Today we’re taking another look at one of our recently finished projects which we like to call, ‘The Minimalist Airstream’.

This Airstream belongs to Doug Hamilton of the Wham Agency in London, a branding company who create, re-invent and deliver new brands worldwide.

The Airstream design brief was that it was to be very low key, simple and definitely ‘not blingy’ – so basically the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of what we have achieved with the Lava Lamp Airstream! If you compare these two trailers that we worked on side-by-side it just goes to show how versatile we are here at American Retro Caravans and how Kathy and Darren are able to work with our clients to develop their vision into reality, rather than recreating the same ‘house style’. You name it – we can build it!

This design maximises the natural light and space in the Airstream. As the Airstream is going to be situated in the South of France it needed to be well insulated against extreme temperatures. ARC will be towing the Airstream down to the South of France for Doug where it will be used as an office and guest accommodation.

Back to the Lava Lamp Airstream today and a closer look at the lighting. As previously mentioned, the whole design is based on the inside of the Lava Lamp and there’s one recessed into the wall between the kitchen and the rear seating area:

Running along the ceiling is a panel fitted with hundreds of twinkling ‘stars’

There are also some LEDs positioned around the main seating area

Different lamps and spotlights are positioned throughout to illuminate the bathroom and the various cocktail making surfaces:

The mood lighting can be controlled by remote control with a round controller to alter the colour, the speed of the twinkling and flashing and the brightness of the lights in different areas. In combination with the surround sound stereo system and various gadgets such as the wine cooler and popcorn machine this Airstream has been a very interesting job for our electrician Terry who originally learned his trade as a helicopter electrician for the Royal Navy.

So the Lava Lamp Airstream is pretty much finished and last week our excellent photographer, Jeremy Phillips came in to take some shots for us which have attracted a lot of discussion and a very positive reaction on our Facebook page and over 100 new ‘likes’.

The Lava Lamp Airstream was designed for our client who is in the wine trade, as an unusual and exciting space for entertaining guests in his garden. As a temporary static structure it requires no planning permission as it will be listed as a garden structure. It can be used as a spare room for visitors and also a very funky party space. Next month we will be delivering it to his home and installing it with a crane as there is no rear access to the building – and yes we will put some pictures of this exciting development on the blog!

The colour scheme in the Lava Lamp Airstream is based on the inside of a lava lamp. It is equipped with everything our client might need for a party, including wine storage, cocktail cabinet, ice maker, wine cooler, top quality sound system, colour changing LED’s and of course, a lava lamp, recessed into the wall. For overnight guests, the seating area can be transformed into a large double bed and there is also a separate seating area / bunk at the rear.

We recently tweeted the chaps at Lava Lamp to ask them what they thought of it and they replied “Whoa. Talk about a hot ride!” That just about sums it up.

Here’s a few shots of the interior:

The seating area features a table on a remote-controlled telescopic leg, to the right is the wine cooler and the cocktail cabinet (closed)

Here’s another view of the seating area, with the cocktail cabinet open – beneath it a serving surface can be pulled out. Set into the ceiling are some remote controlled, twinkling, colour changing LED lights which look like a starry sky.

Close up of the cocktail cabinet with pull out serving surface below.

Here’s the toilet and wash basin, continuing the orange and purple theme. The laminate in here is from a design called Kromablobs by Karim Rashid

Another shot of the bathroom with additional seating to the rear of the Airstream

The table in the seating area has a Sex Pistols God Save the Queen Design, in honour of Her Majesty’s Jubilee.

Next time, we’ll show some more detailed shots of the interior…

Here are some photos of a vintage 1950′s Whale Tail Airstream that we are working on. Teak wood veneers and a mint green 50′s Smeg oven really work well in this retro feel Airstream.

The client wanted us to use vintage parts where ever possible so we have fitted original hinges and catches.

The rot in the floor is a very common problem in Vintage Airstreams, which is why we always pull up the old floor and start with repairing and painting the chassis.

This photo shows the state that some window frames are in before we start working on them.

In the workshop today – This Vintage 1970′s Airstream has come in for repairs after a nasty bump!

In the workshop today: This new Airstream is just leaving the workshop after calling in for some repairs.

Today in the Lava Lamp Airstream we’ve been testing the colour changing LED lighting effects.

These shots were taken last week when we had all that beautiful sunshine – Dejo was able to give the ‘Lava Lamp’ Airstream a good old polishing while the sun shone on the yard – where has all that lovely weather gone now?

Our customer Scott from Senergy just sent us this photo of his Airstream in the snow in Aviemore taken today! We had record sunshine last week and now this….luckily all of our American Retro Caravans Airstreams are equipped to cope with the unpredictable British weather!