About a decade ago, Airstream enthusiast Nate Stover found himself disappointed by some of the lackluster camper revamps he’d spotted on the market. “I saw a lot of subpar work,” he says. “The quality was poor, prices were not being properly communicated to clients, and there was a general disconnect between those clients and their builders.”

Stover founded Innovative Spaces in Ventura, California, to offer a better option—starting with setting clear expectations about process and price point. “Renovating vintage trailers is not cheap—it’s like restoring a vintage car, and then building a house in it,” he says. “I wanted people to know what they were getting into.”

When Stover met the owner of this 1953 Airstream Cruiser, Jim Franke, back in 2017, they instantly clicked over the camper’s potential. “Jim’s vision was to have a very off-grid capable unit that was going to be very low on power consumption, but accommodate modern comforts,” Stover says.

Jim was planning on using the camper for weekend outings, but he also daydreamed of longer journeys with his family. There had to be room for two kids to sleep comfortably near him, as well as a functional kitchen and bathroom—and it all had to fit within 147 square feet. Jim brought on Studio Tim Campbell to collaborate on the redesign and construction drawings, and Innovative Spaces got to work on the build.

“Almost every part of this trailer was either rebuilt or modified,” Stover says. “Everything.”

$20,000 1953 Airstream Shell	$94,000 Body/Shell/Frame Restoration	$140,000 Interior Buildout & Carpentry
$10,600 Interior Metalwork (Labor)	$12,000 Interior/Exterior Polish (Labor)	$42,000 Electrical Systems (Labor)
$49,400 Plumbing (Labor)	$7,500 Stain & Paint (Labor)	$4,000 Custom Finishes (Labor)
$2,000 Appliances	$5,090 Plumbing Fixtures	$1,415 Running Gear
$883 Finish Materials	$3,221 Windows	$5,440 Hardware
$19,100 Electrical Materials	$17,000 Lumber	$12,200 Metal Materials
$5,630 Custom Finish Materials	$3,021 Misc	$45,500 Design & Project Management
Grand Total: $500,000

Jim couldn’t walk through the Airstream without hunching over, so the team started by adding more headroom. They gave the trailer a five-foot shell lift to raise its interior height to a little over seven feet tall, and they completely rebuilt the base out of aluminum to extend its length from 25 feet to 27 feet (including an additional axle for towing stability).

“We replaced the window frames and installed a new HVAC system, which features hydronic and radiant floor heating,” Stover adds. They positioned two lounge/bedroom areas on either end of the trailer, and carved out space in the middle for a galley kitchen, a dining area, and a full bathroom.

As for finishes, Jim wanted to surround the space in hand-glazed mahogany, creating an atmosphere that almost resembles a boat’s cabin. “The idea was to celebrate the beauty of a few classic materials, while playing off their history,” Stover says. “We took style cues from old vintage boats and wooden yachts, with leather detailing.”

“We made it so the dining room table can drop down to be level with the seating, while the back cushions can fit on the tabletop and be secured via buckles,” Stover says. “The whole thing turns into a bed—perfect for the two young kids. With the help of electric actuators, the seating at the rear makes a queen-sized bed for adults.”

The kitchen is precisely designed to Jim’s specifications, and custom leather straps inside the upper shelving hold down tools while in transit. “Jim had everything—including his cups, water jug, trash can, and kitchen equipment—chosen before the build, and he wanted to make sure that they all had a place to live when not in use,” Stover says.

There were a few manufacturing delays during the pandemic, but the entire project wrapped up in 2021. “Working with Jim to realize his vision allowed us to go down design paths we probably would have not gotten to on our own,” Stover says. “As I always say: Our projects represent our clients and their taste, not ours.”

More Budget Breakdown stories:

This $4,500 DIY Camper Is One Designer’s Ticket to Outdoor Adventure

A $237K Tiny Home on Wheels Brings Kids, Parents, and Their Parents Together

A Growing Family Upgrades From a Sprinter Van to a Skoolie Built for $26K

Project Details:

Designer: Studio Tim Campbell / @studiotimcampbell

Builder: Innovative Spaces / @innovativespaces

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