May 21 - Ballito Umhl

The natural textures and colours of this Voke
rug work beautifully in the TV lounge
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.
Caryn and Kath
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...
Details: Katherine McIntosh: 072 825 8418, kath@dandeliondsa.co.za, Caryn Overton:
072 707 7016, caryn@danelionsa.co.za, www.dandelionsa.co.za
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.
May 2021 Get It • Ballito Umhlanga 35