Cece and Brenda went all out on their Airstream renovation and the list of upgrades is incredible. Pulled by a biodiesel truck conversion, this Airstream features a composting toilet, cork flooring, flexible solar panels, LED lights, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Cece and Brenda, in an attempt to downsize their lives, decided to go from a 1500 square foot home down to a 25' Safari Airstream Trailer. After purchasing the 2003 trailer, they turned the standard Airstream into an incredibly green RV. The details are on their Web site, but here are a summary of the goodies found inside their new home:
- Walls and ceiling – Natural earthen plaster by American Clay
- 500 watt Solar power system sponsored by Applied Solar Energy, Outback Power and Bogart Engineering- Two 130 watt flexible panels and one 240 watt adjustable rigid solar panel.
- Rainwater harvesting system – in progress
- Tea Leaf Supreme eco-friendly mattress
- Vida cork planks and natural linoleum flooring
- Paperstone and natural linoleum counter tops
- Organic twill fabric for reupholstered couch/sleeper
- Madagascar Ebony Echo Wood veneer cabinets and masterfully installed by Eco Craft Cabinetry.
- Interior and exterior LED lighting by Elemental LED.
- Lumicor recycled eco architectural resin shower door
- Kirei board office desk using a low VOC finish
- Composting toilet – Nature’s Head (waterless)
• Read More: GreenRVLife via JetsonGreen
(Images: Y Studio Photography via Jetson Green)
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While some of their upgrades are clear improvements and interesting, I'd not call this whole project "green". They don't go into it in the article, but if the trailer was made in 2003, surely most of the stuff they ripped out and replaced was perfectly serviceable. How is replacing something that's practically brand new green? Unless that thing had gotten seriously abused in the short time since it was built, and/or the original stuff was re-used somewhere, this project gets a big "don't like" from me.
Oh, I should add though that the results are beautiful, and if they were intent are re-doing the thing, most of their material choices were great. The only thing I really take issue with is the overall "green" label.
Obviously, the reno looks very nice. I do agree with qhartman about the green issue.
No way could I sleep in a bed next to a toilet, though.
You'll see on their website that many of the items that were removed were either donated to charity or given to other RVers. And some things, like most of the appliances, were reused. Plus, in the before photos, the interior was less than appealing. If I were downsizing and making this my permanent home, I'd want to make it a place I'd actually WANT to live in as well, so I can't blame them for essentially gutting it and starting over. The end result looks pretty good, far better than the original.
However, I have to agree with RocketScientist. No way could I live with the toilet right next to the bed AND visible from anywhere inside the RV. When you have guests and need to use the bathroom, would you need to ask them all to leave? I presume either that or be VERY friendly with them!
Can you link to their site with the before info? I clicked through to the source, and then to the source's source, but I didn't see any of that info. Thanks!
oh, do'h, I see it now...
Toilet's kind of close to the bed . . . otherwise, amazing.
what an amazing Airstream!!!!! I have just fallen in LOVE with these trailers and hope to make one over one day for us too!!!
The toilet could easily be solved with a curtain... though I do hope they have REALLY GOOD ventilation.
The kitchen is so cute! And I love pretty much the entire aesthetic of it. It's looks very nice and comfortable.
I love the concept.
I do think I would have made a tiny bathroom space for the toilet, using either a door finished to match the dark cabinetry of the kitchen or the privacy glass of the shower.
My parents full-timed in an RV over 30 years ago and they had the shower head over the toilet. I think I would take that compromise on space-saving over the toilet in the open next to the bed. Also it seems like it would really limit guest possibilities.
Still, inspires me to look into variations of the theme.
I probably would have put the toilet in the shower, but otherwise it's just lovely! The material they used for the shower door is really stunning as well.
I'd love to see how the table works. The blueprints say it lifts out of the floor, but it looks so seamless I'm having a hard time picturing where it comes up!
There is NO WAY I would have designed the bathroom like that... even if I lived by myself in this thing. Can you imagine walking up to your significant other going #2 (noises, smells, sights and all) 3 feet from your pillow with no barrier? PASS.