Inside CzechAUsOut: Crafting Cosy Spaces

Join us through the lens of AJ and Lily as they unravel the breathtaking landscapes, culture, and style.

In 2020, AJ and Lily began a transformative journey by acquiring and renovating a Toyota Coaster motorhome. After 18 months of dedication, their custom mobile home was complete, marking the start of their nomadic lifestyle in Australia.

Having styled their motorhome, AJ and Lily have settled into a new rhythm. Building from their experiences and inspired by the Australian landscapes, they have crafted a home that reflects their journey. Embracing remote opportunities, they simplified their belongings and embraced the freedom of the open road. Fuelled by a passion for travel, photography, and sustainability, they now traverse Australia, aiming to inspire others to pursue their dreams.

AJ and Lily have infused their unique urban style into their Australian home, capturing the country’s stunning landscapes, rich culture, and unforgettable experiences. Their distinct yet simple approach to styling their home and sharing lifestyle tips has been inspiring. We are thrilled to have our rugs featured in their beautifully curated space.

Dive deeper into AJ and Lily’s inspiring journey as they share insights into their nomadic lifestyle, photography adventures, and sustainable living practices. Join us for an exclusive Q&A session where they discuss their influence, family life on the road, and the unique charm of their custom motorhome.

Q/A Session with
Lilien and AJ

Discover the secrets behind her impeccable style and how she incorporates modern rugs into her urban-inspired interiors.

How did you decide on the layout and design of your mobile home?

The layout of our mobile home was something we worked on for a long time and something that changed before and during the build as things we had planned on paper didn’t always work out once we got to the actual build. However, for the most part, the overall layout and flow of the space was decided early on.

When it comes to small spaces, maximising every inch is crucial, so we really wanted to make sure we got the most functionality out of each zone. At the same time, we wanted to ensure it was a very aesthetic space that had a warm homey feel. We had seen a lot of motorhomes that are very grey, plastic and very much function over form, but we wanted to balance both function and form together with our build.

We had certain things that were non-negotiable, such as a toilet space, a large fridge, a large pantry, a decent sized kitchen, a dining/office table zone and plenty of storage. So, these aspects took priority over other things. For example, we decided early on that we were more than happy to have just an outdoor shower setup, rather than an indoor one, freeing up more space for what we determined was more important for our lifestyle.

What is your favourite style and colour to work with?

Neutral and earthy tones with natural textures that add depth and interest to spaces. We love creating calm, warm settings and feeling our motorhome hitting the mark. We used lots of timber tones, mostly birch ply and warm whites with soft brown and copper accents.

What were the main challenges you faced during the 18-month renovation of your motorhome, and how did you overcome them?

There were plenty of challenges throughout the build. Everything from financial, time, emotional and practical challenges popped up all the time. As this was both of our first builds, we hadn’t done anything like this before, and whilst AJ is very handy and has a lot of experience with tools and woodwork, it was a whole different ballgame when dealing with a space that is so small and nothing is square.

We overcame most challenges with a mixture of patience, clever problem-solving, some trial and error and a lot of research and YouTube videos. We were also able to lean on a community of people that had been through this before for advice along the way.

How do you use visual aesthetics in your photography to reflect your Australian nomadic lifestyle?

I took up photography when we first hit the road, so it was a bit of a learning curve to find my style and to execute it properly. I learnt a lot about framing, depth of field, layout, and balancing images in terms of colour, subject and tonal variation.

After a while, I found my unique style through more muted colours and darker tones.

How do you style rugs and décor in your motorhome to create a cosy atmosphere?

With limited space and surfaces for décor, I focused on a few key things to bring in a homey atmosphere. Artwork always helps with this, so does adding a few plants around the place and finally, the addition of a runner rug really helped.

One other trick is to use functional everyday items and turn them into a décor element, such as our jars above the kitchen holding our dry goods, or how we made our hats a feature of the cabin by having them mounted on the ceiling. Small details like that can make a big difference.

Since transitioning to a new lifestyle and moving into your new house, what adjustments have you made to the styling of your living space?

I continued the general colour palette and tones from the bus through to our home with warm whites and natural textures still underscoring the style. However, with the added space and separated living zones in the house, I was able to bring in some more character and try new things in different spaces.

On the bus, it really is a one-zone space that has multiple functions, whereas in the house, you have separate zones for separate uses, so I was able to focus on the styling in each room for that purpose. For example, in the living/ TV room I went for a more cosy, soft and warm vibe, whereas in the office space I kept it a bit brighter and lighter.

What influenced your decision to update the styling of your living space after moving in?

Since we were moving from our motorhome with no furniture, we were starting from scratch, so I saw it as an opportunity to create something brand new and try out some new styles. I also had my eye on a few pieces before we moved that I knew I wanted to include and that helped direct the rest of the styling for the house.

Since transitioning to your new home, what elements from your motorhome have you brought with you?

We continued the elements of neutral colours and natural tones as we are both people that thrive in calm environments and don’t like too much contrasting colours, textures or patterns. We lean towards a simpler and more elegant outcome over a playful and eclectic look.

Can you describe the specific interior design adjustments you made to better suit your preferences?

We brought in lots of rugs to soften the tiled floors and to help zone each space. In our opinion, rugs are crucial in bringing a space together. We used them to add warmth as well as reduce the harshness of the tiled floors.

We also added floor to ceiling sheer curtains along a lot of the walls again to soften the space, make it feel warmer and to also provide a more elegant aesthetic.

Finally, we also added a lot of greenery and plants to our spaces as we love natural tones and textures.

As we wrap up our delightful Q&A sessions with AJ and Lily about how they’ve styled their beautiful home, their approach reveals a deep-seated passion for marrying practicality with aesthetics. From creating snug living spaces to inventing clever storage solutions, they demonstrate an artful balance in crafting a comfortable and stylish home on wheels. Their journey not only celebrates the beauty of design but also resonates with the spirit of adventure and ingenuity, making their nomadic lifestyle a true inspiration for fellow travellers and home enthusiasts alike.