{"id":406267,"date":"2026-04-19T06:54:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T06:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/406267\/"},"modified":"2026-04-19T06:54:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T06:54:11","slug":"meet-the-dublin-couple-who-left-their-law-and-engineering-careers-for-a-camper-van-life-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/406267\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Dublin couple who left their law and engineering careers for a camper van life \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Engineer Martin Byford is one of a growing number of people who have embraced van life. Why?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gives the opportunity to experience life in a different way. You can tap into a sense of freedom and true connection to nature so many people crave. You can choose where you want to go to sleep and whether you want to have your morning coffee by the ocean or in the mountains! You\u2019re like a snail with your house on your back.\u201d <\/p>\n

Now Byford, who was born in New Zealand but grew up in Dublin, has been joined on his travels by his girlfriend Fiona Grace, a former corporate lawyer, and the couple are bringing this on-the-road lifestyle to others, through their business Nomad Nester Designs, which manufactures flat-pack furniture for campervans, as well as doing van conversions.<\/p>\n

Grace is not exactly the central casting stereotype of someone living life on the road. Byford was already living the van life, so to speak, when they met.<\/p>\n

He has had a van since he was 17. \u201cI was a big hippie,\u201d says Byford. \u201cWhen I first left school I worked with Evo Design, which was based in Wicklow, but the owner moved back to the UK. I moved with him in a sort of apprenticeship. We set up a brand-new workshop. I needed a van to live in over there and a place to store my equipment. It was a prototype, if you will.\u201d<\/p>\n

Byford studied mechanical engineering and did a masters in design and manufacturing. <\/p>\n

[\u00a0Ireland\u2019s happy campervanners: \u2018My van has completely changed my life\u2019Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Grace had qualified as a solicitor and was working with one of the big firms when the pair met on Tinder. <\/p>\n

\u201cBefore I had started my studies, I had done a lot of travelling and had lived abroad. I was adventurous. Meeting Martin, it was such an eye-opener for me. It plugged me into how beautiful Ireland was. Before, I wanted to go far away.\u201d <\/p>\n

Oftentimes they didn\u2019t have a plan. \u201cWe\u2019d decide to stop and sleep here or keep going. That was the real clicking point for me. You can be free, spontaneous, adventurous. The sheer spontaneity of it. The freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe couple’s diesel van has solar panels on the roof with split chargers that charge all the devices and battery white they drive, Martin Byford explains. Photograph: Eamon Ward <\/p>\n

The couple spent their first year together travelling around Ireland. They worked remotely, tethering to the networks on their phones, a smart way to get a reception.<\/p>\n

When Grace would go back into the office on a Monday morning, she often felt conflicted – that she was living \u201ca double life\u201d. She told some colleagues about her on-the-road life, \u201cbut I was selective as to who would receive it and who wouldn\u2019t\u201d.<\/p>\n

Their diesel van has solar panels on the roof with split chargers that charge all the devices and battery white they drive, Byford explains. \u201cFor access to the internet you need power. Battery storage is getting better. With internet and power, it means you can work on the side of the beach in the middle of Connemara.\u201d <\/p>\n

They also drop into music sessions when they can. \u201cMe and Fiona both play banjo. When she plays banjo, I play guitar.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before they met, Grace had associated van life with camping. \u201cAs you grow to really like your comforts, I didn\u2019t know if I could slum it.\u201d <\/p>\n

The set-up took her by surprise. \u201cIt\u2019s quite luxurious.\u201d <\/p>\n

Warmed by a diesel heater and an electric blanket on the bed, it\u2019s cosy, even in the dead of winter.<\/p>\n

\"'For‘For access to the internet you need power. Battery storage is getting better. With internet and power, it means you can work on the side of the beach in the middle of Connemara.’ Photograph: Eamon Ward <\/p>\n

Kitchen storage is a big one for the couple. They have a two-ring gas burner and a small sink in their van, with smart storage for cutlery and kitchenware. Fridge space is limited. Martin installed a 50-litre one \u2013 about the size of a minibar. He also has a cooler box that he fills with ice, but tends to stay away from foods that perish quite quickly.<\/p>\n

Cooking meat is quite greasy, so he also avoids that, as washing up fat-laden plates is tricky. He also cooks outside when he can to avoid lingering smells. On truly inclement days, he keeps the door open to vent the space. <\/p>\n

[\u00a0\u2018It\u2019s gone absolutely loony\u2019: As Ireland\u2019s campervan culture explodes, problems ariseOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Good coffee is also essential. Fortunately, Martin\u2019s brother runs single-origin coffee roaster Roasted Brown, so he always has a supply and finds a French press useful.<\/p>\n

A big comfy bed, whatever you can fit, is top of the list of requests for fitting out other people\u2019s vans. \u201cThere are very few people in a hammock and a sleeping bag. People want it set up all the time. They don\u2019t want to be folding things away. Usually, I tell people to go to Ikea and buy the biggest memory foam mattress. This can be cut to size using a bread knife,\u201d he explains. <\/p>\n

In addition to their duvet and blankets, the couple have a load of sheepskins. Travelling shotgun with the couple is a big German Shepherd called Indie. She\u2019s spent her whole life in a van and beds down on one of the sheepskins.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a prudent move too: when parked up in some remote beauty spot, it ensures a level of security. A lot of people have a dog in their van. <\/p>\n

The couple still go on the road when they can \u2013 but this has got trickier as their business has grown.<\/p>\n

A number of years ago, at the Willie Clancy Summer School in Milltown Malbay, Co Clare, Byford met a guy who \u201creally, really wanted to build vans\u201d. As almost a throwaway comment, he said, \u201cIf you find somewhere, I\u2019ll build vans with you.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"NomadNomad Nester Designs converts vans and fabricates flat-pack kitchen, bedroom and bathroom kits for owners so that they can renovate their own vehicles. Photograph: iStock <\/p>\n

The man found them a workshop in Ennis town. Business trickled in slowly, and after a period, Byford was doing all the conversions by himself, customising van after van. With the help of a Three Ireland small business grant, his company was able to buy laser-cutting machinery he needed to develop the business. <\/p>\n

This business has since evolved into Nomad Nester Designs, which fabricates flat-pack kitchen, bedroom and bathroom kits for van owners so that they can renovate their own vehicles. <\/p>\n

The couple originally envisaged moving from full camper conversions into just flat-pack furniture for self builders, for DIY lovers.<\/p>\n

\"VanVan interior by Nomad Nester Designs. \"YouTubeYouTube videos are one thing, ‘but it\u2019s more difficult than they think’ to kit out a van, says Fiona Grace. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to cater to the self-build market, as there isn\u2019t much out there for them,\u201d says Grace.<\/p>\n

As people soon discover, YouTube videos are one thing, \u201cbut it\u2019s more difficult than they think\u201d, she says, to actually convert a van into a home. <\/p>\n

[\u00a0Ireland\u2019s campervan boom: \u2018Most people will spend \u20ac45k to \u20ac50k\u2019Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

\u201cSo the majority of our inquiries are for full conversions,\u201d she says. As a result, the couple will continue both strands of their business.<\/p>\n

Their pods and storage can be customised to a degree to the type of van specified. If you need storage drawers, or a kitchen pod, a bed or a toilet, these can be made with the fibre laser CNC machine they\u2019ve purchased. The flat packs are good for those with the skills to fit them themselves, Grace adds. <\/p>\n

The approach is a bit like that of Ikea, in that you can buy fitted furniture to suit your particular van, with options such as kitchens and beds suitable for models such as a Mercedes Sprinter, a Renault Trafic or a VW Transporter. <\/p>\n

The couple have even found themselves cutting for other flat-pack producers, thanks to their precision cutting machine.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the moment, we\u2019re very much in Ireland,\u201d says Grace, but adds that there is global potential for online sales.<\/p>\n

Flat pack costs range from about \u20ac3,500 to \u20ac7,000, depending on the size, colour, model of van, and other considerations. <\/p>\n

For those who prefer to get the work done for them, Nomad Nester Designs still offer full fit-outs. <\/p>\n

For the full conversion you\u2019ll pay quite a bit more \u2013 costs range from \u20ac25,000 to about \u20ac35,000 \u2013 but for this, you\u2019ll get \u201ca house on wheels\u201d, says Fiona.<\/p>\n

This can include a shower, toilet, hot water system, bed, kitchen unit with sink\/cooker\/oven, diesel heater, and solar power.<\/p>\n

\"AA full Nomad Nester Designs conversion can cost from \u20ac25,000 to about \u20ac35,000. \"YouYou can buy fitted furniture to suit your particular van, with options such as kitchens and beds suitable for models such as a Mercedes Sprinter, Renault Trafic or VW Transporter. \"TheThe couple still go on the road when they can \u2013 but this has got trickier as their business has grown. <\/p>\n

A signature of the conversions is the quality of materials used \u2013 rather than MDF, for example, Martin prefers working with birch, oak or bamboo. And sheeps\u2019 wool is used for insulation, as it\u2019s self wicking, unlike synthetic insulation, which can result in condensation and dampness.<\/p>\n

The vans also come with \u201creally good diesel heaters\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you close the door and put it on for five or 10 minutes, the van gets toasty,\u201d says Fiona, who is also a fan of an electric blanket for those winter nights.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just young adventuring couples that want to live differently, she notes. Her mother and partner are retirees in their 60s, empty-nesters with time to explore. They\u2019ve bought a van too \u2013 and Byford is going to convert it.<\/p>\n

www.nomadnesterdesigns.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Engineer Martin Byford is one of a growing number of people who have embraced van life. Why? \u201cIt…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":406268,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[631,42,12283,43,40,38,41,39],"class_list":["post-406267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-for-you","tag-headlines","tag-interiors","tag-news","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/406267","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=406267"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/406267\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/406268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=406267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=406267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=406267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}