Chickery's Travels

Chickery's Travels logo. A blue-green Earth globe with continents surrounded by dots with an arrow denoting movement or travel and "Chickery's Travels" as part of the dotted circle. Next to this is a photo of their blue and white Arctic Fox 5th Wheel with the awning out.

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Update the RV Kitchen – Backsplashes & More

If you’re planning to remodel your RV, I’m sure the kitchen is on the list. For most of us traveling in RVs and campers, the kitchen is basically in the same space as the living room so it is important for it to look nice. In this article, I’ll share the changes we made to the kitchen in our Fifth Wheel, as well as ideas from others.

Easy RV Kitchen Remodel Ideas

Backsplash

For most tiny RV kitchens, the backsplash becomes the focal point and ours was no exception. I had been considering what to do with mine for some time. One idea that was done really well by RV owner Barbara Rodriguez is using Smart Tiles.

For most tiny RV kitchens, the backsplash becomes the focal point

My Backsplash

I was trying to decide which color to get when I saw my friend, Lisa Brown’s backsplash and fell in love! Click here to see it as well as a step-by-step guide on how she created it. I followed her lead and painted thermoplastic panels from Home Depot. Watch this video to see how it looks in the kitchen.

Countertops

I just love the cozy farmhouse style of Mountain Modern Life’s RV kitchen!

Check out this cozy farmhouse kitchen remodel by Mountain Modern Life! Read about several options to upgrade your RV kitchen during your RV renovation.

One of the things they did to achieve this look was to build custom countertops out of flooring. They completed this upgrade in 2016, so I recently asked Katie how the countertops held up over time. She replied, “We are still really happy with our kitchen counters! My only recommendation would be to go with a higher grade of flooring. We went with the cheapest and while it’s held up okay, it would have been easier when putting it together and I feel like the higher grade was smoother. Also, we do need to re-oil the counters every 6 months since we sealed them with Tung Oil. Of course, it can be sealed with something other than tung oil–it’s just important not to let water or condensation sit on the wood counters.” Watch the video below to learn more about this project.

And check out these faux marble countertops from Gypsy and A Pirate!

Update your RV's laminate countertops to look like marble without the weight! See this tutorial for DIY faux marble countertops.

Paint

I painted over the wallpaper in my RV kitchen and painted the backsplash (as you can see in the video). Many folks also choose to paint their cabinets. If you decide to go that route, click here to read 9 Tips for Painting RV Walls and Cabinets from RV Inspiration. You can also get a free Quick Start Guide to Painting Your RV Interior using the same link.

Organization

We all know that one of the best ways to make your RV look good is to keep it organized. I was fortunate that my RV came with a built-in spice rack. To make it look a little more polished, I just purchased matching spice jars and put all my spices into them for a more uniform look.

If you don’t have a built-in spice rack, consider following this tutorial to make your own magnetic spice wall from RV Inspiration.  Here’s a photo of the finished product.

We all know that one of the easiest ways to make your RV look good is to keep it organized. If you don't have a built in spice rack, consider following this tutorial to make your own magnetic spice wall from RV Inspiration.

Need Help? No Problem!

Create Space From Thin Air: Tips and Tricks for Organizing Your Camper, RV, or Trailer. Filled with color photographs of numerous RV organization ideas.

I’ll be the first to admit that decorating is not my strong suit. That’s where friends and Pinterest come in handy.

I’m really fortunate that I was able to spend time at the same campground as my friend, Lisa Brown of Always on Liberty. She recently completed the most amazing Interior Makeover of her RV and agreed to be my design consultant.

Another great place to find inspiration for your RV remodeling efforts is Pinterest. I created an RV decor board to help me keep track of things I like. There are many great tutorials that provide step-by-step ins instructions on Pinterest as well.

Finally, another terrific resource is a website called RV Inspiration. It is full of ideas and projects to help organize, decorate, and renovate your RV (motorhome, Fifth Wheel, travel trailer).

Have You Seen The Rest Of Our Remodel?

Click the links below to watch our progress.

Planning An RV Remodel

Painting Your RV Interior

Updating Your RV Window Treatments

RV Organization & Storage Ideas

See these DIY RV Kitchen remodel ideas. Options for an RV makeover include backsplashes, painting cabinets, and much more for motorhomes, fifth wheels, travel trailers, and campers.


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Painting Your RV Interior

In an effort to brighten up our RV and banish the brown, we’ve decided to give it an interior makeover. Painting, will obviously be a big part of our design plans. We’ve turned to a few friends for some guidance and have come up with these top 5 tips for painting your RV interior.

Top Tips For Paining Your RV Interior

Pick Your Palette

Choosing the color palette for your RV interior remodel can be tough. So many renovations shown on Pinterest are in white, but what if that’s not you thing? How do you choose colors you’ll love? How do you know if the colors you do love will work well together? Here are some design tips from Lisa Brown of Always on Liberty for choosing a color palette for your RV.

  • Find a source of inspiration. Look to a colorful pattern in your room. It could be curtains, a rug, or even a colorful bowl. Take the colors you really love from that item to use throughout your room.
  • Want bright, but not white? Consider a lighter shade of a color you love.
  • Don’t fear the bold colors! Everything doesn’t have to be painted the same color. Select colors that add depth and texture to a room.

In the photo below, you can see my curtains. I’ve selected the light gray in them for the walls, and the teal for the trim.

In an effort to brighten up our RV and banish the brown, we’ve decided to give it an interior makeover. Painting, will obviously be a big part of our design plans. Read these 5 tips for RV interior painting.

Sheen Is Important

The finish of your paint, or sheen, will have a major impact on your walls. Gloss, satin, egg shell – with these options comes many considerations. High-traffic areas do well with gloss or satin as they hold up better to touching and can be cleaned more easily. But, they can make wall imperfections (wavy drywall, patched areas) much more pronounced. A more matte-like finish, such as flat, will not clean as well or endure touches as well, but you won’t see imperfections as much. We went with an eggshell finish. 

Try Samples First

No need to guess how good (or bad) a color will look on your wall. Grab a handful of the color card swatches and post them up around your RV. Take it a step further and purchase sample pints of your favorites and try them out. For a fraction of the cost of a gallon of paint, you can judge how a color will look in your space. It’s better to spend just a few dollars on a sample than big bucks on gallons only to find out the color won’t work.

Take Time to Prepare

Preparing for the actual painting of the RV interior can be time consuming. You’ll need to tape off areas for sharp lines, move furniture, repair and patch any imperfections, protect the floors, and remove things like switch plates. If you’re anything like me, you’ll spend 1/2 of your time doing these tasks. I promise you though, it will save you in the end.

Check out these tips for painting RV cabinets from Janae at Adventures with Tucknae. 

Don’t Forget the Primer

It is very important to prime your walls, particularly if you are drastically changing the wall color or painting over wallpaper. Gripper primer works really well for the latter. Primer will not only cover up colors and stains, it add a layer to allow the top coat of paint to better adhere, giving you a much better result. We chose the Glidden Gripper Primer because Lisa used it with great success. 

Mistakes to Avoid

Click here for a great read about 12 Common Painting Mistakes Made by RV Owners (and How to Avoid Them).

Other Uses For Paint

Don’t forget that there are other uses for paint in your RV décor. Breathe new life into your furniture and cabinets with paint. Paint jars and cannisters in coordinating colors.  They can be both decoration and useful if you use them to help organize your small space. I’m painting the wood trim on my valances in a bright color. 

A key component of RV remodeling is painting the interior. These 5 tips will help you prepare for your RV interior painting.

Read Our Other RV Renovation Articles

Planning an RV Remodel 

Updating Your RV Window Treatments

RV Organization and Storage Ideas

Ready for an RV makeover? These 5 tips will help you prepare to paint your RV interior (motorhome, 5th wheel, travel trailer, or camper) for a true glamping experience. #rvmakeover A key component of RV remodeling is painting the interior. These 5 tips will help you prepare for your RV interior painting.

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Visiting Atlanta? Don’t Miss These Civil Rights Museums

If you are visiting Atlanta, where Martin Luther King, Jr. was born, raised, and buried, take the time to visit these two Civil Rights Museums. If you think these lessons aren’t important anymore, just watch the news. It’s been 50 years since the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., but we still see hatred and bigotry in the world around us.

“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.” –Martin Luther King Jr.

This is my second trip to Atlanta and these museums. It really is impossible to absorb all the lessons in one visit. I only have photos from outside because while I was inside viewing the exhibits, I tried to be fully present. I also don’t feel like any of my photos could do the incredibly moving displays justice. I’m afraid my words won’t either, but I’m going to try.

Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Park

Here at this 35-acre historic site you can visit Martin Luther King Jr’s birth home, the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he delivered his first sermon, as well as the King Center where he and Mrs. Coretta Scott King are entombed. While spending time here, my heart hurt at the injustices I was reminded of, but I was also in awe of Dr. King and the men and women who stood up to the hatred and oppression.

Visitor Center

Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Park Here at this 35-acre historic site you can visit Martin Luther King Jr’s birth home, the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he delivered his first sermon, as well as the King Center where he and Coretta are entombed.

Arrive here early to be sure you can get a ticket the the Birth Home Tour. They are conducted on the hour from 10am to 4pm and only 15 visitors can go per tour.

Then take your time to explore his facility which houses several exhibits and shows three different 30-minute films throughout the day.

One of the exhibits, named “Children of Courage,” is geared towards younger visitors. It tells the story about the children of the Civil Rights Movement with a challenge to our youth today.

The D.R.E.A.M Gallery hosts special exhibits that change periodically. This year, the 50th Anniversary of his death, the exhibit is “The Road From Memphis to Atlanta,” which chronicles the days from Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination in Memphis to his funeral in Atlanta. The most significant artifact is the timeworn funeral wagon that mules Belle and Ada pulled on April 9, 1968, from Ebenezer Baptist to Morehouse College, King’s alma mater, for his final funeral service.

The featured exhibit entitled “Courage To Lead” uses multimedia presentations to highlight the works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and chronicle the Civil Rights Movement.

Birth Home

Visit the Martin Luther King Jr Birth Home in Atlanta. The cozy, yellow, two-story clapboard house with dark brown trim was purchased by King’s grandfather in 1909 for $3,500. It has been restored to the period when a young Martin lived here and much of the furnishings are original. Upstairs, in his parents’ bedroom, the mantel clock is permanently set to noon, the exact time Martin was born there.The cozy, yellow, two-story clapboard house with dark brown trim was purchased by King’s grandfather in 1909 for $3,500. It has been restored to the period when a young Martin lived here and much of the furnishings are original. Upstairs, in his parents’ bedroom, the mantel clock is permanently set to noon, the exact time Martin was born there.

Ebenezer Baptist Church

Just down the block from Dr. King’s birth home is the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he was baptized. The sanctuary has been restored to reflect the 1960’s when he followed his father and maternal grandfather, the Rev. Martin Luther “Daddy” King Sr. and the Rev. A.D. Williams, to its pulpit. You can sit down in a pew during your visit in this the historic church and listen to a recorded sermon.

King Center

Across the street is the King Center, the institution founded by King’s widow Coretta Scott King to carry on his work.  On the second floor of Freedom Hall is utilized an exhibit space honoring Dr. and Mrs. King, Mahatma Gandhi and Rosa Parks. Outside you’ll be able to pay your respects at the tombs of King and his wife amid its Reflecting Pool. Sit a moment at the Eternal Flame, which symbolizes the continuing effort to realize Dr. King’s dream of the “Beloved Community,” his vision for a world of justice, peace and equality for all mankind.

Fire Station No. 6

In an exhibit inside the 1894 Fire Station No. 6, another of the historic site’s restored gems, visitors can find information on how the “Sweet Auburn” neighborhood prospered in the harsh wake of the Atlanta’s 1906 race riots that strengthened the grip of Jim Crow restrictions and segregation. By 1930, not long after King’s birth, the district boasted 121 black-owned businesses. However, all firefighters were white because African Americans were not allowed to serve in this role in Atlanta until 1962.

On my next visit to Atlanta, I plan to make a stop at the the APEX Museum, where exhibits tell Sweet Auburn’s story, dating from the mid-1800s.

Sweet Auburn Curb Market

Visit the Sweet Auburn Curb Market where you’ll find a combination of history and amazing food. Originally an open-air market held under a large tent starting in 1917, it was renamed the “curb” market in the 1990s to reflect the fact that African Americans were at first only allowed to sell outside along the curb during segregation. Inside you’ll find independently-owned businesses including restaurants, butchers, bakeries, and produce stands.

A few blocks away is the Sweet Auburn Curb Market where you’ll find a combination of history and amazing food. The name reflects the history of racial segregation when whites owned shops inside the market, and blacks were only permitted to sell from stalls lining the curb. Inside you’ll find independently-owned businesses including restaurants, butchers, bakeries, and produce stands. My personal favorite is Miss D’s Pralines, which are packed with Georgia pecans and are mixed and poured by hand.

National Center for Civil and Human Rights

The National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta is a museum not only focuses on the challenges and progress of the civil rights movement in the United States, but also includes the broader worldwide human rights movement.

This museum not only focuses on the challenges and progress of the civil rights movement in the United States, but also includes the broader worldwide human rights movement.

Fairly new (it opened in 2014), the exhibits make use of technology to educate and evoke an emotional response. One of the most powerful is the lunch counter. Reminiscent of the lunch counter protests of the Civil Rights movement, visitors sit at the counter, put on headphones, and listen with eyes closed to voices shouting in their ears. I thought I was prepared, but as the countertop shook I could almost feel the angry mob breathing down my back. I cried just at the mere thought of the hatred endured. It only took a minute and a half to shake me to the core and give me a glimmer of understanding for the bravery these protestors possessed to stand their ground in the face of hate and violence.

This museum also includes exhibits on worldwide human rights. It highlights the defenders of human rights, and showcase the world’s worst human rights offenders. The Spark of Conviction exhibit chronicles the fight for human rights around the world. It contains an interactive piece where visitors can choose a particular trait they have (like their gender or skin color) and see how they would be persecuted for that trait around the world. The exhibits also give you food for thought by talking about the human rights impacts of our consumer choices around goods like soccer balls, chocolate, and coffee.

Share Your Story

Have you been to one of these museums? Or another civil rights museum not on this list? Tell us about your experience in the comments. Click here to read about my visit to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee.

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