Mobile Home Living

Category: Double Wides

Beautiful remodeling and decorating ideas for double wides, regardless of age or builder.

Double wide manufactured homes are great homes for families of all sizes. We’ve featured dozens of beautiful double wide mobile homes that have been beautifully remodeled and decorated over the last 15 years.

Hunter’s 2007 Fleetwood Manufactured Home Makeover
Hunter knows small living. She also knows how to transform a home. Her 2007 Fleetwood manufactured home makeover is amazing!

Hunter lived in an awesome Airstream for 15 years before buying a double wide with 1200 square feet. She bought this 2007 Fleetwood, sitting on an acre of land in central Florida, so her dog could have a yard. Talk about a lucky dog!

Affordable Real Wood Flooring

Hunter installed real wood flooring throughout her entire home using an unconventional method that is brilliant. She bought 4′ x 8′ sheets of plywood, had them cut into 8″ strips, and attached them with antique cut nails. After it was all installed she stained the wood.

Using plywood as floor covering is a great way to get real wood flooring in your home at a significant savings. A 1/2″ thick pre-sanded sheet of plywood (15/32 CAT PS1-09 Pine Sanded Plywood at Lowe’s) costs $24.95. For less than $25 you can cover 32 square feet of floor (around $1.31 per square foot). After staining you still get 1/2″ of real wood flooring for less than $1.50 per square foot. The cheapest real wood flooring at Lowe’s is 3.78″ wide spice bamboo that runs $1.99 per square foot. Wider planks start at $2.99 per square foot.

Below is one of the luckiest dogs in the world along with the 8″ plywood strips Hunter used throughout the 2007 Fleetwood manufactured home:

After the plywood has been installed:

Related: How to Replace Flooring in a Mobile Home

2007 Fleetwood Manufactured Home Makeover

Complete Kitchen Remodel

Hunter did a lot of work in her new kitchen during the 2007 Fleetwood manufactured home makeover. She explains the details on her web page:

I tore out the sink, counters, and all the lower cabinets, and the upper cabinet over the dishwasher. Bought a new farmhouse sink, commercial style faucet, counters, dishwasher and slide in stove. Then I replaced the border with marble subway tiles. I also bought three new lower cabinets, the ones at Lowes are almost an identical match. I added the little feet for a custom look.

The kitchen and dining area before Hunter’s 2007 Fleetwood manufactured home makeover:

The beautiful new kitchen and dining room after the makeover:

Hunter’s rustic farmhouse style is perfect!

Related: 6 Great Mobile Home Kitchen Makeovers

Glamorous Master Bedroom

The master bedroom got an amazing transformation! It’s a true ‘blah to beautiful’ makeover. Hunter used light grays, whites, chrome, and mirrors to give the room a whole new glam look.

Here’s the bedroom before:

The gorgeous glamorous bedroom after:

Related: 33 Glamorous Bedroom Design Ideas (DigsDigs.com)

Modern Master Bathroom

Hunter completely remodeled the master bathroom as well. She replaced the bathtub with a shower unit, replaced the cabinet and sink, added wainscoting, and tiled the floor.

Here’s the master bathroom before the remodel:

The master bathroom after Hunter’s 2007 Fleetwood manufactured home makeover:

She saved money on the marble trim around the counter top by using several marble window sills butted up to each other.

Great Guest Bedroom and Bathroom

Since the guest bath was smaller Hunter was able to splurge on the tiled floor and cabinetry. The guest bedroom and bathroom before the makeover:

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Below is the beautiful new guest bedroom and bathroom. The guest bedroom was modernized by removing the wall border. The plywood flooring looks great in the bedroom!

Related: Where to Splurge, Where to Save in Your Remodel

Amazing Living Room

Last, but certainly not least, is the amazing living room makeover. It speaks for itself!

Before the amazing 2007 Fleetwood manufactured home makeover:

And after:

The shiplap walls and the built-in TV (hidden behind the large horse painting) are both great projects for any home.

Shiplap walls are the latest in home design as it adds a natural rustic texture to a space, instantly giving the space warmth.

Built-in Television DIY Project

Hunter’s shiplap wall treatment works as a built-in hideaway for her TV in the living room. It’s an ingenious way to make a single DIY home improvement project work double time!

Below is the process Hunter used to create her custom built-in shiplap wall (photos below):
1. Frame the wall with 2×4’s (using the proper measurements so the TV sits flush with the planks).
2. Install the TV. Make sure there is a path for the wires and cables along the framing.
3. Cover the wall using 6″ planks cut from plywood. Stagger the planks.
4. Paint the ship-lapped wall.
5. Attach a track bar system to hold a painting or doors that can roll over the TV to hide it.
Step 1 – Frame the Wall

The first step was to frame out the wall using the proper measurements to surround her flat-screen TV. This gives the wall enough strength to hold the weight of the 6″ plywood planks and frames the TV perfectly.

Step 2 – Attach Plywood Planks

Next, plywood was cut into 6″ strips and used to cover the wall:

Step 3 – Paint the Wall

Then the wall was painted to match the rest of the living room and the ceiling:

Step 4 – Install Tracking Hardware

Finally, a tracking system was installed so a large painting could be rolled over the TV when not in use. Perfect!

Related: See another great manufactured home remodel using shiplap here.

Hunter’s Awesome Airstream

Hunter has impeccable taste. Her Airstream is just as awesome as her home:

You can see more of Hunter’s beautiful home here and you can read all about her Airstream here.

It’s so inspiring to see another great home that proves affordable living can be stylish living. Thanks for sharing your beautiful home with us, Hunter!

Thank you for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!
August 10, 2016
This Complete Double Wide Remodel is Gorgeous!
This complete double wide remodel is amazing!

Jim and Deborah Welch paid $37,000 for their standard 1991 model double wide. but it didn’t stay that way for long. After 25 years of updates and upgrades they now have a home that will leave you speechless.

This home is a perfect example of what can be achieved with a basic manufactured home and a vision!

Here’s the home being installed in 1991:

The Complete Double Wide Remodel

Just a few of the many great updates and upgrades are real wood log siding, a huge covered front porch, and custom interior wood work throughout the home.

Whole Home Updates and Upgrades

The Welch’s have not used any mobile home specific supplies or materials during their complete double wide remodel. Retro-fitting a manufactured home with products meant for a site-built home is often a lot cheaper than buying mobile home specific products.

“Forget the words mobile home”

– Deborah Welch

Every update was made using products available at Lowe’s, lumber supply chains, and other home improvement and thrift stores.

New Windows and Doors

Deborah tells us that a visit to the local lumber yard’s ‘Going Out of Business’ sale netted her a great deal on windows. She states, “I just stopped in to see what they had and I bought every display window they had! Name brand windows! Yep, Jim made them fit! Double wood pane windows for $25 each! They tilt in to clean, had the screens, E rated, interior & exterior trim & all.” Best bargain ever!

They also replaced the interior doors with solid wood doors from Home Depot at a cost of $129 each.

Drywall, Insulation, etc.

Deborah and Jim replaced all the VOG wall panels throughout the home with 1/2 inch drywall. During the process they added new insulation in both the interior and exterior walls, attached new electrical outlets into the studs, ran wiring for cable television, and reinforced the wall in the living room to mount a TV.

The drywall was painted with Benjamin Moore paint.

Flooring

The couple found a beautiful tong and groove gun-stock oak hardwood flooring in 3/4″ with a cost of approximately $3,000 – $4,000. They did save money by using tar roofing paper under the flooring to prevent squeaking.

The end-goal was to transform their manufactured home into a legitimate log cabin and using real wood flooring gave the home a true log cabin look.

Dining Room

The stained glass window in the dining room came from the parlor of the Welch’s 100 year old Michigan farm house that they previously lived in and remodeled.

The baton board walls in the dining room is one of Deborah’s favorite projects.

She got the idea from looking through a Pottery Barn catalog. It was a quick and affordable update with materials costing around $200 at Lowe’s.

Living Room

Since the Welch’s double wide sits atop a high bluff overlooking a gorgeous Arkansas valley they installed two large windows in the living room to take advantage of the view.

The two 5′ by 5′ tinted windows were salvaged from an old hospital. The only materials needed to install them was good silicon, trim, stain, and lumber.

Bedrooms

Deborah installed french doors in two of the bedrooms leading out to the large porch. The French doors were purchased at Lowe’s for about $500 each. The trim was bought from River Valley Door & Trim in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Build-in bunk beds for the grand kids:

Master Bathroom

The master bathroom is Deborah’s favorite room for a reason, the 8′ × 5′ tile shower and separate soaker tub are amazing!

Deborah goes on to admit that the master bathroom was also their biggest challenge during their complete double wide remodel. Read our mobile home bathroom guide here.

Water damage is such a big worry for anyone who owns a mobile or manufactured home. Deborah didn’t want a typical fiberglass shower surround like the original in the home when they bought it. She wanted modern and stylish tile! But finding a fool-proof way of waterproofing the shower unit without adding too much weight to the floor was a challenge.

Fortunately, Deborah stumbled upon the perfect solution called The Schluther Shower System at the tile store. The entire system cost about $600 and it allowed them to use travertine and granite tile in the shower without worry. The peace of mind alone is worth the price.

The shower has been in there about 6 years now and there hasn’t been one water issue so far. Jim goes under the house and checks often!

Learn more about mobile and manufactured home plumbing repairs here.

With a total remodeling price of $8,000, the master bathroom is by far the most expensive project the Welch’s have done.

They went with high-end luxury finishes and top-of-the-line products, no expensive was spared! Plumbing supplies are not cheap. Valves, shower kits, tubs with jets, granite, faucets, hand held shower heads, travertine tile, accent tiles, etc. all become expensive eventually.

Still, Deborah says it has been worth every dollar they spent!

Product and Supplier list for the Welch’s master bathroom remodel:
- Alison Tile – Travertine Tile & Tile materials
- Majestic – Granite & Granite installation
- Home Depot – sinks, tub, faucets, mirrors, towel racks, etc.
- Lowe’s – toilet, shower head and hand-held shower, all plumbing valves, and the Schluther Shower System (a must for mobile homes per Deborah)
The master bathroom before the remodel:

Log Wood Siding

The Welch’s double wide is just as amazing as the view!

The couple wrapped their double wide with real wood log siding at a cost of $2,200. This price included the foam board insulation used underneath the wood. it was all purchased at Ron’s Discount Lumber in Heavner, Ok.

Deborah’s Interview

Any tips or tricks you learned during the project?

My tip is just go at it as a normal home remodel project!

Forget the words “mobile home” unless you’re installing a wood stove (make sure it’s mobile home approved), other then that just GO FOR IT!! Everything else can be braced & tweaked!

Related: Learn how to install a wood stove in a mobile home here.

The advice you’d give someone considering a manufactured home:

Manufactured home’s are built to code just like every other home! The headers are there just like your ground built homes! In fact, my husband said it’s harder to tear out a wall in a manufactured home than a ground constructed home.

In fact, my husband said it’s harder to tear out a wall in a manufactured home than a ground constructed home.

When we bought this manufactured home they said the only thing not to code for our home to be in a subdivision is the pitch on the roof but I notice the newer mobile home’s have a roof pitch that meets building codes now. We paid $37k for our house and it’s been paid off for 10 years. I don’t want a house payment!

Proudest DIY moment:

The porch. At 62′ foot long by 10′ wide at the narrow sides and 16′ wide in the center section, this was one massive project. Jim had to make the steel brackets to hold the 6″x 6″ treated beams for the porch’s roof.

Related: 45 Great Manufactured Home Porch Ideas

They used all treated lumber on porch project. All the hardware, lumber, and footings cost around $8,000 at Lowe’s.

Any Future Plans or Projects?

I’m excited to install rock around our fireplace and we’re going to put a roof on later with a few dormers. But that will be after we put on a kitchen & family room addition one day.

Related: Mobile Home Additions Guide

What an amazing complete double wide remodel!

A lot of us in the process of remodeling our own mobile homes tend to get disappointed after realizing the slow(ish) process of a complete home remodel. Luckily, seeing the Welch’s complete double wide remodel and others like it puts it all into perspective; they’ve been working on their home nonstop for 25 years. We can have the same thing but it takes time!

The Welch’s prove it is absolutely possible to live debt-free in style!

Thank you so much, Jim and Deborah, for sharing your beautiful home! It’s wonderful inspiration!

Thank you for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!
July 26, 2016
The Diva Farmer’s Mobile Home Makeover

The Diva Farmer’s mobile home makeover is amazing!

Whether it’s a yard sale find or a complete mobile home, Tina Nichols creates pretty things. Her mobile home makeover is a great example of the potential that older mobile and manufactured homes have when a talented owner gets ahold of it.

Get ready for an amazing mobile home makeover!

Mobile Home Makeover – Finding a Diamond in the Rough

After a 6 year career in the military, Tina was ready to own a home. She wanted her new home to have three things: be a smaller cottage-style home with a fireplace, large kitchen, and outdoor space large enough for a garden and some fruit trees. Unfortunately, in today’s real estate market ‘reasonably priced’ means one of two things: rundown and needing major renovations or a compact cookie cutter town house. Neither appealed to Tina.

Tina had just about given up on her search for a home when she finally stumbled upon a gated mobile home community with a 1979 Fleetwood double wide that had everything on her short list and then some.

The home has a comfortable 1,744 square feet of living space, a fireplace (which had been converted to a pellet stove), a nicely sized kitchen (with a built-in Bosch oven and microwave), and plenty of yard for a small garden and a couple of fruit trees.

Tina bought the property with cash and began her mobile home makeover and her blog, The Diva Farmer. She has big plans for both and if the blog ends up like the home, we are all in for a treat!

Her 1979 Fleetwood double wide was well-kept and mostly original:

The home still had the late seventies paneling, an era known for autumn colors: groovy greens, burnt umbers, and basic browns. Darker muted colors in flowering patterns are reminiscent of the seventies as you can see:

Mobile Home Makeover: Transitioning into the 21st Century

Tina managed a mobile home makeover that transitioned the late seventies model mobile home into a modern cottage masterpiece.

The end result is gorgeous:

Mobile Home Makeover 101 – Demo Day

Remodeling her own home was a labor of love!

Tina managed the entire mobile home makeover by herself, only using a contractor to help demo and hang the cabinets.

Demolition day is usually the most physically intensive part of a mobile home makeover. It’s always smart to have extra man-power.

Mobile home kitchen remodels can pose a few complications. Water lines, gas or propane lines, and heavy cabinetry are all issues that owners have to deal with during demolition. In this case, Tina had to remove the entire ceiling in addition to the cabinetry, flooring, and paneling.

Mobile Home Makeover 102: Rebuilding

After the demolition was finished the rebuilding began. Tina installed sheet rock over the ceiling and walls to give the kitchen a clean canvas to build upon. The floor was also prepared for new covering.

Cannister lights were strategically placed to provide good task lighting for Tina’s favorite hobbies: baking and cooking.
The sheet rock was finished too.

The ceiling was painted a bright white to allow light to bounce around. The walls were painted a light blue and the flooring was laid.

Once the paint was dry the new cabinets and lighting was hung.

Tina extended the cabinetry into the dining area.

Finally, the cabinetry was painted, the countertop was installed, and tile back splash was started. This is a gorgeous mobile home makeover! See more about Tina’s great mobile home makeover here.

A great baking center:

Laundry Room Makeover

Before Laundry Room Mobile Home Makeover

In addition to the kitchen, Tina updated her laundry room, too.

Here’s the original room:

After Laundry Room Mobile Home Makeover

The end result of Tina’s laundry room is awesome!

The white surfaces in the laundry room creates a great cottage feel. See more of Tina’s laundry room makeover here.

Yard Sale Find: Updating a Kitchen Island

Tina added a contrasting color into the kitchen by placing a red butcher block island in the middle of the kitchen. It was a yard sale find! You can see all the steps of Tina’s yard sale find the update here.

After update:

Tips for Your Own Mobile Home Makeover

I asked Tina to share some of her best tips and advice for mobile home makeovers. She was quick to say that homeowners should not push themselves with an unreasonable time-frame. Mobile home makeovers take time!

Tina had been living in her kitchen remodeling chaos for one year. That in itself is mentally draining, but pushing herself physically day after day to work on the remodel left her exhausted. She has since learned to pick one small area, focus on that till it is done, and then move on.

Mobile home remodeling is not a race!

Homeowner Q and A

Give Me Something to Believe In….

It’s tough to explain to some people that you are going to buy an 30 year old mobile home and remodel it into a beautiful home. Some people simply doesn’t have the creativity to envision such a thing and Tina dealt with that.

Tina admits that her biggest challenge during the projects was getting people to believe in her vision, “I think everyone thought I was nuts to buy this place, but now they are amazed at the rooms I’ve completed.”

Tina went on to answer a few more questions:

Why did you chose to live in a mobile or manufactured home?

I grew up in one and have always had a soft spot for them. I cannot see spending the money on a site built house when I can turn a $24K home into my dream home and then be debt free.

Any advice you would give someone thinking about buying a mobile home?

Get past the outdated ugly; it can all be modernized. You want to focus on the layout, the flow from room to room and see if your dream house is hiding somewhere in that layout.

Next, make sure it is structurally sound and has minimal damage. Ugly can be fixed but real damage indicates you may have a major headache on your hands.

Have you been stereotyped or dealt with misinformation about your home? How did you deal with it?

I live in an area of the country where ‘trailers’ are for the poor. Co-workers were stunned that I bought a “trailer”, they still joke about it. True, there are a lot of trailer parks around here that are dumps, but I happen to live in a lovely gated community and I simply reply to the rude comments by asking them if they are debt free; because I am.

I then invite them over and watch their jaws drop when they see the transformed rooms!

Any other remarks, advice, information, tips you’d like to share?

My son always said I could turn the ugliest house into the most beautiful place to live and that is what I’m doing with The Cottage. You can live in luxury and still have money in the bank and be debt free; just follow your own path.

Thank you so much for sharing your gorgeous home with us, Tina! I cannot wait to see what you do with the rest of it!

And thank you so much for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!

May 9, 2016
9 Amazing Mobile Home Bedrooms

Spring is a great time to freshen up your mobile home bedrooms.

Heavier curtains can be replaced with light laces and sheers. Comforters and pillows can go from warm flannel to colorful cottons.

More drastic bedroom makeovers can include painting and laying new flooring. After a good spring cleaning is a great time to whip out the paint brush!

These 9 mobile home bedrooms will surely inspire you – from light and airy to rustic country, there’s a style for everyone.

Mobile Home Bedrooms You Will Love

Bright and Airy

Pam Britton shared her bedroom decor with us on our Facebook page. It was a huge hit!

She paid $1000 for the 1972 single wide mobile home in Florida and is redoing each room. I can’t wait to see the rest of her home!

Go to Mobile Home Living’s facebook page for more great ideas.

Magnificently Mod

Kim Thompson and husband sold their large site-built home and bought an older double wide in an effort to live more with less. Her home was featured here on Mobile Home Living as well as big sites like USA Today!

She did a great service to the mobile home movement by proving to millions that you can live in style in a factory-built home.

Kim’s Master Bedroom

Kim’s Guest Bedroom

See the rest of this awesome manufactured home remodel here.

Country Chic

Chantel’s 2000 model double wide is remarkable. The trendy country chic style is used throughout the home with amazing results.

Chantal’s Master Bedroom

Chantal’s Storybook Child’s Bedroom

Chantel’s daughter is a lucky little girl!

Muted colors and natural textures are perfectly combined to create a comfortable space perfect for classic imaginative play. This is right out of the land of nod!

You can see the rest of Chantel’s gorgeous home here.

Rustic Country Cabin

If rustic country is more your style we have you covered! Rebecca McCormack and husband completed a whole-home remodel of their 2000 model double wide in Oklahoma. It is amazing!

See the rest of this gorgeous rustic cabin styled manufactured home here.

Hip and Modern

This awesome single wide was originally featured on Apartment Therapy!

Rebecca Caridad Facteau and her husband Dustin live in Boulder, Colorado, in a 750 sq. foot single wide. They have managed to makeover every inch of the home in a modern, yet simplistic, decor.

They used natural shiplap to create an accent wall in the small bedroom. White was used to make the room feel bigger. It’s a great example of small bedroom decor.

See the rest of this modern single wide here.

Shabby Chic

Shannon Olsen remodeled and decorated her entire 1979 double wide in a gorgeous shabby chic style. She used affordable updates that made a huge impact and the end results are pretty amazing.

Her master bedroom is a perfect example of using mixed match furniture along with cohesive white to create a comfortably stylish space.

See the rest of Shannon’s beautiful double wide here.

Marvelously Manufactured

Melodie and her husband Steve transformed their 1995 double wide into a home fit for the cover of a magazine. It’s absolutely beautiful!

Melodie created a mellow sleeping space with calming whites and baby blues. She kept the furniture simple and hung a chandelier over the bed. Window shutters are perfect for privacy while giving the space a nice clean texture.

See the rest of Melodie’s beautiful double wide here.

Summary

These mobile home bedrooms are amazing examples of the possibilities that mobile and manufactured homes can have. Whether you like country cabin or shabby chic, you can create a beautiful space in your own home!

Thanks so much for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!

March 14, 2016
Exterior Mobile Home Remodel: Complete Double Wide Transformation

Many of us have paid cash for an older mobile home then made upgrades to the home as our budget allowed and the results are fantastic! This exterior mobile home remodel is another great example of the beautiful results one can achieve with a complete mobile home remodel.

Exterior Mobile Home Remodel – Humble Beginnings

This double wide began as an already fine home – it just needed to be modernized and enlarged a bit to fit the owners needs. You can see the home before the complete remodel in the three images below.

Installing New Materials Can Save on Energy Costs

Obviously, energy efficiency was an important aspect of the remodel, especially considering the location.

Remodeling an older mobile home using smart energy efficient techniques can help you save a lot of money on heating and cooling costs.

New materials, products, and building techniques are added to the market everyday. This innovation has created insulating properties and longer-lasting finishes that wasn’t considered possible a few short years ago.

Upfront costs for new materials and construction can easily be recouped via energy savings in a few years, especially for homes located in areas with drastic climate such as deserts.

Related: The Ultimate Green Mobile Home Remodel

Advantages of Installing a Pitched Roof

This mobile home had a pitched roof but it was a very low pitch which is typical for older manufactured homes.

Raising the pitch on a manufactured home’s roof is a smart choice for a few reasons. On the blog roofcalc.net they state the pros and cons of a pitched roof (though they call it a gabled roof):

Pros: Gable roofs will easily shed water and snow, provide more space for an attic or vaulted ceilings and allow more ventilation. Their simple design make it easy to build them and cheaper than more complex designs.

Cons: Gable roofs can be problematic in high wind and hurricane areas. If the frames are not properly constructed with adequate supports, the roof can collapse. High winds can also cause materials to peel away from gable roofs. If there is too much of an overhang, winds can create an uplift underneath and cause the roof to detach from the walls.

New Windows

Replacing old windows is one of the best upgrades that can do to a mobile home.

Related: 14 Great Mobile Home Makeover Ideas for Every Budget

New windows increase energy efficiency and improve the home’s aesthetics. Not only does it improve the exterior of the home, it also improves the interior as well. It’s a very smart home improvement project!

Foam Insulation Installed over Old Siding

To further increase the mobile home’s energy efficiency the owners opted to place foam insulation board directly over the original siding. This reduces landfill waste and adds another layer of protection to the home. The foam insulation was then stuccoed.

Rigid foam insulation typically has an R-Value of 6-6.5 per inch.

When deciding to place new material over old, such as foam board and stucco over wood siding, it’s important to ensure all the material stays dry and that all potential leaking be minimized.

Air pockets can be an advantage or a disadvantage when installing new siding over old. Air acts as an insulator in most cases but air movement and moisture can lead to condensation. The Green Building Advisor website states the following in regards to foam insulation used on exterior walls:

In a cold climate during the heating season, moisture vapor inside a building is driven outward into exterior walls. When it reaches a surface that’s below the dew point, the vapor condenses into a liquid. That surface is typically the back side of the exterior sheathing.

Using a moisture barrier can remedy these issue. If you’re in a southern location that doesn’t experience cold winter temperatures you won’t have to worry too much about condensation.

Related: The Ultimate Mobile Home Siding Guide

New Porch

A large porch or deck is another top choice for an exterior mobile home remodel.

A new porch can completely change the look of your home and add outdoor living space.

Related: 45 Great Porch Designs for Manufactured Homes

Related: Beautiful Southwestern Style Mobile Home

This is great exterior mobile home remodel that proves, once again, that older manufactured homes have unlimited potential!

Once the home is paid for the money you save on mortgage payments can be put into remodeling or updating the structure, and when you’re finished you’ll end up with a beautiful home like this!

This exterior mobile home remodel project was originally published on a blog titled Remodeling the Casa de Que Pasa. All images are the property of that blog.

Thank you so much for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!

January 14, 2016
Featured Manufactured Home Model: The Arlington by Palm Harbor
Most new manufactured home models on display at dealerships have been professionally decorated so they are a great resource for decorating and remodeling ideas. That’s why we’ve decided to feature a new model on a regular basis – to share the new features available in present-day manufactured homes and provide ideas that can help you with your own manufactured home decorating and remodeling.

Our first featured manufactured home model is The Arlington by Palm Harbor.

The Arlington by Palm Harbor Homes

The Arlington is a picture-perfect example of modern manufactured home design. It has a great floor plan, beautiful finishes, and comparable construction features of a site-built home. With 8 foot vaulted ceilings and ample built-in storage, this home is indicative of a traditional home in every way except one, price-per-square-foot.

The stylist that decorated this home for Palm Harbor really knew how to put the home’s best features on display. It’s a gorgeous home and a wonderful example of the beauty and function that manufactured homes offer.

Unfortunately, the Arlington is only available in Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. That doesn’t mean you can’t purchase a new home similar to this one – manufactured homes are easily customized and can be special-ordered with practically any floor plan, specs, materials, and size you can imagine.

Here are the details and features of The Arlington:
Model Details
- Square Footage: 1,560
- Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2
- Exterior Dimensions: 52 x 30
- Sections: Double-wide
- Building Method: Manufactured
Model Features
- 8′ Sidewalls, vaulted ceilings
- Dual pane windows
- Entertainment center cabinet
- Large island in kitchen
- Factory-installed A/C included
Storage is a big feature of this home.

Both the dining room and living room have ample built-in cabinetry and open-shelving. You can even choose to have a window seat placed in the dining room with even more storage.

Recessed lighting and stylish pendant lighting brightens up the kitchen and dining room.

White cabinets, a textured stone back splash, and various wood elements are combined to create a stylish, modern kitchen.

Features such as a stainless steel stove hood, rectangular faux wood tile, a large island, and a farmhouse apron sink are popular choices found in modern kitchens. There’s plenty of counter space and storage!

A sliding barn door is used to separate the dining room and a walk-in pantry. This modern manufactured home model has lots of modern style elements.

The entry way:

From the entry way, you walk into the living room. The open floor plan of The Arlington is a popular modern home design.

Below is the floor plan for The Arlington. It is a simple but smart floor plan and indicative for most modern manufactured home models.

All rooms with plumbing are placed together to reduce future leaking possibilities and minimize repair complications. Ample closet space along with a defined entry way keeps clutter in its place. The master suite is situated away from the other bedrooms to allow plenty of privacy.

The exterior of the Arlington:

Love looking at new mobile home designs: Check out another design we featured The Sunset Bay By Palm Harbor.

Please note:

I’ve always been hesitant to feature new manufactured homes because I don’t want to seem like I favor one builder over another. However, I’ve came to the conclusion that not sharing these gorgeous new homes is a disservice to my readers. Please keep in mind that Mobile and Manufactured Home Living is not affiliated with any manufactured home company, we do not recommend or favor any one company, and we have not been paid to advertise these homes.

Have you recently purchased a new manufactured home? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Thank you for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!
October 25, 2015
Jenny’s Fleetwood Double Wide Remodel
Jenny P. and her husband live in a late 1990’s Fleetwood double wide in the Pacific Northwest. The 1300 square foot home sits on a 10-acre lot with its own pond visible from a large deck on the back of the home. Jenny describes the home as the most peaceful and beautiful place she has ever lived. For the past three years they have been working on their double wide remodel and we are lucky that they are sharing it with us.

The couple previously lived in a 2000 square foot triple wide manufactured home. After purchasing their new property the couple lived in a truck with a camper top for an entire winter while remodeling the home’s interior.

Jenny and her husband have done most of the remodeling work themselves, a major accomplishment since Jenny’s husband has Early Onset Parkinson’s. While it has posed a challenge at times it hasn’t stopped them from remodeling their new home. He’s a true inspiration for DIY homeowners everywhere!

A small sampling of the projects Jenny and her husband have completed in the last three years include:
- Painted the entire home, inside and out
- Landscaped the property extensively
- Laid engineered hardwood flooring throughout the home
- Laid and grouted new tile
- Built a new hearth
- Had a new garage built near the home
- Had new sidewalks installed around the home
- Hung new light fixtures
- Much, much more!
The end result is spectacular!

Jenny’s Pacific NW Double Wide Remodel

Jenny has spent a lot of time studying decorating magazines so when it was time to decorate her new home she was up for the challenge. She taught herself how to create chalk paint so she could transform old pieces of furniture into modern, stylish works of art that perfectly blend in with her new decor.

Jenny describes herself as a lover of the Lord, her husband/family, and items that are deemed “junk.” It started a long time ago when her step mom would take her to garage sales during the humid summer months in Iowa. Since then, it has become a habit and she goes to yard sales often. That habit has helped her create a beautiful home.

With a lovely new home in a picturesque setting, Jenny decided that a new style was in order so she set out to decorate on a budget. She started by selling the furnishings and decor from the old house and using the earnings to furnish the new home. With the help of big box stores, yard sales, and thrift stores, Jenny was able to update and decorate her new Fleetwood double wide beautifully. Not only did she find things to add to our new decor, she also learned how to navigate her new town in the process.

Living Room

Kitchen

Jenny told us that Lowe’s, the national home improvement store, was vital in their remodel. They were able to find materials and products easily and at an affordable price. For example, they replaced most of the flooring throughout the home with engineered hardwood available at Lowe’s.

They built a breakfast bar from scratch using 2 cupboards in the kitchen. They also designed and tiled a custom countertop for it. You can see the new breakfast bar in the photo below:

Jenny would begin a project by researching for ideas online using sites like Youtube and Mobile Home Living. She made it a point to learn from those that have completed similar home repair and improvement projects.

The work began with the interior; tearing out the carpet and replacing it with engineered hardwoods. They also painted and put up moldings, built a breakfast bar, replaced dated light fixtures and doors, and hanging new curtains. Jenny’s husband built a hearth for their wood stove. All done in the middle of winter while living in their cab-over camper!

So far, Jenny’s favorite room is the dining room. She was able to furnish the entire space with secondhand finds that she refinished – a table and chair set for $30 from Craigslist, a shelf for $5 at a garage sale, and a mirror for $2. She used her chalk paint to refurbish two chalkboard frames she bought for $5 too.

Jenny’s advice to someone thinking about buying a manufactured home is to start with a home that doesn’t need major remodeling done if possible. Starting out with small projects that will give you the confidence to do other more challenging projects, later on, is a good idea. Taking on too big a job or too complex a job is a lesson DIY homeowners usually learn the hard way.

Guest Bedroom Gets Crafty

Since their kids are grown, Jenny and her husband didn’t need much of a guest room so she used the extra bedroom as a craft room.

The craft room has a great warm rustic style. The simplicity makes the space perfect for relaxing.

After the couple completed the most urgent projects they said goodbye to their little camper. It was a winter to remember and their finished home is beautiful!

A big thank you to Jenny and her husband for allowing us to feature their beautiful double wide remodel! If you have remodeled or updated your manufactured home please consider sharing it.

As always, thank you for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!
October 21, 2015
Modern Manufactured Home Remodel for 1991 Fleetwood Double Wide
In an effort to simplify their lives, Kim Thompson and her husband recently moved into an older double wide and transformed the home with a modern manufactured home remodel. This move allowed the couple to get the beautiful home they wanted without sacrificing style or their environmentally friendly lifestyle.This modern manufactured home remodel is a great example of the beauty and style that factory-built housing can have.

“Less house, more life.”

In May 2014, the couple sold their large LEED Platinum home in Seattle and settled into a double wide setup in a gated manufactured home community in California’s wine country.

Kim had owned the double wide for more than ten years, using it as an affordable vacation home. When the time came to slow down and enjoy the simpler side of life she chose to make it her permanent home. They moved immediately after selling their Seattle home and hired a contractor a few short months later. Their comprehensive and modern manufactured home remodel lasted approximately 2 months.

Kim admitted that she loved her manufactured home more than the Seattle house, even though that home was brand new and semi-custom built. She has proven that her motto, “Less house, more life,” works beautifully with an older factory-built home.

Related: See another beautiful wine country manufactured home remodel.

Before the Modern Manufactured Home Remodel

Cathedral ceilings, ‘oak’ cabinetry, and garden tubs were the most requested features in factory-built homes during the early 1990s’s and this home has them all. It was well past time for a modern manufactured home remodel.

1991 Fleetwood double wide, before remodel.

After the Modern Manufactured Home Remodel

The twentieth century had a beautiful mid-life crisis.

The term ‘mid-century modern‘, or mod, is defined by Wikipedia as an architectural, interior, product and graphic design that generally describes mid-20th century developments in modern design, architecture and urban development from roughly 1933 to 1965.

Today, the mod style is revered by both retro and modern design enthusiasts. Infusing sleek lines with bold colors and simple patterns creates a comfortable, clean space.

Related: Why The World Is Obsessed With Midcentury Modern Design

The 1991 Fleetwood double wide received more than just a modern manufactured home remodel. The entire design was updated to meet tough environmental standards that will conserve energy and reserve the homes small footprint.

Kim and her husband replaced and installed the following:
- Foam-core aluminum roof
- Vinyl windows
- Whole-house water filter (Aquasana)
- Ipocork cork floors throughout with new baseboards
- No-VOC paint
- Subway tile – both bathrooms and kitchen back splash
- Ikea kitchen cabinets, dishwasher, and stove hood
- Overhead kitchen lighting
- New GE stove, refrigerator, and LG washer/dryer
- Ikea bathroom cabinets, mirrors, lighting, and fixtures
- Ikea Besta storage cabinets (installed in the bedroom and living room)
- Ceiling fans (Lamps Plus)
- Closet shelving and miscellaneous small features that make the home more functional
A pictures is worth a thousand words…

Manufactured homes have unlimited potential and the following images prove it. This double wide is worthy of a magazine cover! In fact, USA Today featured the home on their website.

With a total remodeling cost of around $80,000, Kim and her husband were able to design the home exactly how they wanted.

While some people would question such an extensive remodel on a factory-built home it makes sense for the area. Home prices are reaching new heights in California’s wine country, with prices at just above the $800,000 mark per Trulia.com. New listings are in short supply so finding an affordable home in the region is difficult. With those prices, it’s easy to see how a manufactured home remodel of this caliber, situated within a gated community, is a smart choice for home buyers.

Choosing tile and grout colors for the kitchen proved to be a difficult decision for Kim to make. She jokes that she may have changed her mind a dozen times.

We wanted to know what advice Kim would give to homeowners about to embark on their own modern manufactured home remodel. She stated that finding a trustworthy and talented contractor made all the difference.

The only way to do this without losing your mind is to have a good contractor. I fell in love with our contractor, who has worked on mobile homes for over 20 years. He’s out of Sacramento and will usually travel up to an hour to do work. He will always have a special place in my heart!

Related: How to Find a Great Contractor for Your Manufactured Home Remodel

Kim loves the look the Ikea curtain panel gives her master bedroom closet. Her contractor also built custom shelving in the closet, adding ease and organization to the space.

You can see more of the closet on Kim’s blog called My Mod, Mod Mobile Home.

We asked Kim which room was her favorite now that the remodel was finished:

It’s truly hard to pick one room because the whole house turned out better than we expected, but if you’re going to make me pick one, then I choose the small bathroom. It’s so darn cute. Love the tub.

Kim advises that location is probably the most important aspect of buying a manufactured home. While there are plenty of parks to chose from most residents agree that adult, or over 55, communities are ideal. With aging baby boomers wanting to simplify their lives and live in more affordable housing, the manufactured home sector is looking at a rise in interest.

Kim states, “Owning a mobile home means we don’t have to pay interest on a mortgage, our property taxes are next-to-nothing, and it gives us a lot of freedom because we’re not tied to such instruments. And, it’s a little bit like being a member of a club – we’ve started to make friends with other mobile-homers and it’s fun to compare and contrast our homes to each others.”

Related: See another great California manufactured home.

Manufactured homes are a great choice if you’re ready to embrace the less is more mantra-like Kim and her husband.

With a modern manufactured home remodel you can create a stylish, safe, and environmentally friendly housing at a fraction of the cost of a site-built home. The home’s design and style limitations are only bound by the imagination of the owner. Luckily for us, Kim had a magnificently mod vision for her home and was kind enough to share it with us.

Thanks, Kim, your home is stunning!

You can see more of this beautiful manufactured home remodel on Kim’s blog, My Mod, Mod Mobile Home.

Images courtesy of Achille Bigliardi.

Thank you for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!
August 2, 2015
Gorgeous Manufactured Home Remodel in Florida Park

Florida has tons of beautiful manufactured home communities and within those parks are some gorgeous manufactured homes. After all, Florida is the mecca of retiring in affordable style!

I was fortunate enough to get to feature a beautiful Floridian double wide a few months ago. It set in a community called Lost Lakes outside of Cocoa, FL. Today, I get to feature another beautiful double wide in the same park.

With picturesque views of the water and gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, this manufactured home park is a perfect setting for the beautiful manufactured home you’re about to see!

The owners, Steve and Pat Towers, own a 32′ x 50′ Classic Jacobsen Manufactured Home. They are the proud grandparents of six grandchildren, all living in the Orlando area. Anticipating their eventual retirement, they purchased a waterfront lot when Lost Lakes was being developed, with the goal of placing a factory-built home after they were both officially retired.

The couple met with the manufactured home builder and ordered a completely customized manufactured home that meet all their specifications and needs. Pat moved in sooner than planned after getting transferred and Steve stayed in their original home in South Florida.

The split arrangement grew old quickly so Steve retired from his position after 38 years in the education field. Once the lovely couple were settled in and had been living in the home for a few years they realized the home needed to be fine-tuned to their new living style.

After 11 years, there’s not a room in the house that remains in its original state. Here’s their living room and kitchen during the makeover.

The first to go was the kitchen. Pat wanted all drawers, instead of doors, for the bottom cabinets. Naturally, one thing led to another and they ended up with an entirely new kitchen from floor to ceiling!

Mrs. Towers designed the kitchen just the way she wanted it, granite counters, expanded cabinet lighting, and all!

Slowly but surely they tackled each and every room. They created a unique look while still keeping a good “flow” to the design.

Taking out two walls and putting in French doors opened the living room to the rest of the home. It gives the home a grand appearance when entering.

Hardwood floors grace the entryway and main part of the house, giving a unified look to the home.

Steve, a handyman himself, enjoys woodworking so when his wife saw custom moldings on a TV home show he recreated it. The moldings give the home a very traditional look.

Even though bedroom two and three are now integrated into the main part of the house, the doors can be closed and couches folded out to create two guest rooms. This home remodel was thoroughly planned and well thought out.

The lot is filled with gorgeous, mature landscaping too! The couple has created lush tropical landscaping to enhance the curb appeal of their manufactured home.

I asked Pat and Steve a couple of questions about their beautiful home. Here’s what they had to say:

How much did your manufactured home remodel cost?

It’s hard putting a cost to our overall project. All I can say it was a labor of love. Each room presented different challenges at varied costs. We added a lanai on the back of the house along with an area that we call “the lower deck.” Our goal was to create our own little resort paradise. Strategically located on the bend of the lake our home lends iitself towater views no matter where you stand in the house.

Which room is your favorite?

It’s hard to say which room is our favorite. We love having our morning coffee on the lanai so we can watch the wildlife. We have seen roseate spoonbills, herons, ducks, turtles, bald eagles and even an occasional alligator! We turned the lanai into an all season room so we can enjoy it year round. My wife loves her kitchen and on any given day she’s in there creating some new culinary delight.

What advice would you give someone about to tackle their own manufactured home remodel?

My advice to anyone considering manufactured home living is “go for it.” Considering remodeling? Think outside the box. It’s amazing what a little rearranging can do.

Some examples: We moved the hot water heater from the inside of the house to the garage. This allowed us to tear out the surrounding walls creating a large storage room. The space was next to a walk-in closet so now we have floor to ceiling shelves lining all the walls of this enlarged space. Who doesn’t need storage space?

We took out a bedroom window and put in a sliding glass door. Instant access to our beautiful lanai. In the winter we can open the slider and let the sea breezes blow through. Opening two walls and putting in French doors gave our house the appearance of ” an estate home.”

The list goes on and on. I consider our home a work in progress. As long as we can dream it, we can do it.

What a great home! It’s homes like this that continue to inspire me and make me realize just how great a factory-built home can be. The poor image that manufactured homes get is unfair and doesn’t take into account the beauty, affordability, and convenience of these homes. Compare this gorgeous home to any site-built home and I guarantee you’ll not beat the price per square foot or the joy one gets from having a spectacular home at a price you can actually afford.

Thank you so much, Pat and Steve Towers! I appreciate you letting us visit and see your manufactured home remodel. It’s gorgeous!

And thank you so much for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living! Hope to see you again soon!

July 17, 2015
Manufactured Home Decorating Ideas: Chantal’s Chic Country Cottage

I’ve often heard that details are what makes a home so special and after seeing this gorgeous home I’m convinced! This 2000 model double wide is beautifully decorated. It reminds me of a storybook cottage with its rustic, natural tones and rich, warm textures. These are all great manufactured home decorating ideas!

Related: Tips for Decorating Your Manufactured Home With Natural Elements.

Get Plenty of Great Manufactured Home Decorating Ideas From This Home!

Chantal and her husband Joe, of Marathon NY, have lived in their manufactured home since 2005. It sits on 11 acres and has 1960 square feet of beautifully decorated space.

Initially, the couple had no intention of making this property their forever home. They bought it as a starter home because they wanted to start a family and get away from the hassles of renting.

Now, 10 years later they have no intentions of leaving!

The couple quickly fell in love with their quaint little town and grew attached to their home.

Once the decision was made to stay, they began renovating the kitchen. The builder’s grade cabinetry had to go!

Chantal and Joe redesigned the kitchen’s layout and installed cabinets and a center island that they built themselves. They also replaced the flooring, countertops, and backsplash.

After the kitchen was finished, they began on the dining and living rooms.

Joe has more than 10 years experience in construction so they were able to update the entire home by themselves.

Though Chantal admits it wasn’t easy, she estimates that they were able to save more than $30,000 in labor costs by doing the remodel themselves.

They also saved money by tearing down an old barn and reusing the wood as flooring, trim, and shelving.

Their living room floor is covered in the barn wood. The rest of the wood made it onto various surfaces around the house such as the island counter top and breakfast bar. They made smaller shelving out of the smaller scraps of wood.

Delightful Dining Room

The dining room carries on the vintage shabby chic vibe.

The crafty couple built their dining table out of new wood and then stained it. They were able to build the large table and both benches for less than $160!

Chantal found the hutch on Craigslist and updated it to match the other elements in the room.

Gorgeous Country Chic Living Room

The living room in Chantal’s home continues the stylish and relaxing vintage vibe with a mix of beautiful patina and unique antique items.

Chantal surrounds herself with beautiful things! Even the family pet is gorgeous, what a majestic animal!

The barn-wood flooring in the living room is perfect for a vintage chic style!

Magnificent Vintage Master Bedroom

Inviting, relaxing, and peaceful. The is a bedroom made for subtle dreaming!

Natural fibers paired with muted elegance creates a perfect space to recharge.

Adorable Child’s Bedroom

Their daughter’s room was recently updated. It looks like a room straight out of the pages of an Anthropologie catalog!

Beautiful Bathroom

The bathroom carries on the primitive country cottage decor.

Lovely Laundry Room

Even the laundry room got an update!

Darling Deck

Of course, the exterior of the home got an update too!

The family built a 32′ x 24′ foot deck off the kitchen last year. Chantal quickly made the space her own by adding custom seating and outdoor decor.

There’s no denying Chantal’s talent for home decor!

It’s not easy taking the ‘factory look’ out of a factory-built home but she’s definitely done it!

This home is another wonderful example of the endless potential that manufactured homes have.

Thank you, Chantal, for letting me share your gorgeous home. It’s a true inspiration and a masterpiece of a home!

As always, thank you for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!

May 22, 2015