Inspiration I House on Wheels

I’ve put in my elbow grease to find my five favorite House on Wheels. Sip on that coffee, snuggle up to Duke and take a tour.

LOCAL BRANCH

Weatherworn 1979 Airstream

Mackenzie Edgerton and Blaine Vossler decided to quit their day jobs and turn their passions—handcrafted design—into a full-time job. They knew that they wanted to travel around the country, selling their wares at music festivals, craft fairs, and pop-up shops. Obtaining what they needed for this dream to become a reality—a traveling studio, office, and home—was the real challenge. As luck would have it, the duo came upon a 32 foot Weatherworn 1979 Airstream trailer.

When we bought this beaut she had dirty and ripped carpeting, filled with junk, green slime on the walls, cabinet doors that would fall off when you opened them, a faint stench of cigarette smoke and ew, mildew, a few layers of 1960’s wallpaper, oh the list goes on and on.

Crafters at heart and by profession, Mackenzie and Blaine rolled up their sleeves and applied their signature aesthetic to the trailer’s interior, crafting a space that functioned not just as an inspiring studio, but a genuinely homey house on wheels. A direct offshoot of their “Made Throughout America” ethos, this gorgeous camper allowed Mackenzie and Blaine’s business, The Local Branch, to get out of town and stretch its roots.

Visit the Local Branch website here!

HELLO BLUEBIRD

1991 Bluebird School Bus

A simple life full of adventure, travel, and spontaneity, with less “stuff” seemed to fit the bill, and nothing has ever felt more right. Casey and Ashlee are fulfilling that life with their Bluebird school bus to home on wheels conversion.

Visit the Hello Bluebird blog here.

JOE’S TRUCK HOUSE

A work truck converted into a rolling home by Joe.

I don’t feel I missed anything beyond this form of life. Yes, I gave up a lot of stuff-books, clothing and other unnecessary things we all registers. But gained freedom. Real freedom. Freedom of movement, that allows me to live near the beach, in the beautiful wooded area, or even in the city. Freedom from taxes, electricity, cable companies and corporations.

Photos by Ilan Nachum.

KOMBI

1971 Volkswagen

In 2012 Fenja and Roberto left their old lives behind to start a life experiment about other ways – and above all – other ethics of living as they both felt that their lives demanded a well-organized and materialistic complete existence, but was not the answer in leading a fulfilled one. They bought – as they say here Ecuador – a ‘casa rodante’, a rolling house. They worked very hard to up-cycle a green Volkswagen Kombi from 1971, into a nomadic home. The reason?

We want to go even more into the wild, and be more free in navigating during our travel. And of course whenever we want park the car, grab our tent, and get out even further.

When they bought the bus the original camper decoration was already long gone. They put a lot of thought into the design process, and the result: shabby chic, all recycled materials and basic, but completely functional living space. Great sleeping space (even to be turned into space for 4), a kitchen, storage, a nice cozy couch for the cold days, electricity for the modern nomad gadgets, and an outside shower heating on the sun. What more do you need!

Visit Fenja and Roberto’s blog here.

WILD POPPY

Midway 1959 Travel Trailer

Taylor Kitto, a stylist and owner of  Wild Poppy Goods, dream finally became a reality when she purchased a vintage Midway 1959 travel trailer. Although the vehicle had certainly seen better years, Taylor was determined to return it to its former glory. With a fresh coat of paint and a few choice fixtures, she was able to do that and more! The final result is a cozy, wonderfully charming home-away-from-home.

It’s tight and cozy in there with a big ole’ husky, a lil mutt, Philip, but we love it nonetheless. Honestly, I don’t need much space (I live in teeny tiny studio and actually prefer small spaces!)

Visit Taylor’s site, Wild Poppy Goods here!

- Shannon