Airstream Renovation Update

As I have mentioned before, my husband and I got the crazy idea in November to buy a vintage Airstream and fix it up (read the post here). We have been slowly working on it on the weekends (when it is not too cold). Today, I thought I would update you on the progress. This is a tough and nasty job, but we are so excited to get it finished (hopefully in July).

We are doing a full remodel on the inside, which means basically we're gutting it. We haven't decided if we want to restore or renovate it. This is my department and I am torn. On one hand it would be cool to bring it back to the glory days. On the other hand, I have so many ideas to make it fun, chic and contemporary.

For now, we're in demo stages. This project took a little while to really jump in head first. Hubby and I have NO IDEA how to work on a travel trailer....so we're learning one step at a time. Fortunately, he is awesome at home renovations and making my design dreams into reality.

So far we have....
1. sanded and stripped the rust off the tongue
2. Primed the tongue with POR 15- a rust preventative paint
3. Painted the tongue with POR-15 Stirling Silver paint
4. Repaired the door, which flew open and busted on our drive across the country, we drove 700 mi. with it duct taped....awesome.
5. gutted the inside (we are planning on refinishing the built-in cabinetry and furniture and reusing it in the new design).
6. Ripped up the terrible peel and stick tile.

WARNING!!! THESE PHOTOS ARE NOT PRETTY...but hey, it's PROGRESS.

Hubby and I working on repairing the door. We had to take it apart, have it re-welded together. Then, we had to put it back together.

Before we started ripping the cabinets and flooring out.

Work in progress....











LOOK AT THAT MOLD!! It is Disgusting, the whole wall was covered in it!

Honestly, after ripping everything out, I cannot believe we stayed in this thing for 1.5 weeks when we bought it. It is disgusting....but we're making it better and it will be as good as new in a few short months.

We still have the bathroom to rip out, hubby had to dremel some of the screws that were ruined. Getting the furniture out, has not been an easy task.

I am looking forward to spring so we can jump in there and work longer hours in warmer temperatures.

What do you think? Do you think we should take it back to the 1968 glory days, and restore? Or renovate and make it contemporary?

What is the difference between restoring and renovating an Airstream?

Q: What is the difference between a restoration and a renovation?
A: As applied to Airstreams, restoration is returning the trailer's appearance and operation back to looking like it was when new, or could have looked for the era. Hidden systems might be updated and subtle changes made to the existing configuration. High quality, era appropriate looking materials and styling are important. restoring, yet with some degree of customization works because very few vintage or classic era Airstreams were built exactly alike when made, owing to buyer options and variability from one trailer to the next.
Renovation on the other hand, makes no pretensions about being sympathetic to originality, and reflects the current tastes or desire of the owner. Modern design or materials that would never have graced an Airstream can be used, but the end result is still necessary - it must be functional and show thought and design. Renovations are not considered a bad thing as long as they are done well. (From Vintage Airstream.com).

If you're interested in learning about vintage Airstreams, and restoring/renovating them....check out this link. It is our savior, this website has anything and everything you could possibly consider wanting to know about Airstreams....and more.