When starting from scratch it is important to be thinking about the final look of your space. Early on we looked at pictures for inspiration to develop a color palette and general aesthetic. Airstreams are very limited in space and you need to think about how the layout will match your goals for living. We love to cook and socialize around food and music making, so it made sense for us to have extra counter space and extra sitting space. Your ideas will change along the way but it is best to be thinking about every aspect from beginning to end to have a cohesive design. Here are some pictures that we used for inspiration.
Annies design ideas:
I really wanted the kitchen table to echo the lines of a guitar or a piano. The resulting table’s unique shape allows for an easy slide in and out of the bench. It also continues the natural flow of curves the airstream has.
Though the Flying Cloud is from the 50’s we didn’t want to go all out in that particular style. We wanted to be able to pick and choose elements we liked such as lighting styles, cabinet handles, etc. Originally we wanted a silver trim on the edge of the counter and table but after much research it proved to be a very difficult thing to achieve.
There were so many laminate choices! We ended up ordering free samples of laminate here (https://www.wilsonart.com/laminate/virtual-design-library/retro) to help up decide on the patterns and colors we wanted. From there it was easy to visualize what the other colors would be. It ended up being very different from what we had initially thought. Perhaps the grey of the northwest influenced the decision for bright and warm colors.
Matts Design Ideas:
We knew we wanted warm wood throughout most of the trailer to balance the brightness of the aluminum. Papa Steve had mahogany floors and cabinets in his loft space which we have always enjoyed. I have also worked on Chris Crafts and I have always loved the look of aged mahogany. Not to mention the best drums in the world, 1960s Ludwigs and our favorite Martin Guitar are made from this warm toned wood. I wanted to maintain some of the look of the 50’s but more like the look of a high end Boat Interior. We knew we wanted a build out that accentuates the curves. This inspired circle cut out for spices and toiletries, rounded corners on benches, and rounded corners on cabinets. Some of our design ideas came out of necessity. We did not want to make a shower pan, so we had to design the size of the bathroom around that appliance. In general we found having appliances and fixtures purchased and early in the process helped us work on a layout the balanced the need for space for the shower pan with the best size fit of entire bathroom. The Wheel wells are a major factor in how you design your layout. Like many airstream layouts we incorporated ours into a bench in the bathroom and solid wall for the main electrical panel.
mattnannie 