A workable open-plan layout with loft apartment styling
The Envoy from Carnaby Caravans is their new top of the range static caravan, which was launched at the Lawns Show in 2016. It’s a two bedroom holiday caravan – one twin and a master double – sitting on a 40ft x 13ft footprint.
Outside, the Envoy has a pitched, steel pantile clad roof. There are the usual range of cladding options available from standard uPVC, real timber and the ever-popular Canexcel cladding in a range of colours. The review model featured standard uPVC cladding in cream with black guttering and front and rear barge boards.
The front patio door has a glazed window that goes right up under the eaves and is slightly set back producing a small porch overhang. Windows in uPVC windows are available as an optional extra, as are frames in three colours. Our review model featured charcoal black windows which gave a nice contrast to the rest of the unit. The caravan features a painted steel chassis with galvanised legs and reversible towbar but fully and pre-galvanised chassis are also available.
The normal insulation specification is provided in walls (25mm), roof (120mm) and underfloor (25mm) but Carnaby has fitted a beefed-up package of insulation they call Ultrawarm which, on the Envoy comes as standard and would be especially useful if you want to get use your caravan by all-year round. This also includes a wet system radiator network using tall, black, designer-style wall mounted radiators with thermostatic valves throughout the caravan.
The percentage split of accommodation inside the Envoy is about 50-50; the lounge and kitchen taking up 50 per cent at the front end, with the bedrooms and bathroom the other 50 per cent towards the rear – all fairly predictable but well planned and with a nice flow to the space.
The lounge is open plan with the kitchen and, with its light grey walls, white pitched ceiling and large windows it’s a light and airy room. More natural light floods in from a Velux roof window in the kitchen/dining area.
Curtains, carpets and furnishings are in contrasting shades of grey and give the caravan a contemporary, stylish feel of a loft apartment. Two twin seater sofas and a large padded ottoman stool are supplied as standard . There’s also a low four drawer unit to one side, and a wall mounted flame effect electric fire. Above this, there’s space and wiring for a flat panel TV. The lounge area also benefits from bluetooth ceiling mounted speakers and is plenty big enough for any extra furniture an owner might wish to add!
It’s also fully carpeted to the point where the kitchen takes over, where the floor is covered with a timber-effect vinyl flooring.
Central to the dining kitchen is an island unit with a black granite worktop which could be used as a breakfast bar or food preparation area – stools for this are available as an option. In front is a large dining table with a stylish shiny black top and four cream coloured upholstered chairs. It’s positioned in the centre of the room with the kitchen on the other three sides. Fitted above is a three lamp pendant.
The kitchen is excellent and is contemporarily styled with black granite worktops and black, white and grey cabinets – both floor and wall mounted. Facing the back of the caravan is an L-shaped unit arrangement which contains the eye level oven, grill and integrated microwave. There’s a stainless steel sink with mixer tap and below this, space for a dish washer and washing machine. There are plenty of storage units and essential, but often overlooked, details and finishes such as the power sockets, soft-close mechanisms to the cabinets, well placed downlights and plinth lighting all adding to the high-spec feel.
A huge integrated American style fridge/freezer is installed on the back wall next to to the door leading to the bedrooms, and to the right of this are more cabinets and a four ring gas hob with central wok burner fitted into the worktop. Above there’s a stainless steel extractor hood and to the left, LED illuminated glass shelves. All in all, the kitchen arrangement on the Envoy is well appointed, well thought out and simply stunning – putting many domestic arrangements in similarly priced caravans to shame!
The grey door between the kitchen and that big fridge/freezer leads us to the Envoy’s bedrooms.
To the left is the family bathroom with its three-quarter length bath with taps and hand shower, smart, modern hand-basin with mirrored storage cabinet above and low profile double flushing toilet. You also get a heated towel rail and a further storage cabinet on the opposite wall. A chunk of the bathroom is taken up by the cupboard housing the Envoy’s combi gas boiler but it’s not intrusive.
The walls above the bath are fully tiled and the usual accessories like toothbrush, soap and toilet roll holders are fitted. The room is small but far from being cramped.
Opposite is the twin bedroom, which is a nice, comfortable size, with 3ft beds, a central table unit and reading light with padded headboards in a dark teal colour. Add to this some rather attractive pastel blue and gold bedding with matching curtains and you have the makings of a cosy, restful space. At the foot of the beds is a double wardrobe and you even get a small vanity shelf and a full length mirror. The space Carnaby have allocated here means that the beds are not shoe-horned in, leaving enough walking room between, as well as along the bottom.
The master double bedroom is a spacious room, with the same style of bedding, runners and soft furnishings as the twin room. There’s an ottaman bed with lots of useful extra storage, plus twin bedside tables with drawers, reading lights and wall art above. The tall floor-to-ceiling window lets in lots of light to compliment the inset downlights in the pitched ceiling.
In the corner of the bedroom of the Carnaby Envoy there’s a vanity unit with shelf and mirror, as well as a set of double wardrobes and opposite there’s a nice little en-suite bathroom. Again, much thought has been given to the styling of this room and the manufacturer has managed to fit a lot into a relatively small space. Firstly, you get a huge shower cubicle with sliding glass door, thermostatically controlled shower and feature tiled wall. Then, the low profile toilet is concealed behind a bulkhead wall, leaving just the flush button on view. This bulkhead is topped with a shelf and to the right there’s an oblong ceramic handbasin set into it with a cabinet below. There’s a small, illuminated mirror above and you also get a heated towel rail and an extractor fan thrown in for good measure!
Verdict
Carnaby have put a lot of thought into the design and execution of the Envoy. For couples or small families wanting space and comfort from their static caravan, the Envoy offers all this and more besides. The contemporary feel should also appeal to younger, aspirational families and, at this price point, seems remarkably good value for money.
Plus Points
- Stylish, open-plan lounge.
- Superb, well-appointed kitchen and dining area.
- Comfortable, attractive bedrooms.
- Swish en-suite!
- Good value for money.
Minus Points
Nothing springs to mind.
In-a-Nutshell
The Carnaby Envoy is a premium static caravan that would be well worth the investment.
FACT FILE
Size: 40ft x 13ft
Build Standard: EN 1647.
Berths: 4, in two bedrooms (one twin and one double).
Key optional extras: Residential Standard BS3632; timber cladding; Canexcel cladding; Ultrawarm Plus pack; trace heating; electric panel heaters; integrated washing machine; washer/dryer; door mat; extractor fan; Tufftained mattresses; mosquito nets and blinds.
Ex works price: £57,163.49 inc VAT*
For more information e-mail: [email protected] or visit www.carnabycaravans.com
Additional charges will be made by park operators, and/or distributors for transport, siting and annual maintenance. Please check the price carefully before you commit to buy, as prices vary considerably dependent, amongst other factors, on the geographical location of your chosen park.
Get a static caravan or lodge insurance here from Leisuredays
Looks gorgeous, but I personally don’t like open plan. I don’t want my kitchen to be part of my living space.
Thanks Terry. Open plan isn’t for everyone but seems to be growing in popularity with manufacturers.
Overall it appears to be a well planned layout incorporating features that many people would desire eg a washing machine and a bath. However, judging by the plan, there seems to be a distinct lack of wardrobe space especially in the main bedroom. Anyone staying for a week would have a lot of clothing items with very little room to store them. Our current caravan probably has twice the amount shown. Combining the bath and shower would free up a more suitable area of space. Also is there a storage facility within the area taken up by the kitchen island?
Thanks for your comments Dave. There does not seem to be any storage in the island unit. The front bit is where the dining table sits and the other three sides appear to be closed in with no drawer or cupboard access to the space inside.
there are cupboards to either side of the island
I like the styling which is contemporary without appearing too spartan which is often the case. The overall feel is of a very high quality, but then you are paying almost as much as you would for a 20′ x 40′ unit from some other manufacturers.
One big flaw for me is the lack of a lobby entry. For those with dogs that means muddy paws straight into the living space – which I have had a problem with in previous vans.
Other than that it is a good effort if a little pricey.
Lovely, a great layout.I could live in it permanently but could not afford it as a seasonal holiday home
We bought one of you Envoys last year and I am looking at putting a small 32″ TV in the end bedroom. I would like to know if I need any special fittings to put the TV wall mount in position and any advice as to exact positioning.
On another point …all the drawer fittings in the kitchen have gone rusty, I find this very undesirable and wonder if anyone else has had this problem??
One other point we closed up for winter and left the usual dehumidifiers, salt and Uniondale units but found all the kitchen handles have gone rusty!!
Anyone else suffered this?
It might be worth speaking to your park operator about this or contacting Carnaby direct.