AT THE MiNiMONO PROJECT WE CREATE FURNITURE FOR FAMILIES KNOWING THAT EACH FAMILY IS UNIQUE.

OUR JOURNAL FOCUSES ON DISCOVERING THE PARTICULAR UNIVERSE OF DIFFERENT MiNiMONO FAMILIES AROUND THE GLOBE.

TODAY WE ARE TALKING TO SANDRA ABOUT HER FAMILY LIFE ON THE ROAD...

1. CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR VAN? HOW DID THIS ADVENTURE BEGIN?

WE’RE SANDRA AND MIRKO, AND TOGETHER WITH OUR TWO KIDS, WE LIVE IN BERLIN. AS OFTEN AS WE CAN, WE TRY TO ESCAPE THE CITY IN OUR SPRINTER VAN. WHEN OUR FIRST CHILD TURNED THREE, WE CHANGED THE WAY WE TRAVEL—MAINLY BECAUSE THE RISING COSTS OF TRAVELING WITH A THIRD PERSON MADE THINGS TRICKY.

OUR FIRST VAN WAS A TOTAL FAIL AND BROKE DOWN SHORTLY AFTER WE FINISHED CONVERTING IT. BUT WE WERE ALREADY HOOKED ON VANLIFE, SO WE INVESTED IN A MORE MODERN SPRINTER RIGHT AWAY. WE SPENT AMAZING YEARS MOSTLY HEADING SOUTH, SURVIVING LOCKDOWNS IN FRANCE AND PORTUGAL. EVENTUALLY, WE EVEN BUILT OUR OWN VAN CONVERSION BUSINESS DURING THE PRIME TIME OF VANLIFE. 

NOW WE’RE BACK IN JOBS WITH MORE REGULAR WORKING HOURS, BUT THE VAN ADVENTURES HAVEN’T STOPPED!

2. WHEN YOU'RE ON THE ROAD, WHAT SMALL THINGS MAKE YOUR VAN FEEL LIKE HOME?

WE’D DEFINITELY DESCRIBE OUR STYLE OF CAMPING AS HIGH-COMFORT. IT’S NO LIE TO SAY WE HAVE A FLAT ON WHEELS ON ABOUT 7 SQUARE METERS. THERE’S A FULLY EQUIPPED KITCHEN, A DINING TABLE, SPACE FOR PRIVACY, INDIVIDUAL CLOSETS, AND—MOST IMPORTANTLY—A SAFE, PERSONAL BED SPACE FOR EACH OF US.

AS MUCH AS WE LOVE OUR TIME TOGETHER AS A FAMILY, IT’S ESSENTIAL TO HAVE EVEN A TINY BIT OF SPACE THAT’S JUST YOUR OWN.

3. DO YOU HAVE ANY ROUTINES OR RITUALS THAT BRING A SENSE OF STABILITY TO YOUR TRAVELS?

THE KIDS WOULD PROBABLY SAY: PANCAKES EVERY SINGLE MORNING :D BUT HONESTLY, IT’S SIMPLY THE VAN ITSELF. IT’S TRULY OUR SECOND HOME, MORE LIKE A FAMILY MEMBER THAN A VEHICLE (OUR YOUNGEST EVEN NAMED IT OTTO).

IT’S NEVER LET US DOWN, AND WHETHER WE’RE AT A BASIC CAMPGROUND OR PARKED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, IT’S OUR SAFE SPACE.

4. HAVE YOU FOUND OR CREATED ANY KIND OF COMMUNITY THROUGH VANLIFE?

I THINK WE CAN CLEARLY SAY THAT WE FOUND SOME OF OUR CLOSEST FRIENDS SHARING OUR VAN CONVERSIONS AND TRAVELS ONLINE AND THEN MEETING LOTS OF GREAT PEOPLE IN REAL LIFE. IT’S ACTUALLY HARD TO IMAGINE THOSE PAST SIX YEARS WITHOUT THESE IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS. 

5. FOOD CAN BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES ON THE ROAD, BUT ALSO ONE OF THE MOST COMFORTING PARTS OF VANLIFE. IS THERE A GO-TO FAMILY MEAL YOU LOVE TO COOK IN THE VAN? WOULD YOU SHARE THE RECIPE WITH US?

FREESTYLE PANCAKES—NO RECIPE NEEDED ;)

OTHER THAN THAT, WE LOVE OUR OMNIA CAMPING OVEN. YOU CAN MAKE ALMOST ANYTHING IN IT: PIZZA, CINNAMON ROLLS, BAKED POTATOES, LASAGNA, BREAD ROLLS… IF SOMEONE’S WILLING TO DO THE DISHES VOLUNTARILY, OUR CURRENT FAVORITE IS ANYTHING TOPPED WITH (OPTIONALLY VEGAN) YOGURT, LIKE GNOCCHI, PASTA, OR POTATOES. JUST ADD FRESH HERBS (DILL!), SPRING ONIONS, CUCUMBER, AND YOUR FAVORITE GREENS. 10/10 SUMMER DISH!

6. AND FINALLY, WHO AND HOW HAVE YOU BEEN USING THE MiNiMONOS?

BESIDES A SUPER UNIQUE DINING TABLE IN OUR BERLIN FLAT, WE LOVE HOW PRACTICAL THE SMALL KIDS’ FURNITURE IS FOR TRAVELING. YOU CAN QUICKLY ASSEMBLE A MULTIFUNCTIONAL SETUP USING JUST THREE PIECES—THEY’RE SUPER EASY TO STORE IN ANY CORNER OF THE VAN.

THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS: A STEP FOR CLIMBING IN AND OUT OF THE VAN, A STYLISH SIDE TABLE WHILE SITTING OUTSIDE, OR A TEA PARTY SETUP FOR ALL THE TOYS...

THANKS SANDRA FOR TAKING US ON THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU!

PICS BY @LUETTE.FOTOS