Our incredible year-round warm climate and beautiful ocean views make the North Coast a sought after location for anyone looking to invest in a holiday home. This gorgeous Zinkwazi beach cottage was recently revamped for holiday rental purposes and the result is simply exquisite.
After working alongside their architect to redesign what was originally bought as a beach cottage, the owners of this beautiful beachside abode called in the talented Caryn and Kath from Dandelion Designs to transform it into a relaxing, coastal escape.
Although this Zinkwazi home, which is in walking distance from the beach, is often occupied by the owners who love spending time on the coast, it was also revamped for use as an Airbnb. With this in mind, Caryn and Kath’s approach to the interior was to create a space where guests would feel like they could take their shoes off, get comfy and unwind. “We embraced the beautiful natural light and stunning views from both levels of the cottage and all the materials, colours and finishes used were chosen with relaxation and comfort in mind,” says Kath.
Earthy colours, timbers and rattan textures dominate the interior, giving the cottage a modern coastal feel without being too clichéd ‘beachy’. They also used lots of plants inside, to give the feeling of a merging of the indoors and outdoors.
Most of the pieces in the cottage were custom designed to suit each space. Notable pieces include the outdoor furniture on the upstairs verandah from local company Alifurn Outdoor Living, the beautiful Houdtlander dining table and server, which has beautiful lines and joinery detail and the Voke rugs in the TV lounge and master bedroom. “
Voke brought us a sneak preview of their new range when we are planning the cottage and we fell in love with the natural textures and colours. The new Freshly Woven collection was perfect for the spaces!”
Founded by Caryn Overton and Katherine McIntosh, Dandelion Designs is an interior design and project facilitation studio based in Salt Rock. They focus on residential and commercial projects, including new builds and refurbishments, harnessing their combined passion for bringing people’s visions to life through the creation of beautiful spaces that are rooted in functionality.
We asked them to share some tips for creating a beautiful holiday rental home…
SPRUCING UP FOR RENTAL!
1. Know your guest. Who is your target market? Families, couples, luxury or budget? Understanding who you are planning the holiday rental for will help guide you to know what would be important for them.
2. Comfort. A good night sleep as a guest is very important. Make sure your beds are comfy and aim to offer the best quality linen, pillows and duvet inners. It’s a nice idea to have two types of pillows on the bed – firm and soft – and ensure that your mattresses and pillows have protectors.
3. Declutter. Although holiday rentals are often also family homes or cottages guests don’t want to see all your stuff and family pictures. Taking personal items out and de-cluttering will make a guest feel more relaxed. Include a small lockable storage area in your rental for all your personal items that guests don’t access and you can bring those out when you or friends visit.
4. Technology. Have a good WIFI connection and leave passwords and instructions for access. Some guests need to work remotely or just need a good connection so they can #hashtag lots of selfies! Offering a Smart TV with access to Netflix and possibly having a Bluetooth speaker so that guests can play music is always a bonus.
5. Coffee! Items like a coffee machine, smoothie maker or juicer will give your guest a good start to the day. Leaving a jar of homemade rusks to go with their coffee is a lovely extra touch to make them feel welcome.
6. Focal points. When planning and designing your Airbnb, think about the areas you will photograph for the listing. Make sure that your photo’s stand out from the rest.
7. Outdoor spaces. Our beautiful climate means outdoor spaces are important. Add a braai and outdoor seating or even some hanging pods.
Details: Katherine McIntosh: 072 825 8418, [email protected], Caryn Overton: 072 707 7016, [email protected], www.dandelionsa.co.za
Text: Leah Shone | Photos: Chris Allan Photo
