Storage, Seating, Sleeping

Our interior design revolves around two main structures: the bottom & side storage and custom-made storage boxes.

Bottom and Side Storage:

The construction of the bottom and side storage cabinets involves a wooden wireframe using 44 by 44 mm beams, secured with screws and glue. Strategically placed beams create smaller storage compartments with 3 mm multiplex plywood. This building method allowed us to test, fit, and adapt the wireframe structure inside the vehicle during the building process. Importantly, we were able to assemble the entire interior in our living room and later transfer it into our Defender upon completion. Living in a small apartment in the midst of a city without the ability to work directly inside our Defender made this approach essential. The wooden structure was coated with a layer of acrylic paint, providing a polished finish. Additionally, the fully assembled interior is easily removable.

The bottom storage cabinets feature five painted top panels of 6 mm multiplex plywood. Four panels open upward using piano hinges, granting access to the most significant storage areas for food and essential equipment. Accessibility is ensured from both inside and outside our Defender through the right side and rear doors. The fifth panel acts as an elevated platform for our fridge, positioned at the left side door. Determining the optimal height for storage while maintaining the ability to sit upright inside the Defender posed a challenge, requiring several tests during the design process. The final result met our expectations. To complement the storage, we designed custom-made cushions ordered online, perfectly fitting atop the storage cabinets to create a comfortable seating area.

The side storage cabinet features a total of 13 doors, with 12 employing soft-close hinges that open vertically and can be securely locked using push buttons. Constructed from 16 mm plywood, the doors are milled to a 6 mm thickness on the insides to save weight. These compartments serve as storage for clothing, towels, and bedding, accessible from within the Defender. The largest middle cabinet opens horizontally with special desk-hinges and can be locked using the same push buttons. When open, this cabinet transforms into a table strategically positioned by the side window, offering a view while working or dining at our desk. It also accommodates two linen storage boxes containing smaller items like coffee and tea kitchenware, lanterns, and candles.

Removable storage boxes