This isn’t your Grandma’s trailer, but if it were she’d have been the talk of the neighborhood, especially if it was an RV Park.
When it comes to spacious elegance this 1973 Airstream Sovereign feels more like a Hilton hotel suite than a 31-foot RV. There are more amenities than most upscale hotels for $300 and up a night. (Click now for a short video).
While the iconic Airstream polished mirror aluminum exterior reflects its surroundings, the interior offers a relaxed, au‘natural groove. Let’s start with the materials:
- Durable Brazilan koa flooring with a hardness rating that shuns wear.
- Pure white refinished aluminum walls, and earth-friendly kudos for using zero-VOC finishes.
- Hand-sanded pecan-stained birch interior walls crafted in subtle curves.
- Raw canvas upholstery and lining on the bedroom nook soffit.
- Luminous and lightweight recycled blue grey glass tiles cover the bathroom floor.
- Solid glacier white Corian countertops throughout.
The Wizard of Ah-h-hs
Living, kitchen and dining areas are blended into a relaxed vibe of smart simplicity. “Ah-h-h…” is the typical reaction as one enters the front door into a space that feels much larger than the square footage would allow.
“I could live in this,” is another common comment. Paper smooth floor-to-ceiling wood to the front and back, with smoked plexiglass doors draw attention inward, while calm and serene spacious tones exude left and right. “How did you make it feel so big,” is an oft repeated query. Hofmann’s secret? Less is more.
Now you’re cookin’
Kitchen appliances include a two-burner smoothtop cooktop, Haier under counter refrigerator with freezer compartment, and microwave convection oven. The deep and wide basin sink, includes contemporary-styled spray faucetry, soap dispenser and three-stage water filtration. Under cabinet low-voltage Halogen lighting. Silent-close solid maple drawers, with Hafele hardware and pantry shelves complete the epicurean experience.
Sleepin’ in the great outdoors
Luxurious bedrooms must have one thing in common: comfort, and this one’s no exception. Start with a quilted pillowtop queen mattress, 1000 thread count sheets, down pillows, his-and-her clothe storage, backlit bed soffit, and convenient nighttime reading task lights. A flat screen HiDef TV with WiFi iHome entertainment system for movies, music or surfing the web make this a room you will love to stay. Finish your day gazing into a starry night from the moon roof overhead.
Bathing made for a queen
The best has been saved for last. While most RV bathrooms are barely large enough for one person, this is a room you and your partner may spend your most enjoyable indoor hours. Start with a clawfoot tub and chrome faucet/shower wand set. The wood-toned and Corian-topped vanity seamlessly blends into the wall. A glass vessel sink and contemporary faucet complete the washroom. The full-height, dual flush toilet is another sustainably-smart move.
A 30-gallon water heater insures there is going be enough hot water to fill the full-sized tub.
All-electric: efficient, safe, clean
The ease of operation of this Airstream is credited to its all-electric appliances – which means no pilots to light, the absence of any carbon monoxide gas, and no cumbersome, smelly propane tanks to tote back and forth from the filling station.
For year-round comfort, each room comes with its own easy-to-operate wall heater and plenty of windows for natural light and ventilation. There’s also a thermostatically-controlled Dometic air conditioner in the main living area – the cold standard in the industry.
“The goal in design and construction of this Airstream Sovereign,” says it’s creator Matthew Hofmann, “was to create one of the easiest, most functionally-simple RVs available on the market today.”
Airstream: 80-years young
Airstream, known as the Rolls Royce of RVs, has been delivering America’s classiest travel trailers nonstop since the 1930s. The all-American Airstream company was created in the 1930s by entrepreneur Wally Byum. Estimates are that of the 100,000 Airstreams built,more than 75% are still roadworthy today.
The Hofmann’s Airstream renovation brand embraces a similar design philosophy that balances a respect of the past with forward-thinking materials and concepts.
Affordable accommodations made simple
“Many clients want an Airstream as an upscale, yet affordable, seasonal guest house,” says Matthew. “Our commercial clients want a low-cost hotel suite on wheels.”
To meet the demand, the Hofmanns designed a leasing program of vintage Airstreams on a monthly and yearly basis for private homeowners and to the travel and hospitality industries. Monthly rates range from $995 to $1995. They are currently filling orders with several California Central Coast retreat centers, ranches, and wineries.
Retro fascination phenomena
Matthew believes the reason for the popularity of renovated Airstream trailers is a mixture of nostalgia and technology.
“Their aluminum skins and aerodynamic curves are eye candy magnets,” he says. “There’s a movement back to our past,” says Matthew, who’s also been bitten by the nostalgia bug himself. He lived in an Airstream for a year.
For leasing information contact Wally at (805) 618-2461 x102 or click here to send an email.
Hi Matt!
I’m a musician from San Antonio, TX and my fiance and I have been working on a cruise ship for the past 2 years together and are finally going back to Texas to settle down…. in an Airstream. I saw your Airstream and we loved it, but we also love the clawfoot tub… just a question… how did you get the clawfoot tub INTO the Airstream? It seems like it’d be kind of difficult. Also, is it acrylic? That seems like it’d be the lightest option. I understand if you want to keep your trade secrets, but I’d love to know!
Thanks!!
Ashlee Rose
Hi Ashlee. We’re happy to help answer any questions! The clawfoot indeed is acrylic and it weighs less than 80 lbs. It slipped right into the front window, which we temporarily removed. Enjoy!
What is the dimensions of the bathroom? what water pump did you use? i read that you upgraded to a 30 gallon water heater.
The inside bathroom dimension is about 5-1/2′ x 7-1/2′ — we’ve named that one Phoenix, btw. Let us know if you want one like it. It’s our personal favorite. A very liveable space. And yes, the water heater is 30-gal to be able to handle the 50-gal clawfoot bathtub, another HofArc Custom Airstream first.