Airstream Update: Bathroom Refresh

Here we go again…another home improvement project. Even with less then 200 sq. ft. to work with I’m always finding something I want to change. This time around it’s the bathroom.

For those of you who don’t know, we have a 1999 Airstream Safari. These days Airstreams have a reputation for their modern interior outfitted with pleasing fabrics and finishes. Unfortunately, they went through a phase in the 90s where this was NOT the case. The original interior of our ’99 was nothing short of hideous. If you want proof, check out this post with all the before and after photos.

Before we moved in we did a pretty big cosmetic renovation of the interior. One of the areas that got a fairly significant overhaul was the bathroom. We replaced the sink, the faucet, the floor, the backsplash, the counter top and the toilet. We also painted over the ugly gold leaf patterned wallpaper and installed some towel hooks.

We still love our renovated bathroom…except for the backsplash. To make it look more like modern Airstreams we installed a sheet of aluminum behind the sink. It looked great at first and then the raw aluminum began to tarnish and stain with water spots that no amount of cleaning would remove. Eventually we decided to simply cover it up with a new backsplash. A few months ago we did the same thing in the kitchen.

Since I’ve never been one to do things halfway, I figured while we were at it we might as well add a fresh coat of paint and some new accessories. Here’s how it all went down…

Part 1: New Paint

Materials
– Behr Premium zero VOC paint in Eggshell finish
– Small roller
– Paintbrush
– Paint tray

We removed the upper cabinets and towel racks. Check out the gold patterned wall paper behind the removed cabinet. Now imagine the entire bathroom covered with this wallpaper!

The bathroom is small, but there are lots of edges and surfaces to cut around. Since I had already painted it once I knew I could do it with taping off anything. But I did spend extra time making sure I didn’t get paint anywhere it shouldn’t be. I spent about an hour painting the first coat and then went back to touch up some spots that needed extra coverage.

Part 2: New Backsplash

Materials
– 8 Smart Tile Peel & Stick Backsplash Tiles
– Straight edge & Utility Knife

We choose to use peel and stick tiles for a variety of reasons. They are lightweight, mess-free and easy to install.

While searching around online I came across the Smart Tile brand peel and stick tiles and knew that I liked the look. They are kind of like a glass tile, except made of a thin, plastic material that requires no mortar and no grout to install.

I decided to order them direct from the Smart Tile website because they have a wider selection then what you can find at Home Depot. This meant I had to pay a $10 shipping charge, but since the style I picked out was discounted I ended up saving money in the end. 

Installing the tiles was extremely easy. Since we had good luck in the kitchen simply installing the new tiles over the old backsplash, we didn’t bother removing it. That also ensured that we were starting with a flat surface. We lined up the first tile with the wall and counter and pressed on the front while slowly peeling off the back paper.

We followed the manufacturer’s instructions and overlapped the white “grout line” border between tiles. Before we knew it the first row was done.

The last tile on the end needed to be cut to fit. We measured and marked the tile, and then ran a utility knife along a straight edge to cut it. We also could have cut the tiles with scissors.

The second level went on top of the first, and soon we were looking at a much improved backsplash!

Part 3: Accessories

Materials:
– Towels (2 bath & 1 hand towel)
– Toothbrush holder

The final step was the addition of new accessories. I purchased some new towels that I found on sale at Target with a toothbrush holder to match. The yellow in the towels really adds a nice splash of color. A giant sea shell in the corner of the counter for decoration completed the look.

Final Thoughts

One week later and were loving the new look. The tiles are holding up nicely, and they are much easier to wipe clean then the old aluminum backsplash. The grand total for the entire remodel was only $93.00, which we consider a minimal investment for a fresh new look. Hopefully this will be the last chapter in the ongoing story of our tiny bathroom.