Big Bear, CA: Design Inspo From Airbnb

In November of 2023, my daughter, son-in-law and grandson accompanied by my Niece's family took a road trip to Big Bear, CA for a weekend ski stay. The drive up to Big Bear presented magnificent views overlooking Moreno Valley!

November is a bit early for natural snow in California so the resorts were open with artificial snow for early skiing.

We stayed at an Airbnb close to the ski slopes. And, as I habitually do, I gather design ideas that I can incorporate in my longer-term rentals. Here are a few ideas collected:

A welcoming entryway invites guests to leave their shoes on the mat, guided by a polite reminder on the wall.

Do you wear your shoes in the house? I don't and hope that guests will remove their shoes as well. In areas with snowfall, wet shoes can cause damage to wood floors and baseboards or foster slippery conditions.

This arrangement was a thoughtful suggestion and placement that I ultimately set up in a mid-term rental.

A snug little laundry corner with wooden touches, complete with a stacked washer and dryer.

Loved this idea of carving out a space (with a door!) for the washer/dryer with convenient access to other plumbing and drainage - a budget friendly option in a unique location. The hooks over the door and a hanging robe adds storage and convenience for laundry items.

Stay tuned for how I added a makeshift laundry to a mid-term rental.

What design idea in this image would be worth keeping?

You're probably wondering what is special in this photo (besides my daughter's boots). It's the idea that you can dress up any counter space with those lovely stainless steel bar towel holders on the side "walls" of the makeshift "island". With "S" hooks additions, this contemporary bar can be used for hanging all kinds of items - such as for towels to wipe off wet feet at the entry, hanging pots, shopping bags, etc.

I'm a firm believer of flexible design options.

I'm a firm believer of flexible design options. It means that decor can be added or removed as desired. When I took a closer look at the sign on the refrigerator...

It was magnets on the back of a metal sign! It gave me an idea for my own rental that I could use for staging or as a convenience feature. Stay tuned for how I'll use this simple idea in a rental as a marketing piece.