Design Tips, Investment Properties
Shauna Lynn Simon
Expert Advice for Your Vacation Rental Property

If you own a vacation rental property (or are looking to invest in one), you know that designing a short-term rental cottage that stands out from the competition is key to attracting renters and earning repeat business. With the growing popularity of short-term rentals and Airbnb properties, it's important to create a space that not only looks beautiful but is also functional and comfortable for guests.

In this article, we'll provide you with expert tips and insights on how to design a short-term rental cottage that will have guests raving and coming back year after year. Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to update an existing space, this guide will provide you with the inspiration you need to create a truly exceptional vacation home.


Start with the Basics

Before you start decorating, make sure you have all the basics in place. This includes…

Expert Advice for Your Vacation Rental Property

Everyday Living Tips

The Art of Wall Décor for Living in or Selling Your Home

The Art of Wall Décor for Living in or Selling Your Home

As a home staging and design company, we spend much of our time in other people’s homes, and have quite possibly heard EVERY reason that you could think of for not having artwork on the walls, from struggling to find the perfect piece, to not wanting to put holes in the wall, or perhaps that you simply feel that the room looks great, and does not need any wall décor to bring it together. Empty, bare walls are filled with possibility and can be the blank canvas needed to create a focal point within a room. When it comes to selling your home especially, wall décor is considered a critical piece to the puzzle, and a room simply is not finished without it.

Holiday Hosting 2017

Holiday Hosting 2017

With the holidays just around the corner now, there are parties that need a-hosting, and tables that need a-setting. I love to host gatherings with my friends, from simple cocktail parties to extravagant bashes, and of course, dinner parties with my closest friends are always a holiday favourite.

The Cocktail Party

When hosting a cocktail party, since the objective is to have your guests mixing and mingling, it’s easiest to simply set out your food and drinks buffet style. First, re-arrange your furniture to accommodate your guests and allow them the room to move easily throughout the room (setting a table against a large wall in the room, rather than the middle of the room, will allow for a better flow and access). Ensure that you have a pitcher or punch bowl of a non-alcoholic beverage available, and set out with some highball glasses, a bucket of ice, and some lemons and limes for garnishes. Set out wine glasses, as well as an uncorked bottle of red and white (don’t open too many right away, as your guests may bring you a bottle as well). Serve finger foods that are easy to eat and don’t require utensils, and be sure to provide lots of side dishes and napkins. Allow for some rest areas around the room that provide some seating and if possible, some tables for setting down a glass or a plate.

11 Things We LOVE about Waterloo Region

11 Things We LOVE about Waterloo Region

#KWAWESOME!!

Each month, the BTSH team meets to review past, current, and upcoming projects. Often, our discussion will lead us into a chat about some of our favourite places to shop, favourite restaurants, and weekend plans. So, we thought that we would put together a list of some of our favourite things about Waterloo Region and surrounding areas. This is a great city to discover, and we are proud to be a part of the community!

Did you know? Huffington Post reported that Waterloo is one of the top Canadian cities to live in, touting our high-tech industry as a catalyst of this.

In a 2016 Moneysense report on the best places in Canada to live, Guelph ranked #10 and Waterloo #3. While this report touted economic factors, mobility factors, and even the weather, locals here have a long list of reasons for loving the area. Here are just a few of ours (not in ranking order, but simply in a random order, though we have noted each team member’s personal favourites):

As we say good-bye to 2016, and hello to a New Year...

As we say good-bye to 2016, and hello to a New Year...

Wow, has another year gone by already?! I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your continued support throughout this past year, and thank my incredible team here at Beyond The Stage Homes, for making this one of our best years yet! With homes selling for higher prices than ever, home sellers are as savvy as ever, and certainly kept us busy as we helped them to showcase their home to receive top dollar for the sale! With our expanded design team, we are better equipped to manage all of our clients needs.

So what made this year so fantastic? Here are just a few things that happened at Beyond The Stage Homes - thank you for being a part of it!

The year began with another outstanding Home Seller’s Workshop, and Beyond The Stage Homes continues to draw crowds to these informative seminars, providing useful tips for preparing your home for sale.

January - Shauna Lynn Simon and Jennifer Roth attended the RESA Convention in Las Vegas, where Shauna Lynn was featured as a guest speaker. This is the largest industry event in North America.

January - Shauna Lynn joined the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre as a volunteer mentor to local entrepreneurs.

April - Shauna Lynn joined Roger’s Daytime as a regular guest, sharing tips for around your home each month.