Why Our Campervan Kitchens Are Designed the Way They Are

So every element of our kitchen layout comes from real-use feedback and moments of “we wish we’d done that differently”. If you’re going to live in a van, the kitchen needs to perform as well as it looks. Here’s how our design reflects that philosophy.

Every Spartan campervan comes with a fridge-freezer. Not just enough for a few essentials, but roomy enough for days away – be it fresh vegetables, a few bottles of wine, or plenty of ice-cream in the freezer section (because yes, ice-cream is important). The idea is simple: if you’re on the road for a long weekend, you don’t want to be rationing food or wishing for more cold storage.

Below the worktop we position the clean water storage tub inside a cupboard beneath the sink. It means one less tank in your living space, neat integration, and easy refill access. And for those who need extra capacity, we offer the underslung water tank option which works with the tap and even a rear shower point – so you’re covered whether you’re wild-camping or settled on a site.

Our worktop houses the integrated sink and a twin gas burner. We favour the gas burner for several key reasons. While induction hobs are getting more popular, they demand a large battery bank, high inverter capacity and solar input if you’re off-grid. One real-world review states that induction cooking in a van “requires a robust electrical system” and that gas “does not” in many cases. In short: you don’t want to arrive at a campsite, battery low, and have no way to boil the kettle or cook. With a gas burner you can still cook even when your battery is under load or solar is weak. That reliability outdoors matters.

Furthermore experts say gas hobs remain “popular in campervan kitchens due to their independence from electrical systems and instant heat control.” That’s exactly the space we design for: independence, flexibility and ease of use.

In addition to cooking appliances, we include a microwave for quick meals on the go. Whether it’s heating a snack after a beach run or warming soup while watching the sunset, the microwave adds convenience without needing to fire up the burners every time.

Storage is the heart of every Spartan conversion. Ample cupboards and drawers mean you’ll have designated places for pots, pans, snacks and all-important coffee gear. The layout ensures you’re not reaching across a bed or digging through random boxes. Storage working for you, not against you.

When it comes to layout logic: the fridge-freezer is placed for easy access, the sink and twin burner sit across from or adjacent to that so you can move seamlessly between prepping, cooking and serving. Clean water tucked beneath keeps the counter clean and accessible. Everything is placed to make sense in how we use the van – not just how it looks in a brochure.

Why the gas spot over purely electric? Because we’ve camped long weekends, off grid, experienced grey skies, low sun, minimal solar input and realised that if you rely purely on electric cooking you can hit limits fast. One van-life guide says: “If you are planning to use the induction hob off-grid … you’ll need a high-capacity lithium battery bank… otherwise you’re likely to be relegated to strictly campsite use with shore power.” With our approach you’re set up for both campsite comfort and off-grid resilience.

Lastly, we don’t sacrifice aesthetics. Premium finish, well thought-out layout, good materials – we believe your kitchen should feel as comfortable as your home kitchen, while still being mobile. Because you live in it, you use it, you rely on it.