I am, also, about to add the plastic command picture holders that are like dri-lock to hold three different sizes of ziplocs, hung vertically along the inside edge of the door on the left (facing). You will have to use your imagination for that visual. I needed the space they are taking up in this picture for a stainless water bottle, paper cups, stainless coffee cup.

Now, I put the paper cups between the stainless on both bottom shelves. Less rattles and banging around that way. And yes, we will probably add another teeny basket on the right side door.  Those little baskets are dirt cheap. The other wire shelves on the doors came in three packs, each one in pack a different configuration. We bought two sets. One shelf was used beneath the kitchen sink.

Yes, I have loaded that pantry down Added an extra support rod toward back on one side of the horizontal shelves in pantry,probably should add another one. But these shelves survived some pretty rough California roads….

We used baskets like these on some of the pantry shelves…

and one old wire basket from a drawer unit we used to have – only on the bottom surface, because of the weight of the cans…

I use whatever is handy to keep things from sliding – kitchen towels, boxed food, plastic containers. Have not secured top, shallower shelf contents yet… Let’s just say they have met the floor – or our feet – more than once after a long drive. Another, we will get to it moment. PS. Melamine will break, especially cheap melamine. Only had 2 plates for bbqs. I don’t use it normally. Don’t use it at all now, lol.

Guess I need to post the shower curtain pic next. It is an awesome curtain!

Leon changed out the extremely low faucet to one he could get his oversized hands beneath. A Moen, purchased at a box store in Michigan. What a difference it makes. I can fit a small plastic box with a lid beneath it to run off cold water when boondocking.

Today is another day to make the best of – or waste. The choice is ours.

Many, if not all RVers, use at least a sediment filter on their incoming water line. Some prop it in a bucket so it does not fall over, one ingenious RVer used a PVC pipe cap attached to his bumper to set the filter in. Leon did not want to mess with Panoply’s bumper. Instead, he used a bungee hooked to the window frame to hold the sediment filter off the ground. It worked fine. However, he added a carbon filter, as well, so lately he has just been using a bungie to hold both of them to the post that the water is connected to. Keeps them off the ground – and away from the RV.

We also have a good filter beneath our kitchen sink – and use a Brita for cooking and drinking. Overkill? Perhaps, but it makes us happy.

But, I don’t like not being able to hang most of our clothes… What to do?

It was a simple solution since we had opted out of using the cabover as a bed. Leon simply screwed and bracketed a heavy wooden dowel closet rod across the opening of the cab. The other advantage was when getting in and out of cab seat from within RV was simple for me to grab the bar to make it quicker and easier!

When we are parked, the clothes go there, over the driver and passenger seat and behind the heavy blanket curtain that we put up to separate the cab from the RV. The cover that wraps around the cab windows and windshield prevent them from being visual clutter from outside the RV. It worked brilliantly for us! I took, of course, way too many clothes for the two of us…

Yes, it looks sloppy, in that picture; I had been rummaging through the clothes. Normally, when parked we had a tall plastic set of shelves rolled in between the seats. I have no idea what that blue is on the floor. Dropped something?

During travel the clothes were moved to a thin dowel rod that was installed in the hallway right before the back living area. It was so close to ceiling it kept the hangers from flying off.

(Note: having trouble with this theme, cannot figure out why pics won’t show up in proper place…. Sorry.)

Problem 1: Acrylic double bowled sink approximately 16 x 24 – cracked at drain. Hole too big, but counter too small for the stainless sinks I found. And, anyway, I wanted a deeper sink, stainless, big enough for the largest pot in our new Magma set.

Solution Part 1: Spend nigh forever searching through thousands of sinks for the nonexistent, then find a single bar sink that makes me happy. It is a Franke, found at local home improvement store, lol.

Solution Part 2: Brainstorm on how to fit small sink in big hole.

Solution Part 3: Buy small Ikea fold down desk large enough to cover sink hole because we like the wood. Buy two, have plans for second one. Cut to fit, oops. Cut second one to fit. Success!

Problem 2: Find out dream faucet comes too far forward for narrow sink if mounted in ready made holes – and only two holes in sink anyway, can’t center it.

Solution: Mount sink on side of sink toward back – at angle. Faucet end is now near center. I am extremely happy, as I love both symmetry and obvious asymmetry.

Problem 3: Use blanks to cover two extra holes or put in soap dispensers or something, though I normally don’t use the ones I have had at home.

Solution: We chose blanks, like the uncluttered look.

Of course, there was plumbing to redo, multiple trips to the hardware to get correct parts. The bad: sink so deep takes up storage space. The OK: I don’t like to put things beneath sink anyway. The good: gained some storage back since plumbing only one sink rather than two.

New. Installation incomplete, had yet to buy the flat plugs or clean up mess. We LOVE it!

And yes, the sink worked out great, it is bigger than it looks in this picture – and quite deep. A few times I bumped the handle and soaked my sleeve, lol.

Panoply has space for an over cab bed that is longer than a true queen bed, but it is closer in width to a full bed. We decided we might prefer a wider bed – and a nontoxic bed. Therefore, we wanted the option to sleep on the sofa/beds in the back.

The original beds had plywood that slid across the plywood storage boxes to meet in the middle. The back cushions then slid down to become part of the mattress, therefore providing a king sized bed. We pulled that plywood out and Leon built new slatted frames for the 32′ wide mattresses, though the front legs are still to be added.

His side has room only for the legs, but my side will have additional storage beneath it for shoes. With his size 13 feet, there were few places to store them. I mean I could have just laced the tennis shoes around the ladder out back, but that would not have been something to be proud of, would it? But then again, his shoes will be beneath my side of the bed. I guarantee baking soda and activated charcoal will be on the shopping list.

The frame is 2×2′s with IKEA birch veneer slats. Each slat is screwed into the 2×2 on the ends, installed with countersunk screws in a way that allows the arched slats to flex a bit. Because they are arched he cut equal amounts from each side of the individual slats after removing the ribbon that held them together.

All wood and slats were sealed with AFM Safecoat Hard Seal as I prefer not to smell the glues and wood used to laminate the slats. This is the same product we sealed the walls and wood throughout Panoply.

Seeing the first bed frame in place was “a moment”… bigger than converting the incandescent bulbs to LEDs.

“Life is lived like poetry is written: though each moment is its own rough draft, we can then ReVisit our past, ReValue our decisions, ReVise our forward path, and ReVitalize our passions.” Marcia M Bogaert

On to the subject at hand. I’ve ignored my blog – and yours – while we have been trying to get work files and personal files scanned, loose ends tied up, research and order products for our future part time-full time RV lifestyle, and get Panoply remodeled enough that we can take our first (ever) RV trip later this year – barring a hurricane hitting here before we leave. If that happens, Leon’s clients take priority to our adventure.

That said, though Leon has not had as much fun as I have during this process, he has had his moments, they usually occur when a project is completed or near completion.

We had the pleasant distraction of our granddog Bella visiting. It was too hot for her to stay outside with us while working on the RV for long periods of time, so I volunteered to go inside to ‘check on her’ often. Which meant, of course, sitting on the floor to pet her and soothe her wounded psyche that ‘grandparents’ ignoring her. : D

I seriously did not get enough done while she was here, but she went home early enough that I did help Leon some.

The closet is shelved!

The first of two bed/sofa frames that slide are cut, drilled, and sealed; MaxxAir Fanmate Rain cover #1 and MaxxAir Window Cover #1 of three are installed so we can air out the RV longer hours; we found what we need to complete our sink installation; the first two LED lightbulbs are installed (Gee, who did that job?); and most all other items needed are at least ordered.

We may get Panoply ready yet! I hope you all are working on your dream project – or have it done and ready to start the next.

Mercury. Wait! Don’t rush off because it is so little and you have been told it doesn’t make a difference if it is disposed of properly!

Think about how many bulbs are broken by tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes each year? Or lamps tossed without thinking after a flood?

I don’t need to do the math for you. And I doubt many people have even thought of this.

We are converting most lights to LEDs – they have changed – much better light produced than they were in previous years. They are cooler and no mercury.

Yes, they are expensive – I won’t go on that rant right now.

We gave up on an exact fit. I found a sink I could live with after literally looking at thousands online. (Most of that time was spent trying to find a close fit to the opening.)

The original sink was white acrylic, double bowled, so each side was too small. I wanted a single bowl. Guess what?

I found one big enough for my large pasta pan to fit in with room to spare! And the sink is nearly three inches deeper than the RV sink was. (I know, I probably won’t even take the pan with me, but….)

Yes, we are giving up height beneath the sink, but are, also, gaining space by removing the plumbing for the second sink drain.

The existing sink opening is 14.75 x 23, too big for our new sink. Leon dreamed up two possible solutions for solving the obvious, the cut out is too big. Will he be successful? Yes. Will it look good?

Function over beauty is my choice, but you never know, if either of his ideas are successful, I’ll be thrilled with it! I’ll post the brand and store name with pictures when he is finished….

Now to see if I win the faucet battle or not. Leon and the salesperson ganged up against me. They both refused to give an inch that I could/should try to make my favorite faucet work. I need ONE measurement from a manufacturer to be what I am hoping to win. And if I am wrong, it’s going to cost him (us) a lot more to get my second, third, or fourth choices! Because I will not settle for another “style” faucet.

Keep searching for what you need. You will either find it or find something better.

We have vowed not to eat or drink anything other than water up there — here’s hoping we honor that. But I am as worried about pens; I must make all notes on my iPhone,

The seats are Flexsteel, covered in Ultraleather. We purchased them through and had them installed by Glastop, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale. They are wonderful to work with – and patient. When we explained our solar tech’s need to keep our RV a month more than planned because of a family emergency – they patiently waited – responding with, “family is important”. You cannot ask for more than that. Did I say they were helpful and pleasant? Yeah, I think I did. ; )

Finally, the old seats are out – and they smelled so horrible- no one would believe me unless they experienced it. They had picked up all the off gassing over the years they had the RV before us and whatever else. Something tells me our son’s shed is going to smell pretty rank with this Florida heat pulling the smells out of the old seats. Maybe it will suck out enough that someone will want them. Other than the horrid smell they are in great condition.

Today, Panoply smells sooooo much better!!! There is hope yet. Now on to another project.