Retro-vation - The Idea

In any remodeling project, there needs to be a vision.  Fortunately, Max - my partner in crime (and it always feels slightly criminal tearing up a perfectly adequate home or Airstream) - and I usually agree on a look we are trying to achieve.  It also usually begins with each side having certain non-negotiable items.  Max's was eliminating the "carpet" on the wall (it's actually called ozite) and what he called the "coffin curtains".  I actually liked the carpet, because you could put the hook side of Velcro on anything and stick it to the wall.  I did that under the dinette with the modem, wireless router, and computer cords.  Keeps everything tucked well away.  Here's a photo of patches from various parks we visited velcroed to the wall.  
But, it was true that the white ozite was showing some age.  It tends to develop black spots that are actually fine aluminum shavings from the wear and tear on the rivets. 

And, here is a photo of the "coffin curtains" that, to my way of thinking, ran on beautiful tracks around the interior. 

But then I had a non-negotiable item, also.  A new toilet.  Enough said.  BTW, it's good to pay attention to the height of a toilet when shopping.  We first bought a full-height one from Camping World, only to discover we forgot the toilet sits on a platform.  Well, the only one who might have been able to use it was a basketball player, and that's not who Airstreams are really optimal for.   

So, having discussed non-negotiables, we then got to the more fun part of deciding on a look.  That was easy - it was definitely a Retro-vation!  Airstreams have a lovely history, and we love looking at photos of them through the years.  Although we are not fanatics about authentic details, we knew we would love to try to achieve a retro look.