Creating A Luxury Space: Insider Tips from Professional Designer, Valerie Malone

What this episode covers

How do we create a luxurious experience for our guests – and does it REALLY matter? In this episode, Stacey sits down with her good friend and professional short-term rental designer, Valerie Malone from Quill Decor. They discuss what it really means to have a luxury STR and why it’s important. Then, Valerie walks us through how to create luxurious space in each room of the house. And here’s some good news for you -- luxury doesn’t have to be expensive. Buckle up and break out the notepad, you won’t want to miss this episode! Key Highlights [00:01:47] Introduction to today’s guest, Valerie Malone, and what she does [00:02:32] What Valerie terms as a luxury short-term rental [00:04:53] Why someone might want to think about incorporating luxury touches in their short-term rentals [00:08:26] Does luxury have to be expensive? [00:10:45] What are some ways that folks can add a luxury touch to a bedroom? [00:14:28] How do we add luxury touches to a kitchen? [00:15:40] How might someone add luxury touches to a living room? [00:18:02] If someone is just walking into a property, how can we make that feel like a luxury experience? [00:20:43] How to add luxury touches to the outdoor spaces [00:22:26] The Lightning Round: Where is your favorite place to vacation? The mountains What's one place you've never been to that you would like to go to? Turkey What is one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started out in the world of short-term rentals? Being an attentive host is going to get you farther than anything else. What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given? You aren't what you think; thoughts are just thoughts. Don't let them overtake your life. What is one thing and or person that you're grateful for today? My children Notable Quotes ●     Luxury is about really tailoring the experience of your place for the guests that you want to host. ●     Luxury is going to differentiate you. This market is increasingly crowded, and we're not here to be basic; we're here to be a step above. So, if you want to be very strategic with how you become a step above and how you do it cost-effectively, differentiate yourself from the guys out there who are just throwing up the properties and walking away. ●     When you add these additional touches, what it's going to do is it's going to attract a better-quality clientele. And when you have a better-quality clientele, you have a better rental business, an even easier rental business, and higher-end referrals. You have a business that has fewer problems. ●     Providing luxury is providing joy for people, and it’s going to improve their experience; it makes your job more fun as a host. Resources: To get in touch with Valerie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-malone-quill-decor/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quilldecor/ Website: https://www.quilldecor.com/ For giveaway insights or suggestions on how to improve your listing or your property and boost bookings, sign up at: https://betteryourbnb.com/ Let's Connect! My Facebook group (Female Short-Term Rental Investors) https://www.facebook.com/groups/911671659592801) My personal website (https://staceystjohn.com/) My Free Masterclass: How I Went From A W2 to An STR Dream Life in 5 Simple Steps: https://staceystjohn.com/strwebinar/ The Short-Term Rental Society (https://www.strconnections.com/)

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