Designer Profile: In a Small Space, Details Matter

Meet Bonnie, the funky 21-foot 1969 Airstream Globetrotter that was originally a rust bucket begging for renovation. "We saved her from a life as a rodent motel in the fields outside Fairplay, Colorado," says restoration artist Kerri Cole.

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Featured Project: Airstream Trailer Restoration

Kerri Cole and her husband Patrick wanted to create a hip retreat that they could use to travel the USA as they are recent empty nesters. When they saw the 1969 Airstream trailer, they knew it would be a huge project, but they were up for the challenge.

1969 vintage Airstream aluminum shiny bodied camper caravan trailer with hitch but not hitched to anything in a driveway

Photo credit: Colorado Caravan

The backside of a vintage aluminum Airstream trailer seen in a desert setting with mountains in the background and beautiful blue cloudy skies

Photo credit: Colorado Caravan

The husband-wife team was well poised for the renovation: Kerri is an interior designer and Patrick is a builder who has remodeled homes, cars and caravans. Kerri and Patrick designed their Airstream trailer with a simple crisp white interior shell and contrasting modern black cabinetry.

Though they loved the monochrome concept, the Kerri and Patrick quickly realized it was too harsh and needed to be toned down. When they found Walnut Studiolo's Leather Drawer Pulls (The Hawthorne in Honey/Nickel), they knew they had the perfect solution.

Close-up detail of the honey leather Hawthorne Wide handles on the sink cabinet with a black-and-white-striped kitchen towel over the black cabinets

Photo credit: Colorado Caravan

Close-up of the tall cabinet where it meets the counter-height cabinet in the kitchen on the vintage Airstream, with honey leather handles and black cabinetry and walnut countertops

Photo credit: Colorado Caravan

We wanted to use something for the cabinetry hardware that wasn't seen everywhere, that was handcrafted, and that really brought attention to the details since it is such a small space." Kerri says installation was incredibly easy, they now want to add Walnut Studiolo's Leather Drawer Pulls to all of their projects.

Inside the Airstream in the middle of the galley kitchen, looking to the back of the bus where the bed / couch is. There is a strong design theme of black and white textiles with honey leather and walnut wood accents, and Hawthorne Small leather loop handles on the upper cabinets behind the bed

Photo credit: Colorado Caravan

Close-up of the dining room table for two with place settings for four on the vintage Airstream dining area, with black and black-brown table and white dishes

Photo credit: Colorado Caravan

The drawer pulls inspired Kerri and Patrick to incorporate other leather features into their project, including curtain ties and bench coverings. But Kerri says the drawer pulls are still what stand out the most, "While our entire space is pretty great," Kerri says, "our guests are always drawn to the leather Hawthorne handles!"

Close-up detail of the kitchen walnut wood countertop, with a sign that says, Oh Darling Let

Photo credit: Colorado Caravan

Close-up detail of a window bench seat with brown leather and black pillows with white pom-poms

Photo credit: Colorado Caravan

About Colorado Caravan

Kerri is constantly busy as a content creator and interior stylist working for several Colorado Magazines and national advertising accounts. Follow what she's up to on @soverykerriand see more of Kerri and Patrick's Airstream renovations @coloradocaravan.

Kerri and Patrick Cole of Colorado Caravan do renovation of caravans + shipping containers + mobile bars + pop-up shops. Learn more about them on our Instagram page.