Airstream home

When Mackenzie Edgerton and Blaine Vossler decided to take their print and leather goods company, The Local Branch, on the road, they needed the perfect trailer to make it happen. With four weeks and $3,000, the couple transformed an Airstream trailer into a cozy home and studio that they now live in full-time as they travel the country selling their products.

With the lease expiring on their San Francisco apartment, Edgerton and Vossler were in a time crunch to find a trailer. “We basically allotted a week to find the perfect fixer-upper,” Edgerton said.

In January, they traveled throughout California, searching for the perfect trailer. With a little help from Craigslist, they found their new home: an Airstream trailer.

“When we first saw the Airstream, it was in need of a major overhaul,” Edgerton said. “There were flat tires, mildew, lots of trash, layers of green slime, old wallpaper and a broken window."

“It was actually a bit overwhelming,” Vossler said. “Even through all of that, we saw great potential.”

The main renovation took approximately four weeks. The couple first gutted the entire trailer, then cleaned, painted and made plumbing and electrical repairs. Next, they installed cabinets and new floors before moving in permanently.

“We were both really excited to take on this project, but we had to learn it all, including carpentry and plumbing, as we went,” Edgerton said. “There was a lot of trial and error.”

The couple selected reclaimed redwood planks from a fencing company in Northern California to use for their Airstream’s cabinets and countertops.

“Living in San Francisco, we spent a lot of time hiking and exploring in redwood forests,” Edgerton said. “It’s nice to take that experience with us.”

The couple now sells their products out of their trailer at craft shows, music festivals and pop-up shops throughout the country. They have also made a point to pick one-of-a-kind décor items for their home from various spots in their travels.

“There is an inherent story and history behind everything we collect,” Edgerton said about their home décor. Their bison skull came from a small trading post in Sedona, Arizona, while their 48-star flag came from a stop in Freehome, Georgia.

“We really wanted everything in our space to be a reflection of our travels, filled with souvenirs from many corners of the country.”

“We’ve been all over the country, from San Francisco to Brooklyn, New Orleans to Portland,” Edgerton said. “No matter where we are, we’re always home.”