Today we’d like to introduce you to Brett Lewis.
Brett , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It all started with my first drive outside of Texas. I threw some cardboard in the back of my 1993 4Runner, grabbed a blanket and pillow, and set off for Creede, Colorado. After spending my first night sleeping in a car in the Black Forest of New Mexico, I was hooked. That one night planted the idea that maybe life could be lived a little differently.
Eventually, I spent a couple of months living in a tent on the side of a friend’s house. When I’d saved up enough, I bought a newer 4Runner and built a few simple boxes and drawers—my first attempt at turning a vehicle into a home. But the itch to improve and keep evolving never stopped. My next home was a 1986 Vanagon I named Chewy, because it was brown like Chewbacca (I know… real creative). It gave me way more space than the 4Runners, but it also forced me to learn how to build something that wasn’t just functional—it had to be a place you actually wanted to be in. The interior was rough, and that build became my crash course in real design and craftsmanship.
I started sharing my progress on social media, and slowly built a following. Before long, someone reached out and commissioned me to build out my first Sprinter van. That was the moment Chewy Design Co. was born, even if I didn’t know it yet.
While building that first client van, I realized I could store all my tools under the bed. That sparked an idea: what if I got my own Sprinter and traveled the country building vans right where my clients were? So that’s exactly what I did. I spent two years traveling, building, and living out of driveways, parking lots, and dirt roads. It was one of the most formative periods of my life. I’d live and work alongside my clients until the job was done—learning to adapt, stay scrappy, and deliver high-quality work with little more than an idea from the client… and the motivation to not overstay my welcome in someone’s driveway!
A couple of years in, a friend of a friend of a friend mentioned wanting to pitch a van-building show to the new Magnolia Network. We filmed a quick sizzle, and they greenlit it immediately. I knew life was about to change. I hired a longtime friend who helped me build Chewy the Vanagon, rented a shop off Lamar in Austin, and suddenly—we were making a TV show. Van Go aired for two seasons on MAX. Wild ride doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Now, nine years into building vans, I’m focused on growing the team and continuing to create fully custom homes on wheels. The goal is simple: to give people the same opportunity I found out on the road—freedom, clarity, and a sense of belonging wherever you are.
Life’s a strange thing. Out on the road, you’re constantly dealing with the unexpected—breaking routines, waking up in unfamiliar places, and living without the comforts you rely on back home. But if you can embrace those challenges, you start to learn who you really are. You tap into a strength and purpose that was inside you all along.
That’s my hope for each van: not just a way to travel, but a gateway to personal growth.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Funny enough, the only thing that ever came easy was getting Van Go greenlit.
In the early days, money was tight and I had no idea what I was doing. I remember one time driving from Austin to Chicago for a build—and realizing I didn’t even have enough gas money to get there. So, I did what anyone would do: started calling friends, trying to sell off my old Patagonia gear over the phone, promising I’d deliver it six months later when I got back home. I guess you could say I was a pretty convincing salesman.
This path has been anything but easy. I’ve pulled more all-nighters than I can count—working 48 hours straight to finish a van, then filming a reveal the next morning, running on nothing but coffee and nicotine. I didn’t go to college, but life still managed to give me its own version of finals week.
During the filming of the first season of the show, we had to build 8 vans in 16 weeks. If you don’t know how long a van takes to build, let’s just say—this was basically impossible. I worked 15-hour days, 7 days a week. I used to joke that I had a weekend every night. Friday night started at 8 p.m., Saturday was midnight, and so on.
I’d sit outside in a lawn chair under the Austin sky, just staring into the dark, wondering if it would ever end. Would I ever finish this van, or that one? Then I’d wake up and get back to work.
At that time, I was living in my van… at my shop. Not a great idea. It meant I was at work every single moment of the day—for a year. This was right at the start of COVID, and I always say COVID never really happened to me. I wouldn’t have seen anyone anyway, and I definitely didn’t have time to travel.
One night, I hit a wall. It was the night before the first episode of Van Go aired. I had what I’d call an imposter attack—spiraling about how terrible the vans were, how awkward I was on camera, and what people might say. I called a good friend and asked if I could move into his house. That decision changed everything for my mental health. It gave me the ability to step away from work, be around people I loved, and start creating from a better place.
The pressure to meet deadlines and deliver above expectations is intense. Most of that pressure comes from me—I set a high bar for myself, and sometimes that’s the hardest part of all.
Growing a small business in a niche industry is incredibly challenging. There’s no blueprint. No roadmap. But over time, I’ve learned to embrace that. These days, I’m trying to lean more into the fun of it all, and ease up on the pressure I put on myself. Because at the end of the day—I really do love what I do.
Virtually nothing I’ve done in the last 9 years was taught to me. Life is about how you move through it. If you have a dream, the only way to make it real is to get up and chase it. If you have a problem, you solve it. If you want a better life, you build it.
I hope the hard things I’ve done—whether it’s figuring out how to make hammocks drop from a van ceiling for TV, or calling a friend when I’m struggling—might inspire just one person to try something they didn’t think they could do.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Chewy Design Co., we’re all about doing the highest quality work possible—no shortcuts, no compromises. At the same time, we’re always pushing to bring in fresh styles, thoughtful features, and new ideas with every build. We love working with cedar—it adds warmth, texture, and that natural feel that just makes a space feel like home. Over the years, incorporating a herringbone pattern—always pointing forward—has become a bit of a signature for us. It’s a subtle detail, but it represents movement, direction, and the spirit of going somewhere.
Looking ahead in 2025, there’s a lot to be excited about. Our team is growing, and with that comes the opportunity to expand creatively and logistically. We’ve got new in-house layouts on the way and a fresh run of merch I’m really excited to share with the world.
What I’m most proud of is just the fact that Chewy is still rolling, nine years later. I didn’t know what it would become when I started—but now, being in a position to hire a team, take on larger projects, and keep refining our craft… it’s surreal in the best way.
As we continue to grow, my goal is to keep putting our clients and our crew first. Chewy was built on curiosity, grit, and the belief that your home can take you places—and that’s what we’ll keep building on, one van at a time.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
If you’re looking for a small business to build out your van—or even just your daily driver—we’d love to hear from you. Whether it’s a full custom build or something simpler, head to our website to check out our services.
We’re a small team, but we care deeply about every build and every person we work with. If you’ve got a dream or an idea, we’d love to help bring it to life.
And if you just want to support what we’re doing, grab some merch! It’s a great way to help spread the word and keep the wheels turning here at Chewy.
We’re also open to creative collaborations—product features, content shoots, you name it. If you’ve got something in mind, hit us up.
You can find us at chewydesignco.com or follow along on Instagram @chewydesignco. Thanks for being part of the ride.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Chewydesignco.com
- Instagram: @chewydesignco
- Facebook: @chewydesignco
- Twitter: @chewydesignco
- Youtube: @chewydesignco
- Other: tik tok @chewydesignco
