The Origin of Nook: How Modular Design and Continuous Improvement Shape Our Vans
The idea for Nook came together slowly—shaped by years of travel and a deep appreciation for thoughtful automotive design. It was always in the background, quietly evolving with each road trip. But it truly clicked one winter in England.
I had rented a VW Crafter—manual transmission, left-hand shift—and found myself navigating the rain-soaked streets of London during rush hour. It was my first time driving on the opposite side of the road, in a new country, and in a van I’d never driven before.
It was tense, chaotic, and thrilling.
That trip turned out to be incredible—and it showed me how camper vans offer a kind of freedom that’s hard to find elsewhere. It also opened my eyes to the potential for making camper vans even better.
From the beginning, the idea of a modular interior system was central. My background in home construction and architecture—where each project meant new designs, new sites, and new teams—fed my desire for consistency. I wanted a product that could evolve through repetition, a system that could be refined rather than reinvented.
And that is where my focus landed: creating a core set of systems and building a modular interior around them.
Numerous sketches and layouts over years began to resolve around a core set of questions & principles: where can plumbing, power, and heating live—regardless of the van or the layout? By standardizing these essential systems, we could improve them with every build.
This approach follows the principle of Kaizen—the philosophy of continuous improvement through small, steady steps.
Today, that mindset guides everything we do. With input from clients, hands-on testing, and constant review, we’ve refined one of the most compact, reliable, and serviceable system installations available. All key components fit neatly into 2 cabinets that only have a 2-square-foot footprint, behind wide-opening doors for easy access and service. We even collaborated closely with EcoFlow to adapt their power kits for our vertical mounting system.
Here’s what fits in that 4 sqft space:
A 28-gallon water system with a 0.2-micron whole-house filter and high-efficiency pump
A diesel-fired, thermostatically controlled hydronic air and water heater
EcoFlow Power Kit with up to 15 kWh of battery storage, plus internet and auxiliary controls
This consistent system core unlocks flexibility. By refining and standardizing these critical components, we free up the rest of the van for modular layouts that fit your lifestyle.
Whether you need a weekend camper, a mobile wellness studio, or a gear-hauling basecamp, we can configure the space to suit your needs—without sacrificing reliability.
Our modular furniture system is built on a durable aluminum frame that supports a wide range of custom designs. It’s strong, adaptable, and made to last—just like the rest of the van.
At Nook, our goal is simple: provide a platform that evolves, improves, and adapts to the way you live. Because great design isn’t just about how something looks it’s about how you feel when using it.
