SERENICA: The Befores / by Rebecca Tillett

In October of last year Mike and I began shopping around for used RVs and sometime around Halloween weekend we found one. She's a 37 ft. long 1996 Raven XL and belonged to the Hendersons (no sign of Harry!), a sweet older couple in Falcon, CO who were only the second owners and took such good care of her while they had her. She has less than 50,000 miles and we got her for $12,500, a total steal. We dubbed her the Serenica Landship, found a storage facility to store her for the winter, bought a gigantic winter cover, and sealed her up eager for fall and winter to pass quickly. Fortunately, they did and this last weekend we devoted most of the weekend to uncovering her, cleaning her out (the Hendersons left a bunch of stuff inside we were welcome to but most of it was trashed), taking measurements, making lists, and discussing everything we want to do with her.

I also got around to taking interior photos, though I realize now I didn't get any great shots of the console/cockpit area or the closet for the washer/dryer. I'll take those soon and throw them up here. Click on any of these to see them much larger. Also worth noting, we'd already pulled some of the "decorative" border wallpaper down so you'll see some weird spaces with tears where that was around the bathroom area.

Serenica Landship: Passenger seat and fold-out table with chair near entrance
Serenica Landship: Passenger seat and fold-out table with chair near entrance
Serenica Landship: Passenger seat area
Serenica Landship: Passenger seat area
Serenica Landship: Passenger seat/cockpit area
Serenica Landship: Passenger seat/cockpit area
Serenica Landship: Sofa and kitchen
Serenica Landship: Sofa and kitchen
Serenica Landship: Sofa and kitchen
Serenica Landship: Sofa and kitchen
Serenica Landship: Sofa
Serenica Landship: Sofa
Serenica Landship: KItchen and sofa
Serenica Landship: KItchen and sofa
Serenica Landship: Looking toward the cockpit from the kitchen
Serenica Landship: Looking toward the cockpit from the kitchen
Serenica Landship: Entrance and kitchen table
Serenica Landship: Entrance and kitchen table
Serenica Landship: View of kitchen from entrance
Serenica Landship: View of kitchen from entrance
Serenica Landship: Kitchen
Serenica Landship: Kitchen
Serenica Landship: View of kitchen table from sofa // The door behind the booth (next to Mike) is the door to the washer/dryer closet. It sits across from the fridge
Serenica Landship: View of kitchen table from sofa // The door behind the booth (next to Mike) is the door to the washer/dryer closet. It sits across from the fridge
Serenica Landship: View to kitchen and bathroom suite from the booth.
Serenica Landship: View to kitchen and bathroom suite from the booth.
Serenica Landship: Kitchen table booth
Serenica Landship: Kitchen table booth
Serenica Landship: View to kitchen table from entrance steps, looking left.
Serenica Landship: View to kitchen table from entrance steps, looking left.
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Shower and vanity
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Shower and vanity
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Shower and vanity
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Shower and vanity
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Door to toilet closet-room
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Door to toilet closet-room
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Door to toilet closet-room
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Door to toilet closet-room
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Door to toilet closet-room
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Door to toilet closet-room
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Door to toilet closet-room
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Door to toilet closet-room
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Toilet closet-room
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Toilet closet-room
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Toilet closet-room
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Toilet closet-room
Serenica Landship: Bedroom (with a view to the bathroom suite)
Serenica Landship: Bedroom (with a view to the bathroom suite)
Serenica Landship: Bedroom (with a view to the bathroom suite)
Serenica Landship: Bedroom (with a view to the bathroom suite)
Serenica Landship: Bedroom looking left
Serenica Landship: Bedroom looking left
Serenica Landship: Bedroom looking right
Serenica Landship: Bedroom looking right
Serenica Landship: Bedroom
Serenica Landship: Bedroom
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Door to toilet closet-room
Serenica Landship: Bathroom suite // Door to toilet closet-room
Serenica Landship: Light fixture over kitchen table // Detail
Serenica Landship: Light fixture over kitchen table // Detail
Serenica Landship: Light fixture underneath cabinetry // Detail
Serenica Landship: Light fixture underneath cabinetry // Detail
Serenica Landship: Light fixture in cockpit // Detail
Serenica Landship: Light fixture in cockpit // Detail
Serenica Landship: Cabinet fixtures // Detail
Serenica Landship: Cabinet fixtures // Detail

Currently, our list of to-dos sounds something like this (in no particular order):

  • 1. Rip out all flooring and replace 2. Sand cabinetry and stain/paint 3. Remove chair and fold-out table immediately next to entrance and build bigger fold-down desk 4. Paint all the walls 5. Update fixtures (including lighting/cabinet handles by replacing or painting) 6. Install back-up camera/GPS system/stereo system 7. Reupholster sofa and booth seating 8. Remove/replace window trim 9. Remove top of wall behind booth/shorten closet door/install wall-mounted wood-burning stove 10. Remove top of wall reserved for tube-television in bedroom / open it up to allow for flat panel tv 11. Cut hole down to basement compartment for access to litter box for kitties 12. Install shelving above bed 13. Replace kitchen countertop (possibly) 14. Install kitchen backsplash 15. Replace mattress (or purchase mattress pad for short queen) 16. Install solar panels 17. Replace cabinet glass with frosted glass 18. Add curtain rods/curtains 19. Replace bathroom tile (possibly) 20. Resurface kitchen table

Related RV posts

https://beckytillett.com/blog/serenica-the-process

https://beckytillett.com/blog/serenica-demolition

https://beckytillett.com/blog/serenica-landship