About

Hey!

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My name is Clay and I am the founder of Custom Van Fitouts.

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Coming from three generations of cabinet makers, I guess you could say that a passion for timber joinery, clever design and an attention to detail is something that has always inspired me.

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I lived van-life full-time for many years whilst travelling around New Zealand and Australia, and came to understand (first hand) what works and what doesn’t when on the road. Ultimately, it’s been a natural evolution into Custom Van Fitouts. Living in a van really simplifies life. By stepping away from the materialism of modern society we find space and with this space comes lots of insight, slowness, time to listen and more importantly, room to grow (and adventure)!

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The van is a vessel for this so making sure it’s practical, comfortable, ‘homey’ and safe is something I’m truly passionate about. Living and travelling in a van has literally changed my life, and I take this outlook into my work and hope that it can bring as much happiness, freedom, and enjoyment to my clients as it has for me.

Custom Van Fitouts began when a friend of a friend saw my personal van after a surf, and asked if I could help them build a bed base and kitchen. What started on the driveway of a Thirroul rental quickly built momentum, and before long the driveway was booked out, messages kept coming in, and I realised I was waking up every day doing what I love.

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Custom Van Fitouts has been a natural consolidation of the skills accumulated over my working life. Years in the trade industry practicing cabinet making and carpentry, studies into engineering and sustainable design, and my love for traditional timber joinery are channeled into my work to create simple, effective van fitouts for people to get outside and enjoy this beautiful place we so luckily call home.