AH-MAZING Airstream Renovation!

I was scrolling through twitter last night, and found this AH-MAZING Airstream renovation in the home and garden section of The New York Times. Trust me, if you dream of traveling around in a vintage silver bullet...this one will not disappoint.



As most of you know, my hubby and I are in the process of renovating a 1968 Airstream Overlander. For more on that click here and here. We have just started really working on it again, but it is coming along slowly (with the goal to be finished next spring).



This renovation definitely inspires me to keep moving along....check it out.



This is a renovation of a 1969 Airstream, done by Rachel Horn, an interior designer from LA and her husband.



The couple found and bought the Airstream on Craiglist for $5,000. The couple then allotted $20,000.00 for renovations, but are way over budget.



The Airstream was designed in a Moorish theme using moorish arches, fabrics with touches of turkish and persian accessories. To read the rest of the article, click here.

Originally, the designer wanted to use bamboo flooring and carrerra marble on the countertops, but they were too heavy, so she went with corian on the countertops instead.

What did you think? I could definitely see living a nomadic living traveling around the country in that Airstream....I'm hoping ours turns out 1/2 as gorgeous.

Ready to see ours?

I took a couple shots to show the progress. Currently, my husband has removed some of the flooring that had been water damaged and is working on protecting the underbelly with a product called POR-15, a rust preventive paint.

Alfred had to remove some of the frame from the back to replace the rotten floor, and remove some of the wall panels to get to the frame to remove it.

We are now thinking that we will strip the cream vinyl off the interiors panels, leaving the interior with an aluminum finish.

Alfred hard at work.

The next step, re-install the floor and then he is moving onto the electrical and plumbing systems.



After that is the fun part...that's where I'll start helping. We will be removing the vinyl, refinishing the cabinetry, installing new flooring and last but not least decorating.

I can't believe it's already September 1st, where did the summer go!

It's a Tie!

Last Saturday, I updated you on our Airstream progress and ran a poll to get your opinion on which design concept was your favorite.

It looks like it is a TIE between:

The Classic Design

1. cabinetry 2. stainless countertop 3. exterior awning 4a. (option) cork flooring 4b. (option) wood flooring 5. faucet 6. rug 7. light fixtures 8. camp chair 9. pillow 10. bedding 11. blanket 12. decorative pillow fabric 13. roman shade fabric 14. gaucho fabric 15. decorative pillow fabric 16. decorative pillow fabric

and The Retro Design

So, now onto the tie breaker.

Leave me a comment voting for classic or retro.
I will tally them and tell you tomorrow AM.

My husband and I trying really hard to decide whether we should
*restore the Airstream (make as close to original as possible) or
*renovate it (modernize,change what we want have fun with it, make it ours).

I would love to hear your opinions on whether you feel we should restore or renovate.

Airstream Update and Mood Board poll

I hope you are having a great weekend so far. I am working on my fabric for the dining room this weekend. I hope I will have the opportunity to share it with you this coming week.

Today, I wanted to share a progress report on the Airstream with you. Yes, we are still working on it... If you're a new follower, you can catch up here, here and here. I haven't posted progress pictures for a looong time, so here is an update.

We have all of the furniture and peel and stick tiles out. Alfred has slowly been working his magic on removing the rotten sub-floor in the bathroom area.

Unfortunately, we are at a hold still. Apparently, the plywood they make today contains a chemical that will erode aluminum....this is very BAD for an Airstream. We have to find a special type of plywood that does not contain the chemical before we can repair the sub-flooring. That is what we are in the process of doing now. We think we have located it in Lubbock, but may have to drive to Albuquerque to pick it up.

We are slowly making progress, but I don't think it is will to be ready to take camping this summer :(. Our original goal was to have the renovation completed by July, but we have found a lot more to fix than we originally planned.

This is where we are on the interior...

Alfred removing the furniture

Slowly making progress removing furniture and flooring

Almost out

Gutted, front of the Airstream

Gutted

Gutted, Rear of the Airstream

I just completed a new design concept for the renovation...what do you think? A little masculine, and rustic, but I think it could be BEAUTIFUL.

New Design concept for Airstream

1. cabinetry 2. stainless countertop 3. exterior awning 4a. (option) cork flooring 4b. (option) wood flooring 5. faucet 6. rug 7. light fixtures 8. camp chair 9. pillow 10. bedding 11. blanket 12. decorative pillow fabric 13. roman shade fabric 14. gaucho fabric 15. decorative pillow fabric 16. decorative pillow fabric

Which design concept would you like to see in the Airstream?

Option A: Bold and Modern

Option B: Retro

Option C: Classic

I would love to hear what you think? Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Don't forget to stop by and enter my May Giveaway!

Preference

Airstream Mood Boards

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I am excited! I spent the weekend working on my cloffice project. It is almost finished, so hopefully I will get to share it with you this week.

It is funny how design projects always take longer than expected. I remember in design school, we would spend hours and hours, night after night laboring over projects in the studio. We always somehow forgot how long projects would take, hours longer than expected. The real world of design is the same way. You think a little task won't take long, but a small task turns into a larger one. The next thing you know your project has taken on a life of its own.

Our Airstream is the same way. I have a million design ideas for our restoration/renovation. So far, I have finished two mood boards, but there will be more.

The first photo is our floorplan (ours is a mirror image). I have labeled the floor plan with moodboard 1 options to show you how the pieces fit.

Mood Board 1: Bold and Modern

Design 1 is a renovation of our Airstream. I have updated the interior fixtures (lighting, bathroom, faucet and counter top). The cabinetry will remain original, but will be restored. The goal: keep the interior neutral and accessorize with bold color and pattern.

Mood Board 2: Restored with a Contemporary Twist

Design 2 is a restoration with a modern twist. The interior fixtures will remain original and I will be using a contemporary spin to the original color scheme (avocado and orange).

• Flooring: VCT tile (this was originally used). However, it will be installed in a two-tone diamond pattern using 1. Antique White and 2. Desert Beige.
• Cabinetry: restained and restored to original condition.
• Bath: restored to original condition
• Countertop: existing avocado green.
• Lighting: original
• Gauchos: upholstered in neutral earthtone (green). Pattern will be added through throw pillows.

Design 2 is in keeping with what Vintage Airstream defines as restored. "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."

I am still torn between restoration or renovation. I plan on to create a few more mood boards, but I think I have a great start.

Fortunately, we are still in the early phase of our remodel. The interior cabinetry and bathroom fixtures have been removed and are ready for restoration. The flooring has been removed.
The next step is to cut out the rotten areas of the floor and replace with new plywood. Then, update the plumbing and electrical.

In the meantime, I am off to finish my cloffice project. I hope everyone has a wonderful start to the week.

Airstream Interiors

Today I was hoping to post mood board designs for our Airstream. Unfortunately, the planning process is taking longer than expected. Hopefully they will be posted tomorrow.

Instead, I am going to share some vintage interiors with you. The following Airstream interiors have been restored and they are gorgeous!

Enjoy. These folks have done incredible jobs restoring their classic Silver Bullet.

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What did you think? I would say these guys look pretty good for their age. This is why it is such a hard decision to restore or renovate. The classic look for the restored models, when done well, is unbeatable.

I'm excited to share the link parties I participated in this week. I showed off our DIY Dining Room Wainscoating. Check out these wonderful blogs and show some love to the participants.