Die-hard surfers Sara Bjurbäck and Jonathan Strömberg admit they will do just about anything “for the surf.” That includes spending half the year living out of an 89-square-foot camper van they built out themselves.

A videographer by profession, Jonathan recalls coming home from a shoot one day in 2021 and being greeted by Sara, who announced that she had bought a van—“and you’re going to renovate it.”

“That’s sick!,” he replied.

The vehicle, a 2012 Citroën Jumper, was originally a cargo van that the couple reregistered as a camper and remodeled to create the perfect vehicle to support their lifestyle.

“Everything we do revolves around surfing,” admits Sara. “We arrange our lives to be able to surf as much as possible.” She met Jonathan, her partner of four years, through friends in the Swedish surf community.

$10,643 Empty Van & Registration	$2,688 Building Materials & Paint	$2,009 Insulation & Exterior Finishes
$7,680 Solar System & Electrical	$721 Water System	$1,026 Heating & Ventilation
$1,222 Interior Finishes	$414 Lighting	$1,197 Kitchen Build-Out
$2,110 Bathroom Build-Out	$999 Furnishings & Housewares	$584 Safety Equipment
Grand Total: $31,293

The largest investment was the van itself, which cost just over $10,000. Since neither Sara nor Jonathan are mechanics, she set out to find a good-quality vehicle that was not too old, to reduce the risk of breakdowns. Next up were the key pieces of equipment.

“We had both done van life in the past, so we knew what we didn’t want,” says Jonathan with a laugh.

“We were looking to boost our lifestyle, but also to create something that feels like a proper home—like a tiny apartment on wheels,” says Sara, adding that certain details—like a quality heater and insulation—were nonnegotiable, since the climate in Sweden is “terrible.”

Standing space was also a priority—one that necessitated a tradeoff between insulation and ceiling height. Ultimately, the pair succeeded in securing just over six feet, two inches of height (Jonathan is six feet tall), even after installing the floor, insulation, and solar panels on the roof.

The BlueSolar 175W - 12V Victron solar panels, along with a lithium battery, were two other major investments. With all the equipment costs, including a converter, wiring, and installation by a professional electrician, this system set the couple back around $7,500. The van is equipped with a custom Citroën water tank ($390) that allows Sara and Jonathan to rinse their gear and take daily (cold) showers. As for the battery, it is powered by the solar panels, the car battery (via the converter), and—when necessary—grid power.

As for the interior of the van, almost every detail was handcrafted by Jonathan, Sara, or a member of their families.

Stepping inside, the first thing you see is the kitchen, which consists of a gas stove with two burners, a sink, and a fold-out countertop. The latter is the only detail from Ikea: “Because we’re Swedish,” says Jonathan with a grin.

Storage space is optimized to enable the pair to bring as many provisions as possible on the road, allowing them to go off-grid for extended periods. All the cupboards and drawers are made from regular birch plywood treated with Zar’s Honey Maple wood stain to create a warmer finish. And each one is fitted with a magnet to keep it in place while driving.

“It reminds me of when I used to be a flight attendant, and how we would secure the trolleys before takeoff and landing,” says Sara.

The wall that separates the kitchen from the driving area was a family affair. The double-layer plywood barrier was built by Jonathan’s dad, a carpenter. The wall has a window fitted with curtains, made by Jonathan’s mom, while Sara’s mom provided the curtain rings.

Next to the kitchen space is a bathroom, used mainly as a backup. “We try to use gas stations for bathroom visits, but we have this composting toilet with a fan for emergencies,” explains Sara, adding that the bathroom space is mostly used to dry wetsuits.

“We spent money on heating and ventilation,” says Jonathan in reference to the two Air Max fans, diesel heater, and surrounding valves—an investment of around $1,000.

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This system allows the bathroom to be turned into a dry room when the door is closed—and if left open, the heater is powerful enough to heat the van’s entire interior.

In the living and sleeping space, the first thing you notice is the round window, which is Sara’s favorite feature and the detail that draws the most compliments.

The window was repurposed from a boat, and its wooden circular frame was bent by hand by Jonathan. At nighttime, a round cushion slots perfectly into the window to provide a blackout effect.

“Blackout blinds are so expensive, so I made this from repurposed mesh fabric that used to be part of a speaker. It’s the same material we used for the van’s insulation,” explains Sara.

The window is not the only rounded shape in the van. On closer inspection, many of the wooden edges of the furnishings are curved to create a softer, warmer feel. “The rounded edges are my favorite—and the thing I worked the hardest on,” says Jonathan. “I softened, formed and bent all the wood myself.”

As for the bed, it’s a full-size 55-inch-by-75-inch double, with a mattress by Emma. “The mattress was a splurge at over $500, but we bought it on Black Friday,” Sara says.

“I sleep better here than in our apartment,” confesses Jonathan.

At first glance, the bed appears to be elevated, but it soon becomes clear why. Under the mattress is a trap door that provides access to the “garage”—a large storage space that can also be accessed through the rear doors of the van.

Stretching from the back of the van under the living space, the garage fits two longboards, several shorter boards, the battery, the fuse box, and all the electrics, as well as an outdoor shower that extends out from the back of the van. There is not hot water, but that does not deter these cold-water surfers from Scandinavia.

“I wouldn’t have described myself as an outdoorsy person before I started surfing,” says Sara. “But these days, when I’m not in the nature, I long for it.”

“When I’m home, I miss being in the van,” agrees Jonathan. “It’s so much more awesome here.

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“This is slow living—it’s so pretty and beautiful. We did it together, and we are still together after taking on a project like this,” says Jonathan, glancing at Sara. “I love you, and I love this!”

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Project Credits:

Interior Design: Sara Bjurbäck and Jonathan Strömberg

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Budget Breakdown: For Two Swedish Surfers, Happiness Is a $31K DIY Camper Van