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Joe Z · 05-04-2004, 10:05 PM

Thought I'd start my own thread to document my new interior - step by step - from the floor up. The pink colored drapes, brown carpert and tan sofa with flowers had to go!

First post will show a before picture:

Joe Z · 05-04-2004, 10:14 PM

So my Mom, the angel that she is, volunteered to sew all new curtains. She started about two months ago, has been working on them off and on in between quilts, and is just about done. Here's a preview of what they look like:

uwe · 05-04-2004, 10:16 PM

You're right. Pretty offensive color scheme. The blue looks better, I think. So, what's the plan?

Joe Z · 05-05-2004, 09:17 PM

My step-son Jacob helped me get it out. It's now down at a local upholstery shop getting a facelift. Thank god!

**Stefrobrts** · 05-05-2004, 09:34 PM

Gosh the original interior looks like my Grandma's house! I like the blue curtains though. What's the couch going to look like? What are you going to put down in place of that lovely brown carpet?

BTW, your name freaks me out - are there really barking spiders? Ewww!

Joe Z · 05-05-2004, 09:34 PM

We managed to get the carpet out. Floor didn't look to bad underneath. Only one small area of dry rot where the refrigerator leaked for an extended period of time. Luckily the dry rot was underneath a cabinet out the way. I've sinced removed the cabinet, repaired the dry rot with penetrating epoxy, fiberglassed over the entire area, and sanded. Hard as a rock now. The leak was fixed and refrigerator replaced by previous owner.

Joe Z · 05-05-2004, 09:45 PM

I've also replaced the light oak plastic refrigerator panels with some real wood 1/8 inch red oak veneered plywood. You can see the difference between the first picture and the last. Now the panels actually match the rest of the oak interior.

pinkflamingoes · 05-06-2004, 11:11 AM

keep up the pictures, I'm following along!

fbaileysr · 05-06-2004, 02:05 PM

My 1988, 25', with twin beds has the same exact color layout. I will be following your thread closely.

mtpalms · 05-06-2004, 03:05 PM

Maybe I shouldn't say anything, because this may not have bothered you before and you thought you could live with it, but now it may drive you mad; what about that 'weedy' looking wall-to-wall formica? I coud live with pink curtains for awhile if they were in good condition, not the weeds.

Both you and fbaileysr say you had the same color scheme. Would this have been a custom dealie, or stock color in trailers then? Maybe they were special Mary Kay models

Anyway, the improvements look great so far. Good job!

Joe Z · 05-06-2004, 04:03 PM

mtpalms - The weedy looking formica that I think you are referring to is only on the walls in the kitchen, not wall-to-wall, and it is actually wallpaper that Airstream has adheared to plywood sheets. Surprised me when I realized the interior skin in the kitchen is actually wood - not aluminum. And no it does not bother me at all. The countertops may not show well in the pictures but they actually have a very neutral marble look that should go well with the rest of the interior once completed.

Joe

mtpalms · 05-06-2004, 05:27 PM

I'll take your word for it on the marble look - might not be so bad after all - I think the wallpaper was reflecting the weedy look onto the countertops. Too much of a -ah- -ah- thing, good thing, yeah that's it.

Joe Z · 05-09-2004, 01:34 PM

Well it looks like I've found another small piece of dry rot. Nothing that a little penetrating epoxing and fiberglass wont fix - but what a pain in the @#&. This time the leak is active, floor was a little wet, and I'll have to correct that before putting it all back together. On the bright side - I've uncovered the one remaining leak and it can be fixed. Never thought replacing the interior would be this involved. I guess this is all a plus. Had I not replaced the interior I would never of found this active leak. The trailer will be sound after this job and I should get many years of use out of it.

Over59 · 05-09-2004, 02:02 PM

My wife says I love taking things apart but never get around to putting everything back together. She doesn't understand the need to comtemplate the ordering to all the pieces. Now that you took a wall panel down you are heading in a direction which is full of danger.

wildcat455 · 05-10-2004, 10:11 PM

gee. it was such a nice trailer, don't you wish you could re-negotiate the sales price?

seriously, I'm jealous, we've been totally consumed remodeling the house we just bought, and haven't had a minute to spend in the ole Airstream since we saw you guys last. Good luck with the remodeling. Mike n Becky

Joe Z · 05-11-2004, 04:41 PM

Ok, this section of dry rot is not as easy of a fix as I thought. After assessing the situation further I hollered UNCLE and gave up. Took the trailer down to Camper Clinic in Buda, TX this afternoon and turned it over to them. More than I want to deal with. The verdict is they will have to cut the corner section of flooring back to the first frame cross member and insert a new section of wood (after they fix the leak). The good thing is the area is completely exposed right now so the repair will be in full view when I go to pick up the trailer. This will give me some satisfaction and confidence in the job as I'll be able to see every last detail of the repair work. I'll post pictures.

Joe

**Stefrobrts** · 05-11-2004, 07:31 PM

There's no shame in handing a project off to someone else who you trust to do the job right, instead of fumbling through it yourself. Looks like you got quite a ways on it at least, so you'll know what they did when you get it back.

Joe Z · 05-14-2004, 11:06 PM

Got the couch & panels back from the upholstery shop here in Austin(Ambrose Upholstery). They did an awesome job. Posted a few pics below of the couch, panels, curtains & cat (Stella). Everything is coming together. Now if I can only get the trailer back from the dealer in Buda I could start putting it all back together. But that will not happen until next Friday. Until then I'll just have to imagine what it will look like while it sits in my living room.

StreamNTyme · 05-15-2004, 07:57 AM

Your sofa looks great...we have the exact layout only a 29' '93 Excella...looks the same, same oak, same finish...had our sofa redone too..did not do the panels could not see what they were supposed to do so we are going to throw them away. We are building storage in oak on the sides of the sofa with oak lift top panels to set drinks on ..we would like to change the twins to a double...have you thought about doing that or not. If so, how, size and especially managing to keep the storage below...