If you read my last post, I explained that we needed to move out of our home and turn it into an AirBnB. Let me start with the full disclosure: I did NOT want to leave my home and (holds nose) RENT IT OUT. EW!
We had moved the big stuff into storage and moved ourselves and our most pertinent items into the Jackson’s home. All this happened in the month of April! Lucy wanted us moved in by the beginning of May as she was due in June. (This, of course, is a story for another day.)
But our own home needed sprucing. We had lived there for 25 years and did most of the major upkeep, but we still needed a new roof (!) and the walls needed painting. And if we were to rent, well, we would need to have furniture in the house. And we would need to decorate each room to make it as comfortable as possible. All this on a semi-limited budget.
This now became a fun (if stresful) project: design and decorate a beautifully appointed AirBnB that we ourselves would like to stay in.
So, while the roofers began their demo, which was already well into June, I spent a lot of time at IKEA shopping for beds and cubbies and at Hobby Lobby shopping for decor ideas and then designing each room.
I determined right from the start of this massive project that I was NOT going to strip everything and go white and beige. To me that screams BORING! (But that’s not important right now.)
My home (whether I was living in it or not) was going to be a reflection of me and my own tastes. Eric reminded me that I had a gift for hospitality and I should tap into that as I was designing our home to welcome strangers. YIKES!
So we painted and bought beds and spreads and walked through each room a thousand times. It was hard for me to separate myself from what was my taste for my home and what I would leave for our guests to feel welcomed.
We repainted the black and white stairs and re-hung artwork in the different rooms.
Would people think open shelving in the kitchen was clunky? Should I even care about that? Can you see me making myself crazy?
And little by little we turned our home into a place where WE would like to visit.
All our other furniture and possessions went to our new living space or into storage. And can I just tell you: we did it all in 1 month!!
We picked up new sheets and bedspreads and rugs and filled in the rest with our own artwork, furniture and decor.
And the freakishly small bedroom (that was Lucy’s when she was growning up) turned out to be our favorite!
We framed and hung some of our movie night posters and picked up a sweet and colorful duvet cover.
It was so weird decorating for an unknown entity. At least for us.
We had trouble picturing what people might think odd choices and what was just our own personal taste.
This all happened a year ago.
Our first guests checked in on July 4th, 2025. How apropo!
And from that time to now we’ve had the place rented pretty consistently. Who knew?
The feedback has been amazing! People comment on the warmth and the colors and the pleasant and festive atmostphere. (Go figure!)
Our reviewers have continually given us 5 stars and we are now a “Guest Favorite.” Shut up. I know!
According to AirBnB: “This home is highly ranked based on ratings, reviews, and reliability.” So there’s that.
If you find yourself traveling to Southern California, please consider staying at Casa de la Loma. We will personally greet you and make your stay as comfortable as possible.
I hear it’s a guest favorite. 😘
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