For mother-daughter design duo Tristan and Lynne Knowlton of Design The Life You Want To Live, a serendipitous visit to the Airstream manufacturing headquarters in Jackson Center, Ohio, inspired love at first build. “We’ve always been fans of these iconic units, so observing the craftsmanship in action made me want one,” Lynne remarked.

Although she had never owned a trailer prior to her visit, the self-taught designer and blogger was up to the challenge. After 2 years of searching through vintage models, she and her daughter found “the one”—a 1976, 31-foot Sovereign International Land Yacht.

$8,000 Exterior Polishing	$3,750 Exterior Parts	$11,000 Interior Finishes
$23,397 Solar Power System	$8,161 Kitchen Remodel	$2,500 Hitch Car Setup
$4,500 Bedroom Remodel	$2,705 Bathroom Remodel
Grand Total: $64,013

Renovations began in 2016, and they chipped away at it over time—completing it just this year. “We had many other projects on the go, so we tackled bits and pieces of this at a time. The span of work was also due to the fact that the Airstream went through four phases of tweaks and upgrades.”

Initially, the unit was meant to be stationary and perched beside a pond in their sleepy hometown of Durham, in Ontario, Canada. “At first, we intended on doing the renovations with the idea of renting out the Airstream on Airbnb. But when phases one and two were complete, we fell in love with it (even more) and decided to take it out for a cross-country tour.”

Lynne describes the first two phases as a “get-to-know-you” experience. “Having never worked on an Airstream before, we were lucky to have a friend who was an expert in these types of trailers and advised us on what to look out for,” Lynne says. “When reviewing prospective trailers, we essentially got under ‘the belly of the beast’ and not only checked on the mechanics but also ensured that the plywood was dry and free of rot,” Lynne says.

These vital measures ensured that they could proceed with renovations without encountering hidden problems and unforeseen financial burdens in the future. “Fortunately, we lucked out. This Airstream was in great shape, considering its age,” Lynne explains.

Lynne says the biggest selling point of this particular model was an unconventional yet practical element: “It was the configuration of the bathroom/toilet that made it a winner for us.” Most Airstream lavatories are located in the back of the trailer, which baffled her. “I never understood why this was the case—it’s silly, and a hassle to walk through the bedroom to access it.” Fortunately, this Airstream’s bathroom was centrally located.

With the purchase finalized, the first thing the duo tackled was the color scheme. “Simple design is my jam, and less is truly more—particularly when it comes to small spaces,” Lynne says. The trailer’s dark brown finishes made the space feel more cramped than it actually was, so she opted for light coloring and neutral tones. “We gave the interior a face-lift by painting it all white then adding touches of sophistication with gold-knotted Hygge and West wallpaper that echoed the original metallic trim found within the trailer. Instantaneously, the space felt airier, lighter, and brighter.”

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

Next, the pair decided to eliminate the right side of the shelving/storage units. “It was dark, bulky, and eating up far too much space. Besides, we already had plenty of hidden drawers all over the place—so it wasn’t a major sacrifice.” Lastly, they proceeded to eliminate the partition on the right side, affording them a greater sense of spaciousness.

For the kitchen renovation, they kept the original propane stove but replaced the fridge and added a new Yeti Tundra cooler, which they advocate as a must-have item. “It offers extra refrigeration and acts as a terrific portable unit to take outside when needed,” says Lynne. They continued to echo the trailer’s metallic trim with pops of bronze brilliance, including a Trinsic faucet and brass-plated drawer hardware. Lastly, they swapped the tired, muddy-yellow countertops with glossy, white formica ones.

Despite overhauling certain components, it was important for the duo to preserve some vintage elements. “These trailers are like beautiful time capsules—stuck in the era they were born in. I love that,” says Lynne. “One representative item we kept is the azure-colored seating in the ‘living room.’ We then layered on modern elements—such as textured throws and rugs—to bring the look and feel into this century.”

Before: Living Area

After: Living Area

Before venturing into the bedroom, I’d be remiss not to mention that beloved bathroom. It didn’t need many drastic changes—they gave it a coat of white paint and installed a towel rack and faucet in the same champagne-bronze finish found in the kitchen. They switched up the RV toilet with a new one, and they splurged on a Delta Trinsic faucet system and wand for the shower; Lynne calls it a game changer.

Before: Bathroom

After: Bathroom

By far, their favorite area of the Airstream is the bedroom. Initially, they intended to keep the original twin-bed configuration with a night table nestled in-between them. But during “trial runs,” it was uncomfortable to sleep against the cold, metal-framed walls of the trailer. When they made the switch to a Casper California King bed, Lynne said that it felt like heaven on earth. “When you’re on the road and traveling for six months straight, it makes such a big difference for comfortable and sane living.”

The duo also installed additional storage space beneath the bed: “We set it up with hydraulics, and it lifts like a dream, revealing even more deep-creviced storage compartments.”

Before: Bedroom

After: Bedroom

With the interior transformed, they moved on to the Airstream’s exterior. The aluminum frame had lost its luster—it showed years of wear and tear, and the clear coat had turned a dull and ratty color. “It looked kind of like a bad sunburn,” explains Lynne. At first, they attempted to tackle the polishing on their own, but to no avail. “It required a LOT of elbow grease to remove decades worth of accumulated gunk and grime.” Ultimately, they hired professionals to do the job. “Between the professionals and us, I’d estimate it took nearly 800 hours to bring the Airstream back to life!” Now, restored to its former glory, it glimmers and shines.

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After the first two phases were complete, they added a superior vehicle hitch system, and excitedly took it out for an adventure. “For 6 months, we drove across the U.S.,” says Lynne. “We began in Canada, went south down to Florida, and ended up in Baja, Mexico.” While it was Lynne and her husband who primarily embarked on the journey, the experience gave her and her family a wealth of practical information, which resulted in two subsequent phases of adjustments and tweaking.

“It was our first time embarking on this kind of trip —and you must know that going down the road feels like a constant earthquake.” They also realized that they prefer a solitary sleeping situation. “This experience allowed us to discover that we really prefer being off the grid, rather than spending the night in a communal campground.”

When they returned home, they added a new awning, and better locking mechanisms for the drawer pulls, “which we quickly learned flew open on rough roads,” says Lynne. The enhancement they loved most was a Go Power Solar System. “It was one of the best decisions we made for the Airstream.” The system provides over 500 amp-hours of power per day, allowing the family the freedom to boondock anywhere and forgo traditional campgrounds.

Overall, it was a momentous achievement for mother and daughter—and they have no regrets, despite going over budget. “I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into,” says Lynne. “It was way more of a commitment than I thought it would be.”

Lynne and Tristan initially thought the project would take a few months and around $10,000. Despite the actual $64,013 cost of completion, she has no regrets and would repeat the project in a heartbeat. “We love Airstreams and actually have two more in the backyard waiting to be renovated. It’s a labor of love—and absolutely worth it.”

More Budget Breakdown stories:

A 1972 Airstream Sovereign Is Transformed Into a Family Home For $23K

One Couple Give a 1969 Airstream Globetrotter a Dreamy Makeover For $19K

Project Credits:

Designers: Tristan and Lynne Knowlton, Design the Life You Want to Live / @lynneknowlton

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