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

Home Staging and Design

,

Beyond The Stage Homes Celebrates 15 years Serving Waterloo Region!

,
Beyond The Stage Homes Celebrates 15 years Serving Waterloo Region!

A message from our CEO:

As the founder and CEO of Beyond The Stage Homes (a division of Style Corporation), I am thrilled to be celebrating our 15-year anniversary. It's hard to believe that it's been 15 years since we started this journey, and I am so grateful to everyone who has been a part of it.

Did you know that BTSH almost closed its doors after only 2 years? I won't bore you with the details, but launching a new business, especially one in an industry that most people have never heard of (2008 be like "what's home staging?"). Through sheer grit and determination, I saw the potential of this business, and the home staging industry, and inched my way to success, studying the needs of the community, and adding the services, and the people, to support these needs. We expanded our offerings to include design services, launched a sister company for home stager certification and continuing education, and I went on to establish a successful business coaching venture and co-authored a book. These achievements are certainly not mine alone though, and none of this would have been possible without the support of so many individuals that believed in our vision and fought alongside me to achieve what we have.

First and foremost, I want to thank my amazing team. We've seen some changes over the years, but we wouldn't be here if not for each and every one of you that is presently on the team, and those that have gone on to pursue other opportunities. Your dedication, hard work, and creativity have helped to make Beyond The Stage Homes the success it is today, and I am so grateful for you all.

Meet Our Star Stager: Behind the Scenes with Beyond The Stage Homes' Nicole Sartorelli

Meet Our Star Stager: Behind the Scenes with Beyond The Stage Homes' Nicole Sartorelli

At Beyond The Stage Homes, we pride ourselves on having an outstanding team of professionals and Nicole Sartorelli, one of our Professional Home Stagers, is the perfect example of the passion and experience that we bring to each of our projects. We recently sat down with her to get to know what drives her, and get insights on how she approaches each unique home staging project. Born in London, ON and raised in Ottawa, Nicole came to Waterloo Region in 1996 with her family when her mother relocated for work. She likens her experience today working with a team of strong-minded women to her Ringette days in Ottawa, hustling and skating the entire length of the Rideau Canal to the smell of “of hot chocolate and beaver tails”. 

As a professional home stager, Nicole is responsible for providing actionable advice to home sellers and agents on how to effectively prepare a property for sale. She manages and oversees every project from consultation to de-stage and is involved in every aspect of the process, including designing the strategy, preparing and packing all required staging rental items, coordinating logistics for staging day, and ensuring that clients have all of the answers that they need throughout the project.

When asked about what she enjoys most about her role, Nicole explained that the three aspects of her job that equally fill her cup are

, , ,

Master the Art of Shelf Styling

, , ,
Master the Art of Shelf Styling

Every decorating or design professional will tell you that there is one aspect or technique that they love above the rest. For me, hands down, it’s shelf styling. Whether it’s in a home for selling or dwelling, I get giddy at the thought of arranging and showcasing these creative features.

Shelf styling is a true art form that takes practice to perfect, but with these master techniques, you will be a pro in no time!

 

Mix Books and Decor

Utilize a mix of books with a variety of decorative items, staggering the books and décor to create a balanced look from shelf to shelf. Décor can even play double-duty when positioned as a bookend. Along with decorative items, baskets, plants, and small artwork are a great way to style shelves for added variety and interest.

Beyond The Stage Homes Awarded Ontario’s Best Home Staging and Design Company

Beyond The Stage Homes Awarded Ontario’s Best Home Staging and Design Company

Beyond The Stage Homes is the proud recipient of the 2022 Canadian Business Award for Ontario’s Best Home Staging and Design Company! Added to a long list of accolades, this award acknowledges and honours our commitment and loyalty in the Home Staging and Design business.

Reflections from 2019 and the Decade of the Teens, from Beyond The Stage Homes

Reflections from 2019 and the Decade of the Teens, from Beyond The Stage Homes

Not only is another year coming to an end, but we are about to embark on a whole new decade! As we at Beyond The Stage Homes prepares for what the twenties will bring, we wanted to reflect back on the past year, and the past decade, to highlight some of our favourite moments. As a business, we are wrapping up our 12th year in business, and as they say, time really does fly when you’re having fun!

To start, let’s talk specifically about 2019. Beyond The Stage Homes has always put our clients first, in every service that we offer, and 2019 was no exception. In fact, we introduced new services and options in order to continue to deliver on our promise of world-class quality in all that we do. We introduced short-term rental design and setup services (i.e. Airbnb) as an extension of our design services to accommodate the growing demand and opportunities for short-term rental ventures in Waterloo Region. We also introduced holiday decorating services to help to ease the burden of tackling this task yourself. Additionally, we introduced optional Staging Risk Management insurance coverage for our staged listings. This allows our clients to ensure that they are covered fully for any damage that may happen to home staging items while in their home, as well as avoid increased premiums from their current insurance provider.

Holiday Style Guide – Trends, Tips and Tricks from Our Home to Yours

Holiday Style Guide – Trends, Tips and Tricks from Our Home to Yours

The celebration of Christmas is steeped in rich traditions that are passed down over generations, including the holiday décor that we choose, and the way that we decorate our homes with it. Despite the traditions, new trends to deck the halls emerge each year, challenging you to rethink your trimmings. Whether you’re unsure how to incorporate your existing, nostalgia décor with some fresh new items that have caught your eye, or you’re simply looking to get that “magazine holiday spread” look on a budget, we are here to help!

Current holiday décor trends have two particular and notable themes – incorporating vintage items (authentically or new), and a slightly more ‘demure’ holiday colour palate – think blacks, whites, and silvers with a hint of accenting colour, instead of bright flashing red and green. In this blog post, we will share some of our favourite holiday looks, as well as tips to help you to get the style, function, and sparkle that you need for easy holiday hosting, without breaking the bank.