Holiday Hustle.....

Can you believe the holidays are already upon us?  As cliche as it sounds, this year has really flown by!!  I've been busy organizing inventory and trying to get some items ready to sell online and as easy as this sounds, it really does take a lot of time.  I've been doing some Christmas decorating around my house and thought I would share a picture of  my front porch.  I try to do a little something different every year just to make it fun and this year I thought I would skip the outdoor lights and instead just display one simple thing that symbolizes the season.  

Although I haven't had time to post on fabulous places to stay, I'm still keeping up with my tumblr.  Check it out here and follow me if you desire...  Until next time.

Durable and Stylish FLOR......

With so many options in flooring these days, normal wall to wall carpeting is quickly becoming a thing of the past.  From inexpensive laminate, to the rarest of hardwoods, flooring has come a long way from the shag carpets of the past.  As the owner of rental property, you want to make sure that the flooring you choose is durable and hard wearing.  Fortunately, there are many choices that are both durable and stylish as well as affordable.   FLOR Carpet Tiles are a great option.  These super stylish carpet tiles come in a variety of styles and are great for medium and high traffic areas, even bathrooms.  Plus, when one square gets damaged, you just replace that one square, not the entire room.  Easy to install and maintain, FLOR carpet tiles give you the ability to customize virtually any space and when your ready for a change, participate in the Return and Recycle program and send your unwanted tiles back to FLOR free of charge.  Here are just a few ways you can use FLOR tiles. 

 

If you're interested in maximizing your occupancy and creating one of a kind guest accomodations, contact me at Guest House Interiors.

Vintage Inspiration....

There have been some amazing vintage items online recently and thought I would share some of them with you.  If you live in a smaller city or a remote area, you don't have access to resale shops or thrift stores like we do in the big city but that doesn't mean you can't find some great vintage items with the click of your mouse. Even if you live in a city that has great shops, vintage items are unique and you just might find something online that might surprise you. I love the idea of being able to shop for vintage items online and these places have a consistently good selection of unique finds in all price ranges.  Looking to add some vintage pieces to your rental?  Check out some of the great online retailers and pick up something special.  Happy Shopping!

Love this screen door with the original green paint.  Don't need a screen door?  How about mounting this to a wall (I'm thinking kitchen or entry) and replace the screen part with a chalkboard?  Important phone numbers and a sweet welcome message to your guests turns this great vintage door into a funky and functional piece.  This door is available at Three Potato Four.

Okay, so these are vintage reproductions but how great would these look in an all white kitchen?  Get these at Three Potato Four.

Short on closet space? This not only looks cool, but it also has room for shoes and a suitcase. Did I also mention it looks cool?  Check it out at Cleveland Art.

L O V E  this vintage Italian Dining Table.  The white really brings attention to the detail on the bottom (carved solid wood legs) and the top has been hand waxed and clear coat protected to last for years to come.  I would arrange an eclectic mix of simple chairs with this table but the options are endless.  This table is available from etsy while it lasts.



A great anywhere chair.  Easy to move to where you need extra seating and has a classic modern shape.  Throw a sheepskin rug over it to make it extra plush.  Available through etsy.

Beautiful and very unique vintage Napcoware planter.  This is a piece that's inexpensive, has beautiful colors and great texture ($16 on etsy ).  Sometimes it's easier to start with the small things and build from there. 

One more thing.  I'm in the process of getting a new logo so in the near future things might look a  little different but it's still me (just a little jazzed up).

If you're interested in maximizing your occupancy and creating one of a kind guest accomodations, contact me at Guest House Interiors.

Holiday Rental Decorating.......Winter Part 2

Now that we've got the front entry covered, let's go inside.   How about a wreath on the inside of the door?  I love the way it dresses up the inside and if you get a real wreath, your guests will be greeted with a wonderful smell when they open the door.  If you have a table or console in your foyer, consider a small potted evergreen plant like rosemary and tie a festive ribbon around it.  The rosemary smells great and is very easy to care for.  They are also nice to give as gifts and if you feel like treating your guests extra special, write a warm greeting on a tag and leave one for them.  It's these little details that really make an impact on your guests.  Seasonal calendars or a newsletter detailing activities going on in the community are also really helpful and appreciated by your guests.  If your rental does not have a defined entry, consider creating a space at the first convenient location that can serve as the "hub" for information and include a place for the keys and other important information. 

Decorating the rest of your rental can be as elaborate or as simple as you want but whatever you decide, keep it consistent year after year.   This will give your returning guests an idea of what to expect year after year.  One inexpensive and stylish way to add some holiday to your decor is to add colorful ball ornaments in various containers.  Tall glass vases, apothecary jars and baskets make great containers for these and with so many different colors to choose from, you can match any decor.

How about using some branches in a glass vase and adorning them with little shiny baubles? This looks beautiful on a mantle or as a centerpiece on a table. 

These colorful vases from West Elm come in a variety of sizes and would look great with some greenery or shiny glittery picks. 

These double glass sphere ornaments would be beautiful hanging at varying lengths by ribbon over a dining room table or hanging in a window for a modern touch of holiday color. 

Need more ideas?  Here are some holiday inspired interiors to get those creative juices flowing. 

 

 

 

This idea for a wreath would also be great with old vintage postcards. 

Happy Decorating!

If you're interested in maximizing your occupancy and creating one of a kind guest accomodations, contact me at Guest House Interiors.

 

Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3, Photo 4, Photo 5, Photo 6, Photo 7, Photo 8, Photo 9, Photo 10 and  
Photo 11.

Holiday Rental Decorating......Winter Part 1

 This time of year can be stressful for a lot of people and having a place to vacation and relax is a top priority for all of those booking vacation rentals.  So how do you make your rental festive and welcoming with minimal maintenance?  Let's start with the entry first.  If your vacation rental is in a high rise or multi-unit building, consider a wreath for the door.  There are many options including feathers, dried floral, twigs, live greenery and preserved. Hanging a wreath will also make your unit easier for your guests to find and add a punch of color to your door..  If you have an entry path or porch, try some evergreen potted plants.  Boxwood's are a great option for this because they are easy maintenance and always look fresh.  If you want to incorporate lights, keep it clean and simple with clear lights.  Here are some ideas for creating a festive entry.

 

Photo Credits:

Photo1

Photo 2

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If you're interested in maximizing your occupancy and creating one of a kind guest accomodations, contact me at Guest House Interiors.

Holiday Rental Decorating....Fall

When guests book your rental for the holidays, most of them will be celebrating the season as well as catching up on some R&R.  For some, going someplace else takes the pressure off of having to do it all at home.  For others, it may be that they want to experience a holiday in another land and learn about another culture.  Then, there are those that do not recognize any of these occasions and just want to have a nice weekend away. What is a vacation rental owner to do?  Well, here are some ways that you can acknowledge the season with thoughtful decor and make your guests feel welcome no matter what the occasion is.  Since it's fall, let's talk about that first.  It's not necessary to put out scarecrows and spooky decorations to celebrate the season. Instead, think about using some gourds and baskets and incorporate some Indian corn or dried grasses as a low maintenance way to transition your decor .  Do you have a lot of trees on your rental property?  Fallen branches can look beautiful in a tall glass vase or placed on a mantle.  Taking cues from your natural environment is not only a great way to embrace the season, but it's also a creative and inexpensive way to bring the outdoors in.  Need some visual inspiration?  Here are some fall inspired interiors.

 

Photos credits here

If you're interested in maximizing your occupancy and creating one of a kind guest accomodations, contact me at Guest House Interiors. 

Making Room For More.....

Do you have rooms in your rental that have more than one bed? Is your rental large enough to accommodate large groups of guests?  I love the idea of maximizing space to allow for more guests and I'd like to share some tips on how to do this stylishly and effectively.  Instead of just filling a room with different beds, consider a room with multiple bunk beds. Creating chic sleeping quarters gives everyone their own space and privacy which is important when there are multiple people sharing one room.  When considering bunk beds, think about having them custom built to fit your space so you can add a little extra to each space.  Perhaps an overhead light for reading or a little shelf for your book, ipod etc.  Bunk beds can not only increase your rental rate but also enable you to cater to the larger groups and families that require more sleeping accommodations.  Here are some great Bunk Bed accommodations that are sure to please guests of any age. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

all images from Pinterest

 If you're interested in maximizing your occupancy and creating one of a kind guest accomodations, contact me at Guest House Interiors.

A Welcoming Entry.......

It's the first thing your guests will see and it will set the tone for everything else.  An entry or foyer should be treated just like any other room. It should be inviting and functional.  If your space is limited, think about putting a demilune table or a small console table in your entry and accessorize it with a decorative bowl for keys, some artwork, a lamp and a small potted plant (something that doesn't need water but once a month like a succulent).  Your entry will welcome your guests and show them that you want them to feel at home.  Here are some ideas for creating a welcoming entry.


This console table is a great option and the extra shelf on the bottom is perfect for extra storage.  This table is from Ballard Designs. 

 

Love this beautiful vintage Italian Pottery Bowl.  Perfect punch of color and patina.  Available here on Etsy.

 

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Wonderful reproduction print from 1903 titled "Pilot Boat No. 8".  Would look great in a vintage black frame leaning on an entry table.  Available on Ebay.

For those of you that want zero maintenance, this arrangement adds color and texture with no watering.  A way better alternative than the plastic ivy.  Just saying.  This arrangement can be purchased from this Etsy store. 

This lamp would look great with a black shade. It's currently for sale on Ebay.  The colors blend well with the other accessories and gives a nice contrast to the wood console table.

If you're interested in maximizing your occupancy and creating one of a kind guest accomodations, contact me at Guest House Interiors.