In an Airstream Far, Far Away…Lives a Star Wars–Obsessed Design Fiend

Mountain Modern Airstream channels the Force into a cool, compact desert home for influencer Kyle Krieger.

Text by

Stacey McLachlan

Photos by

Anna Jacobs

View 12 Photos

Take just one look at this revamped 1973 Airstream Sovereign, and you might assume that the project’s mood board was full of airy Scandinavian spaces, or minimalist tiny homes.

You’d be wrong.

The custom floor is made from maple. As you lift storage hatches and walk through the Airstream, the pieces follow a sea to sun design that designers Schmitt and Jacobs worked with Kyle on.

"When you see it, it looks all earth tone and neutral—it’s very desaturated," says homeowner Kyle Krieger. "But the real inspiration is from Star Wars."

The hair stylist and content creator loves the sci-fi franchise as much as beautiful design, and with his new home (named Tuba after his beloved late dog), he gets it all. Design team Anna Jacobs and Damian Schmitt of Mountain Modern Airstream were more than game; not only do the couple specialize in Airstream renovations—a talent they developed through painstaking research and experimentation while working on their own tin can years ago—but Schmitt is a passionate Star Wars nerd, too.

A folding bench chair pulls out to be extra table seating — though the table itself is mobile, too, able to be shifted to a second wall mount to act as a work space when Kyle craves a change of scenery.

Ceasarstone’s concrete collection was used for the countertops. A linear West Elm wall sconce is a cheeky nod to the light saber.

The three riffed endlessly on the unusual source of inspiration, and in the process, created a sophisticated homage in a beautiful, highly functional package.

The black-and-white garb of stormtroopers formed one part of the color-palette equation; the dusty tones of the ancient planets featured in the series were integrated, too. Elements of Nordic architecture—like plywood paneling—also made their way into the design. "Having wood in your space just makes it feel very comfortable, especially when it’s a small space," says Kyle.

To keep things streamlined (and perhaps spaceship-like?), the design team skipped traditional drawer pulls and used modern cutouts on the cabinet fronts and drawers. "We took material out to create enough of a lip that you’re able to get your fingers in there, but left the back layer so color would shine through," says Damien.

"During the pandemic, I started fantasizing about spending more time away from people," says Kyle. He sold his apartment and bought a little land at Joshua Tree; the Airstream will eventually live there under the desert sky.

Though plywood is sometimes regarded as a "low-end" material, the Airstream’s maple-veneer finishes are elevated by precise joinery and artful millworking: refinement meets accessibility. Even the floor is made from plywood (epoxied to protect from wear and tear), and it actually introduces a subtle nod to Tatooine, Luke Skywalker’s home planet. A keen eye will detect two "suns" cut into the panels at the front of the Airstream, and waving lines that represent the hilly landscape. Different elements of the theme are revealed as cabinets and compartments are opened and shifted.

Across from the seating area, a TV retracts into the cabinetry when not in use.

Though it’s only 31 feet long (and roughly 220 square feet) the trailer feels far larger thanks to the light and airy material palette. The spacious vibe could also be due to the slatted wall that divides the sleeping area from the rest of the hull, creating separation without closing things in.

Tuba’s dinette table and bathroom vanity are made of PaperStone, an eco-friendly product created from recycled paper and resin.

The all black bathroom is surprising (but stylish) in the compact space, tiled with two-inch rounds. The original plan, however, would have been even more unusual. "We wanted red grout as a nod to Darth Maul," laughs Kyle. That color concept lives on in the custom storage cabinet Schmitt designed for Kyle’s Dyson, with special red and black foam cutouts for the various vacuum pieces to be nestled in.

It’s a space-aged home that feels welcoming, warm, and down to earth. Could the only thing more powerful than the Force be an agreeable and adventurous design team? "Every time I brought up an idea, I can’t think of a time they weren’t game to at least to try it," laughs Kyle. "I didn’t hear no often."