Haul These Fab Airstream Styles Home
Borrow decorating ideas from these 9 space-savvy vintage trailers to polish a small interior that stays put
Houzz Editorial Staff; writer, musician, father and husband.
Houzz Editorial Staff; writer, musician, father and husband. More »
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In this increasingly urban and budget-conscious world, one of the greatest design challenges homeowners and designers face is figuring out how to live comfortably and stylishly in increasingly smaller spaces. (Microunits, anyone?) So it’s no surprise that the popularity of remodeling the 200-square-foot interiors of Airstream trailers has revved up in recent years.
Interest in the classic egg-shaped metal trailers has spurred a devoted fraternity of followers, complete with its own terminology. Bambis, for example, are people who own or are on the hunt for a ’60s-era Airstream Bambi model. And since so much love and attention is paid to just acquiring an Airstream, trailer owners are devoted to designing the interiors, tricking them out with modern materials and stylish creature comforts.
Even if you don’t own an Airstream — and don’t fancy yourself becoming a Bambi — think of these spaces as test-bunny methods you can use in your home’s smaller spaces. After all, a little goes a long-haul way.
Interest in the classic egg-shaped metal trailers has spurred a devoted fraternity of followers, complete with its own terminology. Bambis, for example, are people who own or are on the hunt for a ’60s-era Airstream Bambi model. And since so much love and attention is paid to just acquiring an Airstream, trailer owners are devoted to designing the interiors, tricking them out with modern materials and stylish creature comforts.
Even if you don’t own an Airstream — and don’t fancy yourself becoming a Bambi — think of these spaces as test-bunny methods you can use in your home’s smaller spaces. After all, a little goes a long-haul way.
| Jules Verne Meets Camping Architect Paul Welschmeyer took a whimsical turn and went all out with this vintage Airstream Traveler, completely gutting and redesigning the interior into something that can "camp the pants off anything else," he says. The space now sleeps four, and has a toilet and shower and enough storage and stowage for even the most hardcore camper. “If REI sold a camper trailer, they’d sell this,” he says. |
| “From the design aspect, we wanted to create a camping experience really unique and full of fantasy, something like a Jules Verne experience,” he says. A solar system provides power to all the appliances, with enough juice available to charge batteries. |
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by Good Cottage
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| A Trailer for the Stars Courtney Trent of Good Cottage has been decking out Airstreams for years for New York actors and directors to use as mobile green rooms and on-set overnight accommodations. They’re remarkable examples of big design prowess in microcosmic spaces. While she left some of the interior aluminum skin intact for this trailer, she added custom rubbed-wood veneer cabinets and hand-finished wood planks. The bathroom is all teak paneling. The Formica-covered storage unit doors were removed and replaced with glass slides. A built-in bench with a comfy cushion and a wood-topped stool flank a custom-designed narrow mahogany dining table with hidden eaves that expand to create more eating surface. On the bottoms of the table legs are nailhead-like caps that allow the table to slide easily on the Flor wool carpet panels to create a workstation by the sofa. |
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by Good Cottage
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| Trent removed the old sofa in the lounge area and had it remade to the width of a single bed and 8 feet long, creating plush seating that also becomes the bed for the trailer — the former bedroom was converted into an office space. A succulent garden is just outside the window; it covers a bulky electronic box. All the faucets and fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom are Hansgrohe. |
by Good Cottage
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The bed and one of the wardrobes were removed to create an office space. The striking combination of aluminum, hand-rubbed wood veneer and wool carpet set the stage for comfortable modern furniture. A single club chair provides a quiet respite. A custom parson's desk was made to fit over the trailer’s wheel well, then covered in burlap and painted. The stool is from Ikea.
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| Trailer Beauties From Mod to Traditional Quaint, comfortable and colorful, this renovated '71 Airstream Caravel features a punch of orange, a sculptural wall, bamboo-accented cabinets and a bamboo butcher's block. |
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A mod chandelier, stylish drapes and elegant bedding make another Caravel feel right at home.
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| It’s not often you find homelike decor like this in a tin-can Airstream. But one of the reasons people love these trailers so much is that they’re so versatile. Here, stylish wood floors, ceiling and furniture enrich the vibe, while a tile backsplash, marble-inspired countertops and a chandelier make any notion of this being something you pull behind a car or truck melt away. |
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| You can work any decor style into an Airstream. This sleekly designed corporate trailer from American Retro Caravans has a private meeting area, flat-screen TVs, a wine cooler, a coffee machine and sophisticated furnishings. |
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by Cali Bamboo
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| Crisp and modern, this spacious stark-white interior gets a touch of warmth with bamboo flooring and plywood accents. |
by Cali Bamboo
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Artwork in small spaces can help create an vibe, as can comfortable materials and neutral colors.
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| Don't judge the quality of a space by its shell. These small and simple egg-shaped trailers — and small houses — are open roads of opportunity. Step inside this tiki-inspired Airstream |
Ideabook updated on Feb. 20, 2013.
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I'd like to see a weight comparison between these designs and the original.
As for the internal design, if any camper... and I mean any... looked this good on the lot, I am pretty sure many people would live there.
The bath "rooms" for some of these do NOT have a "full size" anything. Not the toilet; certainly not the sink; and the "tub"!!!! Another teensy plastic "basin" that my husbands FEET would be too big for!
Now if some enterprising designer is willing to take on the CHALLENGE--I am seriously LOOKING to put together MY idea of the "Modern Airstream". And--judging by what I see at RV shows and people who already have this lifestyle--I am NOT alone in my design desires and (In my handicapped case) needs. They are being "designed" to impress the 25 year old Jones' when they NEED to be designed for the 60+ year old Smiths who are actually going to BUY them. Could make someone a ton of money.
Call me!
I would highly recommend this kind of adventure to anyone who can stand to give up their roots..... and property taxes and yard work and .... whatever else stops you from doing this.
Would love to hear more about this from you--I don't know if there is anyway to PM from here???
We are planning on prob making a "Home base" somewhere in the South and traveling with our bike to ride where and when we want and not at the mercy of the North East weather! One of our kids is coming with us and bringing her kids--one kid is married and on his own--another is undecided but is old enough at almost 30 to make his own decision! And--altho we have lived in this area for 30+ years--we don't really HAVE "roots"!!!! And we love the summer riding here so we can always return---we would return for the several "Bike Weeks" anyways.
And yes--as opposed to some OTHER guy--with us, it really IS about the bike!!!!!
Since you are bike people (I assume that is motorcycle) then you might want to get what is referred to as a toy box. You tow it behind your unit. If your unit is a motorhome, the toy box would also contain your car. Many people customize these toy boxes to match the paint on their RV. (Some people carry boats in them.)
I have written out a long and fairly detailed introduction to RVing for people considering the lifestyle. It is too long to post here and I don't know how to get it to you. But I encourage you to pursue your dreams and enjoy the ride.
One more point. You can do this on any budget. I met a couple in Las Vegas that were pulling a 20 foot trailer. He said he was a retired letter carrier from Muskogee, Oklahoma. He retired, drove out of town and has been driving ever since, which is thirty years now! He knows every low budget place to park from coast to coast. He said they spend every summer on the Oregon coast listening to the surf.
We will of course have a budget and need to work out how and how much to do but we do have our house paid off and no real obligations anywhere. So that part is good! We are debating between a TOY HAULER or a toy box---Flat tow---r not! I have to be able to get into whatever we decide and since I am down a few body parts in the climbing department we need to consider this very carefully----something these RV makes don't seem to think is a problem. They make 'em to look pretty to 30 year olds but the 65 year olds--and UP!!!!--are the actual buyers.
We have a friend who lives full time in his toy hauler and has done for a long time--we will be getting lots of info on cheap parking spots etc from him as well!
I would like to chat with you more on this--- if you are interested you can "find" me on ebay as VALKGURL. I can't quite think of another way to connect!!!! LOL!!!!