An interior designer and former house flipper turns used RVs into stunning tiny homes on wheels

Sophie-Claire HoellerSep 4, 2020, 23:33 IST

RV Fixer Upper transformed a used RV into a light and airy space.RV Fixer Upper

Trina Sholin is a self-taught interior designer, and her husband Steve has a background in construction.
Using those talents, the couple has flipped over a dozen houses together.
They started doing the same sort of renovations on motor homes eight years ago as a hobby.
In 2019, they made it their full-time job and founded RV Fixer Upper, buying used RVs and turning them into stylish tiny homes to sell them for a profit.

RVs are hotter than ever right now, with companies seeing huge spikes in sales and rentals.

While some of us are only just discovering the joys of traveling with our own bathroom and kitchen, Trina Sholin has been doing it for years.

Her only problem: RVs are ugly.

"The dark dated, drab interior — after many months, it was more than I could handle," she told Insider.

So the interior designer decided to make a few tweaks to her RV to make it homier and more aesthetically pleasing.

"I couldn't believe the difference it made and how much more it felt like a home after I completed the renovation," she says on the website for RV Fixer Upper, the company Trina runs with her husband Steve, who has a background in construction.

Trina, who has flipped around 15 houses alongside Steve, decided to do the same with houses on wheels, and started buying them, renovating them, and selling them for a profit.

While this was a side hustle for almost eight years, around a year ago, she and her husband turned their hobby into a full-time job by creating RV Fixer Upper.

Trina Sholin and her husband Steve are originally from Alaska, where he works in road construction and has always needed to be mobile.

The blue cupboards add a nice pop of color. RV Fixer Upper

Their first full renovation was on a Keystone Montana fifth-wheel trailer around eight years ago, which she said they completely gutted.

The light colors make this area look much larger. RV Fixer Upper

Although they started out renovating RVs for themselves, Trina said it soon became a side hobby, and then a business in 2019.

A faux fireplace adds a cozy touch. RV Fixer Upper

To date, Trina estimates that she and Steve have renovated and sold 20 RVs.

Sliding doors are ideal for small spaces. RV Fixer Upper

On average, the Sholins spend about six weeks on each renovation.

The bright and colorful space makes the RV look more like a home. RV Fixer Upper

Trina says they prefer older RVs, because, in her experience, they're built better.

This small kitchen maximizes space. RV Fixer Upper

She says that costs vary quite a bit, as they depend on the RV, its year, and mileage.

Trina loves putting full, tiled showers into her RVs. RV Fixer Upper

In terms of furniture, Ikea is her go-to.

Plants make any space feel homey. RV Fixer Upper

Trina's top tip when it comes to renovating RVs is to use vertical space.

Ikea furniture works well in the small space. RV Fixer Upper

Trina, who has flipped over a dozen homes, says renovating an RV is similar to fixing up an old house. Fun, but filled with challenges.

White walls and counters brighten a previously drab and dated kitchen. RV Fixer Upper

She says the coronavirus pandemic has changed the game a little recently — for good and bad.

A chandelier adds a touch of boho luxury. RV Fixer Upper

However, even pre-pandemic, Trina said she had seen interest in the RV lifestyle growing.

Light colors make the space feel bigger. RV Fixer Upper

According to Trina, the average RV's design has been a turnoff for many in the past, but knowing they can be turned into stylish vehicles has changed everything.

Chandeliers can be secured with a hidden cord to make them travel-friendly. RV Fixer Upper

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