Architectural Digest – Nov 2022

8 Airbnbs Even the Most Discerning of Design Lovers Will Drool Over

The interiors at these comfy, stylish vacation rentals all have a professional’s touch

By Rachel Wallace
November 22, 2022

 

There’s a vacation rental for every type of traveler these days. Airbnb design alone ranges from a train car to a potato to a castle. But not everyone is looking to stargaze from a yurt or be lulled to sleep by the rocking of a houseboat. Some of us just want to stay in a home with striking, stylish interiors—perhaps which allow us to try on a new aesthetic or live out our fantasy of owning a home decorated by a member of the design-world elite.

Luckily, there are plenty of Airbnbs which have been decorated to the hilt by professionals, and these are easier to find than ever thanks to the company’s new “design” category. At one rental in Palm Springs, California, the designers themselves are the hosts. A little over a year ago, Pulp Design Studios cofounders Beth Dotolo and Carolina V. Gentry purchased a quintessential midcentury-modern home built by architect Jack Meiselman in the city’s Racquet Club Estates neighborhood. After what Gentry calls a “micro renovation,” the pair outfitted the pad in their signature quirky, fun, and colorful style, turning it into a desert showhouse of sorts, which doubles as a great investment.

“It was really important to give people an experience. We’ve had a lot of people who’ve been following us on Instagram or who have talked about hiring us but not been able to or ready to. We wanted people to be able to experience part of our brand [through the Airbnb],” says Dotolo. A QR code displayed in the Airbnb allows guests to shop the Pulp home-wares sprinkled throughout the space. The decor is maximalist—with numerous wallpaper patterns, leopard-print chairs in the living room, and even a neon pink sign—but still highlights the home’s midcentury-modern roots. “It is an approachable representation of our brand,” says Dotolo. “With a Palm Springs twist,” adds Gentry.

Not far away, in Palm Desert, California, Queer Eye’s design extraordinaire Bobby Berk recently opened the doors to his own rental property, a Spanish-style mansion he decorated with an earthy, bohemian flair. “My personal style tends towards a more neutral palette and an organic modern feel, and that is definitely on display in the decor. There’s also a balance of a lot of natural elements with more striking, graphic touches, and that’s also a signature of my design style,” Berk tells AD.

Dallas-based Gentry and Seattle-based Dotolo went full-on Palm Springs when adorning their three-bedroom, two-bathroom Airbnb. Brightly colored with a hint of kitsch, this house has midcentury curb appeal and comfy furnishings, plus a backyard pool and hot tub. Fun fabrics from Pulp Design Studios’ capsule collection for S. Harris against statement-making wallpapers will make maximalists fall in love.