Airstream Mania

I once wrote a post about restoring vintage Airstreams.

It was number one on my "Design Bucket List," and although I haven't found one yet to restore, I'm constantly looking for one.

Mr. A and I dream about touring the country after retirement, pulling our Airstream behind us.

I've been seeing a lot more Airstreams on the road lately--people doing exactly what we dream of.

In the meantime, we could stay in one of the new and trendy Airstream hotels that have been cropping up everywhere.

We discovered Caravan Outpost last summer on a trip to Ojai.

Caravan Outpost finds vintage Airstreams and restores them, giving each one its own look and feel.

So far, they have eleven trailers!

This one is called "Perla."

 This one is called "Audrey."

Isn't she cute inside?

I love the ticking upholstery mixed with the tribal blanket.

Another Airstream hotel, Autocamp is closer to home in Guerneville.

Autocamp is nestled amongst the redwoods and close the the Russian River, featuring all new, luxuriously decked out Airstreams.

Imagine waking up here!

Can you tell I'm obsessed?

What is it about these iconic trailers that makes me all giddy?

Is it their sleek and shiny exterior?

Or is it the possibility of what the interior could look like?

Be it Pinterest, Instagram or sites that feature Airstreams, I'm always looking for ideas for their interiors.

There is so much that you can do with them, but I'm particularly fond of a rustic interior like the one above.

One of my favorites is this interior by Ralph Lauren.

Reba McIntire's rustic 1988 Airstream is a heart stopper!

I follow Tin Can Homestead on Instagram--about a couple who restored an Airstream and live in it with their two dogs in Seattle.

Their style is rustic, yet clean and organized.

Notice how they took out the built ins and created their own floorplan.

Recently, we met our new neighbors down the road and up on Pine Mountain in Cloverdale.
They have created a compound of vintage Airstreams for their personal retreat.


They found this one already gutted and paneled in pine.
They hauled it all the way from Seattle and parked it on their property to be used as the "dining car."
A couple of army cots take care of extra guests.


I was hyperventilating when I saw the inside with antique leather Swedish chairs.


Their guest trailer is totally different inside and has a modern, contemporary vibe.

After visiting our neighbors, Mr. A and I were even more inspired.
He even suggested we create a similar caravan of Airstreams on our property for guests.
Not so fast I told him.  We haven't even found one yet, let alone gutted and remodeled it!
I know it will happen someday--down the road.
No pun intended!

Looking for more Airstream inspiration?
Instagram:
Airstream Dreams
Airstream Classics
Mavis The Airstream
Tin Can Homestead
Mountain Modern Airstream

Facebook:
Airstream Tours
Airstream Classifieds
Airstream Addicts

Paris Fashion Week With The Fashionistas

The whole point of going to Paris when we did was to be there for Fashion Week.

Although I'm not into fashion and was the least fashionable of the four of us, it was certainly an experience to be there with these two fashionistas!

Kathleen has a popular fashion blog called KatwalkSF, so it made sense that she would pack two gigantic suitcases for the trip.

She was very prepared for all the fashion shows and for photoshoots that Ashley or I took for her blog.

I love this look, day one on the Champs-Elysees.

Very chic!

Kathleen talked Ashley into posing in the Jardin deTuileries for her post on Paris street style.

There's that cape again.  

(From my closet.)

They would meet us in the lobby every night, and it was always exciting to see what they were wearing.

The girls usually attended two or three fashion shows during the day...

...and since my friend Teresa and I couldn't get in, we walked and shopped!

We were able to visit some showrooms though.

This was Ashley's favorite.

I enjoyed the Cacharel showroom and how everything was displayed simply on makeshift plywood tables and racks. 

A model in Cacharel.

Ashley modeling her wicked witch of the west ensemble!

Kathleen the night we ate at La Société in her Trina Turk pants.

 "The Fashionistas" in front of Notre Dame.

Ashley channeling The Monuments Men look!

You never know when there will be an impromptu photoshoot!

There's never a dull moment when traveling with "The Fashionistas." 

For a whole week in Paris, being with these girls made me feel like I was their age again.

Well, almost!

They even have a new name, thanks to a very nice waiter who called them "wicked trendy!"

Perhaps it could be the name of our someday boutique?

Be sure to check out Katheen's blog for more Paris Fashion Week inspiration.

KatwalkSF.com

I'm linking up to The Tablescaper for "Oh The Places I've Been"

Eating And Drinking Our Way Through Paris!

 What can I say, I love room service!

There's nothing like waking up to coffee and croissants which we managed to do almost every day in Paris!

Except for the day we ate breakfast at McDonalds which was very good!

We even splurged and had a proper tea in the afternoon.

Quite civilized and lovely.

Another splurge was chocolat chaud on a rainy afternoon.

The French know how to make the best hot chocolate!

 Lunch at Ralph's was a very forgettable chicken dish.

I should have ordered the hamburger!

 One of our memorable dinners was at La Société, beginning with a very dirty martini before dinner.

An asparagus and artichoke salad....

...followed by escargot!

Of course a beautiful bottle of wine was de rigeuer!

I've never eaten so much butter!

Butter on French bread is divine!

Eating and drinking our way through Paris was very fun but now I need to go on a post-Paris diet!

Can someone please tell me why French women aren't overweight?

Window Shopping and Parisian Storefronts

Paris has the most beautiful store fronts, enticing one to step in and browse.

Whether they are painted faux bois or blue or black, they stand apart from the building they share.

We did our fair share of window shopping too!

I spied this fabulous tartan plaid oxford in a window...

...vintage Hermes in another window.

The owner of this shop was out for lunch...

...and we were desperate to find out the prices of the vintage Chanel in the window.

A beautiful window display in this home decor shop.

And another sweet display in this shop.

I knew better than to go inside!

Dangerous!

Such beautiful macarons displayed in Laudurée window.

And four gorgeous puddings for four tourists with a sweet tooth!

A healthier snack would be fruit, so beautifully displayed here.

Seeing the neighborhoods with their shops and boutiques inspired us.

We talked and brainstormed at length about a little boutique of our own!

Maybe someday....