time of origin witness and nostalgic DIYs fill this tiny home with midcentury flair .
An minute ’s drive from the traffic and noise of Los Angeles , Julia Kastendiek ’s vintage trailer - turn - lilliputian homeoffers a glimpse into mere time . With its forest - impanel bulwark and retro furnishing , the 1954 Spartan trailer honors its midcentury root in careful item .
manufacture in 1954 at a converted aircraft factory in Tulsa , Oklahoma , the preview typifies themobile - homeboom of the post - war period of time . Companies such as Spartan and Airstream marketed these trailers as affordable , fully furnished homes that offered a modern variant of the American Dream . When Julia buy hers a few years ago for $ 13,000 , she took care to keep or restore as much of its original character as possible .
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mistreat inside the 24x8 - foot trailer and you ’ll discover original elements , including birch rod forest panelling alongside a variety of retro - panache furnishings Julia either compile or build up herself . The main living area , which she calls the reflection lounge due to its large windows , let in a daybed she forge from a midcentury chocolate mesa and upholster herself . The small dining tableis set with old-fashioned dishware Julia scored for $ 100 and accompanied by vintage chairs she updated with fresh framework .
The kitchen retains its original countertops and cabinets , which were crafted from birch wood , stained , and shellacked . " This color is very enigmatic of the severe look , " Julia read . A full - sizing refrigerator , microwave oven , and double - basin sump add modern convenience .
Around the corner from the kitchen and partition off by a curtain lie what Julia calls the " jewel - box lavatory . " The modest space is outfitted with a toilet , a custom - built conceitedness , and ashower tile in brilliant blue and white tilescollected by Julia . She repurposed a hammered aluminium salad arena to create the oval sink and used matching trays to make shelf that cast the original vanity mirror .
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Located at the far end of the trailer , the bedroom declare oneself a private retirement separated by a pocket door . To fit out the curved contours of the trailer ’s interior , Julia built the wooden bed frame and customized the full - size of it mattress with rounded nook . She sewed the bed cover using French barkcloth sourced from Etsy .
Outside , a shady summerhouse and furnished patio ply relaxing spots to take in views of the valley and mountains beyond . Altogether , the laggard and outdoor living areas take form an idyllic hangout Julia has dubbed midget Tiki Retro Hideaway . " This is our forever rest home here , " she enjoin . " We think it ’s really special , and we bonk to share it with friends and family . "
Above all , Julia appreciate the ability to show others " what it ’s like to ill-use back in prison term , " she enounce . " It ’s very gratifying . "
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How to Find a Vintage RV
There are many style of aluminum travel trailers besides the Spartan that Kastendiek own and finding the right one can be daunting . Catherine Bailey , forefront ofHeath Ceramics , owns and works out of a duet of Spartanette trailers , which were made by the same troupe as Kastendiek ’s . When Bailey was looking for her RVs , she found the Internet was the good tool when sleuthing the country . Bailey recommendssearchtempest.com , a hunting locomotive engine that scrolls all relevant itemisation in both Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist . Other helpful sites : tincantourists.comandclassifieds.vintagecampertrailers.com . Bailey says to require to pass $ 30,000 ( including cross - country pitch ) for a similar restored RV .
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