This project sounds easier than it was. We bought a sofa bed ‘site-to-store’ from Walmart called the Atherton Home Manhattan Convertible Futon Sofa Bed and Lounger (Pearl color) for $269. It had great reviews and was the cheapest, nicest looking one we could find online. We picked up the sofa in a big box last night that barely fit in the back of Matt’s Expedition. We decided to wait for daylight to move the sofa into the airstream. We kept it wrapped and carefully wiggled it inside. Once inside we had to install the short little legs and figure out the ‘click-clack’ function. The sofa bed can be a sofa, double chaise lounge or a bed, with a couple clicks. We got it all put together and tried to squeeze it into the area it was supposed to go….it didn’t fit! Boo! I took measurements before buying the sofa to ensure it would fit, but what I didn’t account for was the slight curve at the front of the airstream, which strips us of 1-2″ of square space. The sofa base is square and can’t be changed. So, in the meantime, we have it set up as a double chaise. Matt is going to do some measurements to see if it will fit snugly, if we cut the countertop to the side back a little bit. It sure does make the space look cleaner and newer. Every project gets us a step closer to a modernized airstream. Don’t mind the filthy floors in the photos….we just finished laying them last night. We still have some trim pieces to install before they’re finished.
Archive for the ‘Renovation’ Category
Project #11: Install Sofa Bed In Living Area
Posted in Before photos, Flooring, kitchen, living area, Renovation, tagged 1974, 31', Airstream, before photos, flooring, kitchen, renovation, sofa bed, Sovereign on August 24, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Project #10: Install New Flooring In Living Area And Bedroom
Posted in Flooring, kitchen, living area, Renovation, tagged 1974, 31', Airstream, before photos, flooring, ikea, kitchen, renovation, Sovereign on August 22, 2011| 5 Comments »
The airstream definitely needed new flooring; the existing vinyl flooring was worn and didn’t match the retro trailer. Once we started taking up the vinyl flooring, we realized it was not only glued down (and super sticky), but it was also nailed down. We spent a while sanding the sticky floor with 3 sanders and removed all the nails. I had originally thought of sanding the plywood smooth and painting a glossy white finish over it, but the time and cost associated with that project made me think more towards traditional floors. I really wanted white flooring, but Christie and Matt talked me into a dark wood laminate instead, which they said will be easier to keep clean. We got 7 boxes of the Tundra dark brown laminate from Ikea, which should be enough to cover the living area and bedrooms. The cost per/sq ft is $1.15, so it ended up being a very cost-effective improvement.
We are about 1/3 of the way done with the flooring. Matt hurt his back yesterday, so we are on a short hiatus until he recovers. I’ve been cleaning the inside of cabinets and working on little projects on the inside. I have to locate a light-weight modern/contemporary flooring for the bathroom and find a good fabric for the drapery this week. We have a new sleeper-sofa coming on Friday, which will get us another step closer to getting this trailer out of town. We also just got the owner’s/service manual in the mail. We are looking at dimensions for the blackwater and graywater tanks, so we can get those installed asap. This week is expected to be HOT…some forecasts say up to 116 degrees. Until we have our 30 amp circuit installed in the garage, we won’t be able to test and/or fix the AC unit. I am counting down the days to AC!!!
UPDATE 8/24/11: We have finished laying the flooring in the living space and bedroom area. We just have to install some trim pieces and transitions.
Here are some before and progress photos of the flooring:
Project # 9: Remove Evaporative Cooler From The Roof
Posted in Before photos, Renovation, roof, tagged 1974, 31', Airstream, before photos, exterior, renovation, roof, Sovereign on August 19, 2011| 2 Comments »
The biggest eye sore on the airstream has been the oversized, after-market swamp cooler. I wanted it taken off the second it hit our driveway, but removing it required the skills of a talented metal guy. That’s where our friend Hot Rod Ron comes in. Ron came over today to help Matt seal the roof up, after Matt took off the evap cooler. After the existing metal was exposed under the evap cooler, Ron used a cut-off wheel to cut the metal straight, both on the roof and inside the ceiling. They then went to go pick up 2 sheets of aluminum, a tube of silicone and a rivet gun to patch the roof. Matt cut the aluminum sheets down to size and Ron walked Matt through the patch job. We have to get some insulation before we patch up the inside, but that will happen in the next day or so. Thanks Ron for all the help today. We owe you big time!
Gucci Gucci
Posted in Flooring, Renovation, tagged 1974, 31', Airstream, before photos, exterior, ikea, renovation, Sovereign, twin beds on August 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »
This song has been playing non-stop around here.
We washed the outside of the airstream yesterday and picked up our new beds and flooring from Ikea. Then our friend Mary stopped by to help us do some cleaning. A dance party always follows us. Meow!
Project #7: Beds
Posted in bedroom, Renovation, tagged 1974, 31', Airstream, bedroom, ikea, inspiration photos airstream, renovation, Sovereign, twin beds on August 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Do you know how hard it is to find mattresses that fit in a 1974 Airstream Sovereign? Let me tell you….it’s REALLY hard. I bookmarked probably 20 different mattresses I found online, but they were either an inch to long, 3 inches too short or I couldn’t find matching depth. I needed 2 mattresses: 76″ x 29″ and 76″ x 34″.
After taking a trip to Ikea to buy laminate flooring, I decided to take their little tape measure thingy to all their mattresses and sofa beds. I struck out with like 9 out of 10 mattresses, then I came across the Beddinge Lovas sofa-bed. I didn’t need the frame, so I measured out the mattress, which is W 55 1/8″ x L 78 3/4″ x D 4 3/4″. There were 3 different mattresses available for the sofa bed. I bought the $90 foam one that comes with a gray cover. Additional covers are available for $79 each. Even though I wanted white beds, it’s not worth the extra money to get white covers. So, now gray is in our color scheme. I thought I would have to cut some of the foam out to shorten the length to 76″, but somehow the mattresses fit perfectly. They are like 2 little couches that can be laid flat to turn into a bigger sleeping space or used just as they are set up.
Check out the before and photos (I kinda staged them with pillows I already had, but the color scheme will be a bit different than this):
Inspiration Photos
Posted in inspiration photos, Renovation, tagged 1974, 31', Airstream, inspiration photos airstream, renovation, Sovereign on August 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »
These are some of the photos we’ve been compiling to inspire our renovation. We are thinking of a Trina Turk (Palm Springs-based clothing and residential textile designer) meets 70s meets mid-century modern theme.
The Renovation List
Posted in bathroom, kitchen, living area, Renovation, tagged 1974, 31', Airstream, renovation, Sovereign on August 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »
We have been throwing around ideas for how to renovate an airstream, long before we actually bought one. We first thought we would gut the interior and start from scratch. That would be the easiest way to get a fresh modern-looking interior. However, we don’t want to sink $5,000+ into the airstream, if we don’t have to. We figured out that we are going to try to salvage any of the walnut finishes throughout and work off that wood tone for decorating. I’m sure we’ll think of more work that needs to be done, but these are our priority items for the renovation:
Kitchen
-Paint walls and ceilings white (done)
-Clean the cooktop, sink and stove (sink and stove done)
-Clean the inside of all cabinets
-Replace ceiling light panel with new white one
-Replace the worn and broken tambour fronts on the kitchen cabinetry
-Replace the cracked countertop with a white, orange or green laminate
-Install new drapery
-Replace receptacles and covers with decora white ones
-Install a new RV refrigerator
-Install new dark wood laminate flooring
Living Area
-Paint walls and ceilings white (done)
-Clean the inside of all cabinets
-Install new dark wood laminate flooring
-Replace ceiling light panel with new white one
-Replace the front reading lights with silver ‘bullet-style’ sconce covers
-Install new drapery
-Replace receptacles and covers with decora white ones
-Replace the 8 track player with a stereo and aux jack (we’ll keep the 8 track player, in case we decide to ever use it again)
-Install a wall mounted long countertop with a pull out dining table (Matt will make this piece)
-Install a sofa bed (one that can be turned into a lounger, sofa and bed)
-Get a couple comfy chairs for lounging or dining
-Spray paint the speaker surrounds white to match the new white paint throughout
Bedroom Area
-Paint walls and ceilings white (done)
-Install new beds (done)
-Clean the inside of all cabinets
-Replace ceiling light panel with new white one
-Replace missing window screens
-Get new pull trim piece for tamboured cabinet door
-Install new center support beams for twin to queen mattress conversion
-Get bedding and pillows for the new beds
-Replace receptacles and covers with decora white ones
-Install new drapery
-Install new dark wood laminate flooring
Bathroom
-Paint walls and ceiling white (done)
-Epoxy bathtub, sink and counters (done)
-Install new large pebble, mosaic tile or retro thick linoleum flooring
-Install matchstick bath and sink skirting
-Change out the cracked amber plexiglass in shower door for new opaque plexiglass and paint brass frame silver
-Change out bathtub fixture
-Change out sink faucet
-Install new RV toilet (just arrived today from Amazon)
Mechanicals/Systems
-Remove evaporative cooler from roof and patch roof with riveted metal (hopefully happening tomorrow)
-Set up a battery charger
-Re-key the door and all outside storage bins (done)
-Install a 30 amp receptacle in our garage to provide enough power to test the AC (currently the 15 amp one doesn’t provide enough power)
-Install a missing black water tank
-Install a missing gray water tank
-Install 2 new propane tanks
-Get the old suburban heater, stove and cooktop checked out professional
-Install a new water heater
-Install new window and door seals (ordered from out of doors mart online)
-Replace burnt out light bulbs inside and out
-Check all plumbing
-Check all electrical
-Replace the awning
-Buff and polish the exterior
We’re making good progress in the short 8 days we’ve owned it.
airstreamy 