Nathan and Bailey Gilbert were struggling to find an Airstream that could comfortably fit their family of five and appeal to their modern design sensibilities. Then, they stumbled upon the renovation work of Colorado Caravan—it was love at first sight.

With dreams of taking their three young children on extended cross-country road trips, the couple entrusted Kerri Cole and Patrick Neely, the husband-and-wife duo behind the Denver-based design studio, to source, renovate, and furnish an Airstream that would live up to their vision of a “modern mountain cabin” on wheels.

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

A mutual search by the clients and designers led them to purchase a 1974 27-foot Airstream Overlander, a trailer that, though smaller than what the Gilberts originally wanted, was a better fit for their needs.

“A lot of people just think about the interior size,” says Colorado Caravan co-founder Kerri Cole. “But we knew they wanted to hit the National Parks and there are vehicle size restrictions for each park so the 27-foot Airstream Overlander was a good choice.”

Following a full inspection that included exterior repairs and resealing, the Colorado Caravan team made quick work of the interior demolition—a process that took just a couple hours thanks to the Airstream’s good condition—and finished the renovation in four short months in 2020. Affectionately named Birdie, the 154-square-foot Airstream was treated to a bright and airy overhaul with an open-plan layout and an abundance of storage hidden beneath custom transforming furniture.

Before: Living Area

After: Living Area

In addition to the queen-sized bed for the parents, Birdie includes three bunk beds for the children, currently aged 2, 4 and 6. Most of the storage is hidden in the bunk room; it is also available behind the custom wood sliding doors. “Storage is such a commodity in small space living, so we try to maximize every available space,” says Cole.

Shop the Look

Before: Twin Bed Setup

After: Bunks

Before: Bathroom

After: Bathroom

"With a fresh coat of paint and new toilet and faucet, the bathroom feels updated without spending a fortune," notes Cole.

“The modern cabin aesthetic was inspired by blending our own style with the style of some of our favorite places we've traveled to—Hotel Jerome in Aspen, L'Auberge in Sedona, Hotel Emma in San Antonio, a little cabin we stayed at in Crested Butte—and all the places and National Parks we hope to visit,” says Bailey Gilbert. “I also pulled inspiration from two of my favorite designers, Studio McGee and Julia Marcum of Chris Loves Julia, as well as my time spent working in visual sales at Anthropologie.”

“We plan to take Birdie on long weekends and week-long trips, for now,” share the Gilberts. “We have a handful of trips planned—the Great Sand Dunes, Jackson Hole, and Grand Teton National Park are the ones we are most looking forward to. We envision Birdie being in our family for a long time to come!”

More Renovated Airstreams:

An Adventurer and Her Pets Find Solace in a Renovated 1973 Airstream Tradewind

A Canadian Couple Revitalize a 1970s Airstream Using Salvaged Materials

A Beautifully Retrofitted 1969 Airstream Strikes a Chord With a Nashville Musician

Project Credits:

Builder: Colorado Caravan / @coloradocaravan