share. "It's the perfect example of going big in the smallest room – by using bold colours and punchy patterns to create maximum effect in a minimum space."

After: bathroom

The home's main bathroom is also amazing, comprising a toilet, basin and walk-in shower. Barbie's dream come true, the space is compact but packs a serious style punch, thanks to its gorgeous floral wallpaper and shelving unit decorated with an assortment of Barbie dolls. There's even a toilet roll dolly that fills us with nostalgia!

Before: terrace

Cassandra and Diana didn't forget about the home's outdoor terrace, either. Previously a blank canvas, the deck runs the full length of the caravan and overlooks the idyllic East Sussex countryside. So how did the design duo tackle this space? Well, they gave it a lick of paint and installed pretty fairy lights and statement furnishings, so guests can lounge in style while soaking up coastal views.

After: terrace

Since its completion in April 2022, Dixie Daydream has been running as a popular Airbnb and has played host to countless guests, photoshoots and even celebrities, including British TV presenter and activist Katie Piper. "We've been very fortunate that all of our guests have been like-minded souls who absolutely love Dixie and really appreciate the treasures that we have," the pair told us. Luckily, this means nothing has been stolen or damaged, aside from one minor breakage. "We know exactly what goes where and do regular checks."

What's next for the design duo?

We asked Cassandra and Diana to share some tips for anyone looking to carry out their own tiny home renovation and their advice is priceless. "It’s really hard work working in such a small space and being a caravan, it's totally different from a house renovation as it’s basically a plastic box," they said. "So you have to rethink all the décor to make sure it works with the surfaces and structure of the property."

As for what's next for the pair, they've already lined up their next project. "We're always coming up with ideas and already have a name sorted for project number two, so watch this space! " We don't know about you, but we can't wait to see what this design duo does next!

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