Silver Suitcase® #2 Update: 1966 Baby Safari Gets Some Love from Trina Turk

It's Don Drapery Day at the Safari! 

Sneak Peek at the Trina Turk drapes and pillows.

We're almost there. We should have the Safari done in the next few weeks!

(Fingers crossed, of course!) 

1960 Park Model Renovation + Decor Update!

The 1960 Park Model , also known as Silver Suitcase® # 4 is coming along nicely.

This trailer is going to be my outpost office as well as my "country home"

I kept the cabinets! Remember? 

I wanted to create a more woodsy, cabin type feeling since it would be in Joshua Tree. I also wanted something completely opposite  of my home trailer.

So... whadyya think? 

I'm getting there.

***A friend asked about the matches in the vase next to the chair. I've been collecting matches since I was a kid, but only from what I deem to be special places. I think it's a pretty cool collection! 

Renovation: It's All In the Attitude.

As I wrote the other day,  I purchased a 1949 Spartan Mansion (Silver Suitcase™ #3!)   Here's a sneak peak of a "before" picture. Note: my cavalier attitude.

Think I have some work to do? 

Photo: Mary Beth Acosta 

Over the next few months I'll have updates on both the Spartan and the 1966 Safari Airstream. (before pictures here)  Stay tuned!

Sofa! Sofa! Sofa!

The sofa/gaucho was re-installed after a long absence from the Airstream.  It went in about 30 minutes after the flooring guys had completed their job.  Alf's Blinds and Draperies did all the upholstery work.  The final choice was a Pindler Sunbrella fabric in a green tone that matches the green in the vintage Marimekko window coverings.  The drawer beneath the sofa is massive, and the sofa back flips around to become a full sleeper.I had the cushion corners slightly squared off to not look terribly terribly 1980's.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Totes in love with these sconces from the Vintage Lighting section of Rejuvenation Lighting and Hardware.  They really don't look like they have ever been used!  Love love love the gold tone!

Little Things Mean a Lot

Needlepoint Pillow from Trina Turk

Vintage Midcentury Bulova Clock Radio from Penticton Flea Market

Chrome Beach Cruiser Bikes from Wil Stiles in Palm Springs

Relief Plaque from Estate Sale

Vintage TWA First Aid Kit cum Beverage Center

Trina Turk Residential Needlepoint Owl Pillow

I'm starting to fill in all the blanks now- here and there little things are getting unpacked.  I bought two beach cruiser bikes (in chrome, thank you) from Wil Stiles in Palm Springs.  They also have great clothes, but that's for another time.  Another stop at Trina Turk's Albert Frey-designed boutique next door to get two needlepoint pillows for the lounge area.  The owl will live in the tulip chair, and the Palm Springs pillow is going to reside across from the owl on the sofa/gaucho in the Airstream.

I bought the vintage TWA airliner first aid kit on ebay.  I'd wanted to do kind of a bar somehow, but filling this first aid kit with tiny airline-size liquor bottles seemed like a humorous solution.

The "relief" plaque came from an estate sale- I wonder what it was for originally?  It's going up in the Airstream's bathroom.  I considered putting it on the door, but it's inside near the tiny basin.

The Bulova clock radio had to come live with me.  I was in Penticton, British Columbia this summer at my friends Liz and Frank's place and Liz and I went to the flea market.  Picked this little WORKING radio up for $20 Canadian!  Unfortunately, both knobs broke in my carry on on the way home- someone had glued them on previously, so need to patch those up.

Upholstery, Lights, and Wastewater Tanks

Padded Lower Wall in Green Sunbrella w original table legs

Rear Sleeping Berth Overhead Cabinets

Midcentury Pendant Light over Dinette

Living Room Sofa Arm/Wall Padding

Full Grey Water Tank

Things are moving very swiftly now- the lower upholstered walls were installed- more sound insulation, and when the sleeper sofa in use, these function as a headboard.  They were finished in a green Sunbrella fabric that matches the green in the Marimekko fabric of draperies.  The sofa arms were installed, but the sofa can't be put in until the flooring gets installed (next Wednesday, HOORAY!).

Crandall's RV service has been putting in the lighting upgrades- the cabinets above the bed are going to have a dimmer switch for the surface mount vintage lights from Rejuvenation.  I also realized last night in the blinding glare of undercabinet halogen lights from my kitchen that I will also need a dimmer there.

The Pendant light from etsy looks fantastic over the dinette table- I just need a hook to pull the cord to one side while the light is in use.

Lastly, was over at the Airstream this morning, and noticed about 3-4 inches of water in the shower stall- I texted Crandall's and they said my greywater tanks probably needed to be emptied- I washed dished for the first time last night, and I guess I filled the tank- oops!

It's Curtains For You!

The upholstery has been done for weeks, but we are waiting on flooring to be installed.  We finally decided to install the draperies.  The fabric is a Marimekko fabric, love the colors.  There will also be green wall panels, and a green sofa.  You can see the installed (but not pressed) drapes in the bedroom, complete with my banana pillow from the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.

Everything and the Kitchen Sink!

The kitchen is starting to come together.  I took out the original range that was black and Krylon'ed the Hell out of it in front of my space- not entirely happy with the result, but it looks better than it did.  The original oak tambor-door spice rack above the range came out- was too gross to clean up well.  It is replaced with a magnetic spice container that ties in nicely with the aluminum exterior.  The spoon collection is a tongue-in-cheek fun thing that I picked up in Canada a few weeks ago at a flea market.  The sink isn't attached yet, and neither is the faucet, but who cares, I don't have water yet!  I love the little folding counter space at the end of the kitchen.

Christmas In July

The boxes piled up while I was visiting my friends in British Columbia.  I was very busy buying buying buying everything I could think of for my Palm Springs Airstream on ebay, and now Liz has introduced me to the dark side of Etsy.

I ordered a knockoff tulip chair for my dinette table.  The table can be seen behind it; it folds neatly away into the wall under a ledge; and I couldn't resist this tiny late 1960's Sony black-and-white TV that will come in handy for me cutting down on TV watching.  Next to it is an Italian stash jar by Tackett that were marketed through Esquire magazine in the early 1960's- as a place to put condoms!

My first-ever Etsy purchase is this gold-toned 1960's pendant light that came from London, England.  It will be great hanging over the dinette table- on a hook, so I can take it down when not playing cards or eating at the table.

Gifts? Yes, I LOVE Gifts!

Please find attached photographs of gifts suitable for that special someone who is moving into a trailer home.

It's a lot of fun getting presents in the mail; it's even more fun when they are technically presents for your great big honking Airstream.  From the top:  A Weber Grill (old-school charcoal) from Paul Kaplan (of The Paul Kaplan Group that I work for), and a great midcentury cone-shaped ashtray from a real estate client; four teak-handled spoons from my mom to round out a set that I am collecting; Pink Flamingos from my dad and his wife; a book on starting my own trailer haven from my friend Liz; and a string of Airstream lights for my awning, from my sister.