SALON MAKEOVER (That’s fancy talk for Living Room)

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I’m a few days into revamping our coach living room and wanted to share the progress so far. I’ll post pictures as the project continues, but here’s what we’ve accomplished up to this point.

We’re making several changes to enhance our enjoyment of the coach. Di has never been fond of the Berber carpeting in the living room and entryway. We both prefer replacing it with laminate flooring. As our dogs age, we plan to bring them along without kenneling them, and a laminate floor will be easier to clean. Currently, we have to remove our shoes to avoid tracking dirt inside, and we’d like to walk in without that hassle.

To install the new floor, we need to remove everything from the front of the coach to the kitchen tile. Since we’re not happy with the chenille upholstery on our sofas, this gives us a chance to reupholster them in leather. Leather will be more dog-friendly and easier to wipe down. We love the sofas for their storage and extra seating, but the passenger side sofa lacks a convenient spot to set a drink. We’re adding a center armrest with a Corian top to each sofa for drinks and snacks, transforming them into two-place sofas with armrests. This change suits our needs, as we don’t have overnight guests.

We’re also updating the dining chairs to match the new sofa upholstery. The sofas were removed through the door since they’re designed to be easily disassembled. This made it easier for Di and me to handle, especially since the heaviest piece is the sofa base. With the sofas out, I discovered that one of the Webasto heat exchanger motors was obstructed by the sofa frame. I plan to relocate that unit before reinstalling the sofas and will be replacing the coolant with extended-life coolant while I’m at it.

The project isn’t overwhelming as long as I stay patient. Finding how everything is secured, often with hidden fasteners, has been a challenge. Now that I know where they are, reassembly should be straightforward. The real test will be sourcing or creating trim and transition pieces for the floating floor, given its unique details that aren’t typically found in standard home flooring projects.

Stay tuned for pictures and updates!

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Jon,
With all your cash buy a new coach! Come on help the economy!

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Jon,

I am thinking of the same project for my coach. Pictures of what you encounter will be great. My coach is 1995 model, so I am in the year model zone for interior upgrades.

Hector

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That is exciting stuff, Jon. Good luck. If you need an extra hand or two (or four) for any part of it, we can be there in an hour. Can’t wait to see the pics as you work through the project. Deb

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Jon,
With all your cash buy a new coach! Come on help the economy!

Do I really have to explain again why I like rivets??????

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That is exciting stuff, Jon. Good luck. If you need an extra hand or two (or four) for any part of it, we can be there in an hour. Can’t wait to see the pics as you work through the project. Deb

Deb, I appreciated how you volunteered Eric! I managed to lift the sofa bases and the two front seats out on my own, but I’m seriously considering asking for some help. The sofas are pretty cumbersome, and the front seats are quite heavy. I might reach out for assistance when the time comes.

I’ll have pictures to share tomorrow.

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Jon,

I have a cocker spaniel who digs at the leather sofa before settling down. He hasn’t ripped through it, but he does leave scratch marks. Just a heads-up if you’re considering how the leather might hold up.

If you’re aiming for a distressed look, it might work out. Just thought I’d share!

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The chenille fabric we had was a magnet for dog hair, so it definitely needed to go. Both dogs currently never jump on the furniture, but if that changes during our trips, we’ll need to address it then.

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Getting rid of the carpet is the best thing you will do. The Krackmobile and Liberty have/had no carpet and it’s great.

Let me know if you need help, I’ll call the King for you!

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No need to bother the king. Eric confirmed that he is very willing to help. So, you have 4 willing and able hands at your service. Let us know when and we will figure out how to help. Deb and Eric

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I can help on Friday afternoons. After eating of course.

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Jon, is there anything you won’t tackle on that Liberty? You should write a book—my hat’s off to you! By the way, I’ll pick up those stands in the next 2-3 weeks and will call first. Don’t let any of those bus parts roll down the hill. Good luck with everything!

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The progress has been slow and a bit painful so far.

We’re replacing the fabric with leather and swapping out the tan berber carpeting for laminate (at least that’s the plan for today).

Step one involves removing the sofas and preparing the floor for stripping.

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Stripping the interior is involved but not particularly complex. Removing the passenger and driver’s seats required heavy lifting, and loosening the cabinet involved searching for all the hidden screws.

With everything loose or out, the process of pulling the old carpeting began. I’ve shed quite a bit of blood—besides the usual carpet strips with pins around the perimeter, the carpet and foam underlayment were held down with staples. These staples have managed to penetrate my hands numerous times. The hardest part is pulling out all the staples because the floor must be smooth and clean before I can install the new flooring.

The easy part is the center of the room. However, the carpeting around the Webasto heaters, the stairwell, and in the driver’s area is stapled and glued, so I’ve had to use pry bars and scrapers to get it all up.

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When you’re done with yours, I’d like you to replace the carpet in ours with the granite that’s in the mid-section of the coach. Just let us know when you’re ready to start. Thanks.

Bonnie

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