How to start a holiday let business
Whilst owning a holiday cottage can be a financially rewarding and exciting venture, it can be incredibly daunting knowing...
It can be difficult to know where to begin with styling your holiday home. Finding the right balance between functionality, cosiness and style can seem difficult to achieve when decorating your property. Whether you are hankering after a maximalist revamp, craving Scandinavian simplicity or fancy creating a nautical themed paradise, pinning down the design theme for your holiday home’s interior means you are half way there! The solution could be as easy as adding a few stylish brands and taking on interior design tips from skilled professionals. Making just a few changes to your home’s décor can make all the difference when it comes to maximising bookings.
Here’s a list of our top 10 Devon brands for styling your holiday home’s interior, with decorating ideas and tips from the experts.
“Start with the colour scheme and everything will flow from there. And create a mood board – it really focuses the mind and a theme will start to emerge – whether that’s a colour or a pattern.” Amy and Shaun Fewtrell – Relish
Relish is a thriving independent lifestyle store in South Devon, where they understand that colour can make or break a room, with each colour having its own characteristic, personality and ability to influence the mood and feel of your surroundings. Based at Stokeley Barton Farm between Kingsbridge and Torcross, their quirky store designed out of two shipping containers, provides an exciting place to explore and find inspiration.
With antiques sourced from all over the world, re-styled furniture items, architectural salvage, lighting, cushions, rugs and handmade pottery, there is an abundance of creative lifestyle accessories to choose from.
“An easy way to add unique and individual character to a holiday home interior is with a reclaimed or antique statement piece. An attractive, weathered cabinet is ideal for storing away books and games, providing entertainment for the not so reliable British weather.” Alex – Nkuku
Home and lifestyle design company Nkuku, work with artisans all over the world to create individual homewares, using sustainable materials that embrace traditional skills. They celebrate organic beauty and character, so you won’t find items manufactured in large quantities, but rather hand-made, unique pieces which will add style to your home.
Located in a large rustic barn with a mezzanine level, courtyard and café, they provide the perfect backdrop to showcase their collections of stylish homewares, furniture and accessories.
Visit the Nkuku blog to find other design tips and styling inspiration.
“Lighting is one of the quickest and easiest ways to update the style of a room. It also can dramatically alter the ambience. Adding a large, colourful lampshade to a room is an easy way to embrace colour and pattern without the need for redecorating or changing larger pieces of furniture.” Jo Franks – Love Frankie
Lighting is one of the key elements that helps make your house a home. It has the ability to affect your mood, drastically alter any atmosphere and even the overall perceived size of a room.
Following on from their online success, Love Frankie made a triumphant arrival to the high street, opening their flagship store in the beautiful market town of Totnes, Devon.
They understand the importance of lighting and how lamp shades, ceiling lights and unique homewares are an integral step in manufacturing an individual and distinctive feel to an abode. With Love Frankie’s carefully curated collection of gorgeous statement pieces, you can add a playful, eclectic or elegant touch to any room.
“Many of our clients want an interior that reflects our wonderful coastal location and which is comfortable and welcoming all year round. Gone are the days when holiday homes were used just for the summer holidays. These homes have to work all year round to earn an income.” Sarah – Dupère Design
The beauty of a region is often the main reason people book holiday properties in Devon, so why not bring that look and feel into your home?
As a well-respected interior design studio, based in the beautiful historic town of Modbury, a number of Dupère’s projects are undertaken in holiday properties and second homes. Projects range from total or partial refurbishment to turnkey commissions, soft furnishings and decoration.
Dupère Design know how special a holiday home is – a place to relax and unwind, where happy family memories are made. With their ample experience on providing decorating ideas and solutions, they also offer a service which includes curtain and blind making, re-upholstery and bespoke furniture.
Art doesn’t need to be confined to a canvas or frame, it can be incorporated into your home in surprising and innovative ways.
Original paintings and artwork can be a worthwhile investment and a brilliant addition to complement the style of your interior. The Brownston Gallery exhibit and sell pieces from local artists whose work depicts recognisable places, to help draw your guest’s attention to the beauty of the region.
We spoke to The Brownston Gallery team for their top tips on choosing artwork for holiday homes, a must-read! With advice on how to start the process of buying art for a property to placement and lighting ideas, and so much more, make sure you take a read of our blog, The Brownston Gallery | Choosing art for your holiday home.
Taking inspiration from the sea and the moors, The Salcombe Trading Company specialise in Scandinavian interior design while representing the best of British artisans. They offer an exceptional range of products for the house and garden, with a stunning collection of hand picked items and accessories, perfect to complement the interior of any home. As many of their products are sourced locally and across their ranges, each item is made to the highest quality and built to last. With years of experience in house renovation and interior design, the team drive the passion of creating beautiful homes and belief in individually selected items for each home that is not only unique and beautiful but practical too.
The unique style and branding established by Paul Barclay is widely recognised around Dartmouth and South Devon. Originally commissioned for private yacht and property illustrations, Paul has built a reputation as a sought-after artist with his distinctive signature and technique.
Nautical Voyages, his outlet in Dartmouth, is packed to the rafters with paintings and beach themed memorabilia; from furniture, to signage and soft furnishings. Not forgetting Paul’s own successful line of nautically inspired clothing. Paul Barclay offers a great selection of artwork or interior accessories for the tailored beachside look.
Adding a touch of sophistication and finesse to your holiday home doesn’t need to be difficult or costly.
Using traditional hand-making glass blowing techniques, which began in Devon in 1967, you are guaranteed to have an exclusively individual piece from Dartington Crystal. Each decanter, vase or exclusive presentation piece, is based on a clean and simple design, using age-old techniques.
Dartington Crystal is not only the leading UK glass manufacturer, but an award-winning visitor attraction in Devon too. They encourage visitors to take a factory tour to gain a behind the scenes look at how their skilled makers turn molten glass into items of true beauty.
“A home away from home should feel warm and welcoming. Any room becomes more inviting with a mix of colourful cushions and throws in varying patterns and textures.” Susie – Susie Watson Designs
With a relaxed and informal style, Susie Watson Designs create a classic looks that stand the test of time. Susie has a simple philosophy – that the things we use every day should bring us pleasure.
From hand-carved furniture, cushions, throws and hand-painted pottery, you can create an interior that is not only beautiful but practical. Mix and match textures, patterns and colours to create an inviting, cosy look and add the perfect finishing touches to your home.
Read our Q&A with Susie Watson Designs interior designer, Rebecca Watson, to find out her top tips for decorating your holiday cottage.
Design is not just about creating a stunning interior for the house, rather it’s about creating a holistic picture and complete style for the entire property. The exterior areas of the property play an essential role in that, while house plants are rapidly finding their way back into our hearts and homes.
Nestled on the riverside in the Avon Valley is the beautiful and tranquil oasis of the Avon Mill Garden Centre. With their passion for plants and specialist knowledge of coastal greenery, complemented by the vast selection of indoor and outdoor plants, they can help you achieve your dream garden or bring any room to life.
Although it may feel like a daunting challenge when first thinking about styling your holiday home, with a bit of thought, expert advice and carefully selected pieces, you can transform your property into an inviting holiday oasis where guests will want to return year after year.
Whether you are considering letting your holiday home or you already have a holiday letting business, the following owner guides may be useful to you:
Are holiday lets a good investment?
How to start a successful holiday let business
How to furnish your holiday let
To find out more about holiday letting with Coast & Country Cottages, request your FREE owners guide today or call our team of holiday letting experts on 01548 843 773 today.
Click here to request your free Owners Guide
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