Category: kitchen

Whether you are renting out a whole property or your spare room, being the host with the most ensures you not only get rave reviews but people come back time and again to your Airbnb property. But when it comes to the kitchen, what will your visitors expect?

You beautiful rustic kitchen will attract a lot of attention. The rustic dining table will be the scene of many happy meals for travellers from across the globe. But what will make you stand out above all others?

The basics offered with style and luxury

It may only be a fruit bowl full of fruit, but it’s stylish, like the pepper and salt mills, the dining table with beautifully crafted wooden dining chairs… you get the picture. Make sure you offer all the basics but do so with a little extra twist of luxury and style. A kitchen sideboard, well decorated, can provide a lovely welcoming feel.

A superbly equipped kitchen (and property)

Many travellers book Airbnb because they get the best of all worlds. They get home from home with added luxury as well as recommendations from local people about where to eat, where to visit and so on. A superbly equipped kitchen is therefore essential so you’ll need to be at the top of your game for making sure your kitchen is Airbnb ready. Of course, it goes without saying that styling the kitchen should be top of your list too, with the same happening for all the rooms in your Airbnb rental. A great touch would be placing local items of interest in a folder on the rustic sideboard.

Be aware of who your traveller is

Leisure travellers will have different needs than the business traveller who may only require a small kitchen table etc, which is why Airbnb itself has recognised this with a ‘business traveller standard’ for people wanting to offer their properties exclusively to those travelling for business. As well as a stylish kitchen, you’ll need to make sure that there are plenty of charging points for phones and laptops, along with valuable information on the area such as maps, where to park and so on.

Make it personal

Airbnb is unique in so many ways but what sets it apart from travelling and staying in hotels, for example, is the personal touch. Travellers will expect personality (but not your stuff all over the property or room!). Welcome them with a personalised pack of what’s on, where to go and if you can, greet and bid farewell to your guests in person but consider how this affects the appeal of your rental too. For example, upholstered dining chairs, a high-quality reclaimed wood dining table.

The little things matter

Something as pleasant as setting the table for their first breakfast in your kitchen, complete with white napkins and a beautiful linen table runner with cutlery set out ready and ingredients in the fridge will make all the difference.

Be responsive

Another tip that other successful Airbnb give is to be responsive to guests’ needs. And that means understanding who your guests are before they arrive and what their needs may be. This forethought means a lot to your guests and so kitchen basics is just way of getting it right. But travellers and hosts agree, going beyond the basics is key to being the Airbnb host with the most!

As the heart of the home, you want to make sure you get the right look and style for your kitchen, and that key additions such as dining chairs are functional too. When it comes to the rustic style kitchen, with reclaimed wood furniture what are your options when it comes to dining chairs?

Do chairs have to match the dining table?

There is an assumption that dining chairs must match the table and match each other. Beautifully balanced, four, six or even eight wooden dining chairs that match and clearly sit well with the reclaimed wood table is ideal in the rustic kitchen. Dining table and chair sets are a worthy investment and perfection for if you want a refined edge to the rustic dining table and chairs.

But there is no rule book that says you have to have matching dining chairs. And if there is one style that enjoys this switching up in temp and style, it is the rustic kitchen.

You could go for an all-out-complete-mis-match look – it works when there is a heavy hint of quirkiness in the room – or, if you want a cohesive undertone to non-matching chairs, this is how you achieve it:

1. Mix materials – for example, opt for four wooden dining chairs, flanked by two upholstered dining chairs at either end of the reclaimed wood dining table but keep the styles the same. Opt for unfussy materials but one that has elegance, such as faux leather dining chairs, perfect for giving the rustic dining room table an uplift.

2. Same style but with refinements – this is commonly seen with four or six wooden dining chairs without armrest but the chairs at either end of the dining table would have armrests and a taller back.

3. Dining bench and chairs – the other option (and it’s one we love for the rustic kitchen) is a beautiful rustic dining table flanked by dining benches on each of its long sides and two beautiful upholstered dining chairs at either end.

On a side note on rustic dining tables and upholstered chairs, choose neutral colours and shades to stay true to the rustic style. Brown leather dining chairs or tan faux leather dining chairs are ideal partners to such a table.

How wide should dining chairs be?

There is nothing worse than the feeling of being ‘perched’ at a table. Dining chairs need to be functional and comfortable – and that means getting the correct sizing for the space you have available.

A wooden dining chair (or event an upholstered one) that is as wide as it is deep makes for an incredibly comfortable seat. For example, the beautifully simple Worcester wooden dining chair is 47cm in width and just over 50cm in depth. With 15 centimetres minimum between diners, you’ll have a beautifully proportioned rustic dining table in your kitchen.

Your choice of rustic dining chair

Essentially, what drives this important decision is your own likes and dislikes (as much as your budget!). Wooden dining chairs are a dream to take care of and perfect for a home with children and/or pets. Upholstered and leather dining chairs add a streak of elegance to your rustic dining table. So which would you choose?

The popularity of Airbnb knows no bounds and for the family, it is the ideal way of finding a great holiday rental in a great location. But what makes for a family-friendly kitchen-dining area?

It’s worth taking time to consider the look and appeal of the kitchen diner, especially as busy parents browse online to book their ideal holiday rental in the right spot. Photographs that shed the very best light on your Airbnb rental is clearly a great place to start but what is it that parents will look for in the family-friendly dining-kitchen area?

1 Cleanliness of the space

There is no denying that aside from stylish furniture and accessories on the surface, parents will often look much deeper. Essentially, they’ll be assessing to see just how clean the dining-kitchen space is. As well as de-cluttering the kitchen and streamlining the dining area, taking time to deep clean the kitchen and the dining space is critical, from the wooden dining chairs to the cabinet fronts.

2 Small essential details

There are additions to the kitchen diner that are a must to make it the most family-friendly space possible;

• High chairs – a great addition is the use of a high chair, perfect for sitting alongside the uber-stylish rustic dining table or the breakfast in the kitchen. There are some amazingly stylish high chair options available, many of which will complement the leather bar stools at the breakfast bar too. Great for al fresco dining too.

• Welcome pack – aside from additional furniture options, a welcome pack of goodies and treats is ideal for helping calm the frayed nerves of travel-weary toddlers (and their parents). A welcome touch that your guests will love.

• ‘What to do while you are here’ pack – guests with toddlers will appreciate information about local amenities and activities that are toddler-friendly. As well as paid-for activities, include information such as local parks for a kickabout with the ball or adventure playgrounds that are local to you. Parents really appreciate the ‘inside information’ for the locality.

3 Stylish AND practical (and functional too)

With toddlers running about the place, parents will want a space that is safe but is not characterless or devoid of all style. Reclaimed wood furniture is the epitome of style and offers so much choice that making a final decision can prove tough…

• Robust, rustic dining table – reclaimed wood is possibly one of the toughest materials to opt for when it comes to kitchen and dining room furniture. With a solid appearance, a large, roomy 6-seater dining table is fantastic for your guests to gather around – especially with wipe-clean leather dining chairs.

• Easy to use storage solutions – parents need quick access to essential items and so arranging the kitchen-diner along logical line makes sense. As well a sideboard for plates and dishes, consider adding a stylish glass cabinet for displaying stylish accessories.

• Make more of the space – the kitchen is the heart of the home and probably the space in which your guests will spend much of their time. Making it a versatile space is essential. As well as seating around the rustic dining table, consider adding informal seating areas such as informally styled leather bar stools or a dining bench.

If you opt for the rustic style and for reclaimed wood furniture, the kitchen-dining room will automatically become the stylish attractive space you want it to be. Add the small details that families look, and your Airbnb rental will be even more popular!

If you have an informal seating area in your kitchen, such as a breakfast or a kitchen island, opting for stools is a great way of adding yet more use and versatility to it. But when it comes to it, which kitchen stool is the ‘right’ option? Should you opt for upholstered or leather bar stools? What other factors do you need to consider?

Leather bar stools – the pros and the cons

The leather is a naturally hardwearing material that goes well with reclaimed wood furniture. Robust and stylish, leather is sumptuous material but it can be expensive, a downside of choosing leather bar stools.

The alternative is faux leather, a material that has all the style and robustness of real leather but without such a huge price tag.

Perfectly for keeping clean (sticky fingers marks just wipe away), there is a ‘something about’ leather upholstered bar stools that make them must have for any kitchen chairs, more so for the industrial or rustic styled space. If there are two styles perfectly combining to make a hybrid style it is these two and faux leather bar stools are the perfect additions.

Upholstered bar stools – the pros and cons

Another fantastic option is the upholstered bar stools. Whilst leather upholstery looks sumptuous in its appeal, there is a plushness to fabric upholstered bar stools that also appeal. As kitchen chairs, they add texture to the kitchen, as well as warmth and decadence.

Upholstered bar stools will sit well within the industrial or rustic kitchen.

The overall style and design of the upholstered bar stool don’t have to be fussy either, although many people steer clear of upholstered stools as they worry about food and drink stains. Most upholstery on these kinds of stools is hardwearing and tough, so it’ll take a light wash every now and then.

What to look for when choosing bar stools?

When you have decided which suits you and your budget, there are other factors to consider too;

• Height – too small, and you will be sat too low down from your breakfast or kitchen island but too high, and you will feel ‘perched’ above it. Clearly, finding the right bar stool depends on finding one at the right height. If you are struggling to find a bar stool at the exact height, consider adjustable bar stools.

• Dimensions – dimension is not just about measuring height and width but how an item of furniture will ‘sit’ into a room. A small kitchen may be overpowered by a certain style, whereas a large kitchen would benefit from two or three statement stools at the kitchen islands. For example, a leather, high-backed bar stool in a statement colour would be perfect for the larger space but maybe a less imposing style would suit a small space or bar area better.

• Style – so many stools to choose from…! The industrial and rustic furniture styles are two functional schemes that demand a certain streamlined finish but also one with warmth and aplomb. From functional bar stools with sparse detailing to those with a hint of sumptuousness, opt for a stool style that sits alongside your kitchen cabinets and dining area.

• Cohesion between bar stools and dining chairs – whilst you may want a bar stool for practical reasons, what you don’t want is to create a sense of disconnect between you informal kitchen area and your dining area. Opt for bar stools that complement your leather dining chairs that sit alongside your industrial or rustic dining table.

Once your bar stools are in place, you’ll wonder how you managed without them!

Hallowe’en is a fantastic time of year, a chance to indulge in mystery and ghoulish goings on! Both adults and children can enjoy this time of year and we have some great ideas for your Halloween party, along with decorating your extendable dining table and wooden chairs and menu ideas too.

Set the scene

Pumpkins are, of course, mandatory for any Halloween party and with most squashes and pumpkins starting at 50p for small ones to a couple of pounds for very big ones, you can spend a very enjoyable afternoon pumpkin carving ready for your party.

As well as clustering pumpkins about the place, re-use jam jars as tea light holders for the table. Wrap tissue paper around the outside of the jar, complete with black paper shape cut outs. Scatter them across your large sideboard with spider webs for maximum effect (the bought stuff, not the real webs of spiders!)

You can find templates for Halloween cutouts online!

Quick decoration idea

Use any white cloth or gauze and give it eyes and a mouth and hang the mini-ghosts from tree and shrub branches in your front garden as well as around the door to give your guests a flavour of what is to come. Hang them from the centre of the square for the typical ghost ‘triangle’.

Party food

Invest in plenty of black and orange food colouring or prepared icing products because you are going to need it.

From the bubbling depths of butternut squash and red pepper soup to piping hot jacket potatoes, there are plenty of delicious party food ideas.

Create a fantastic spread of food across your reclaimed wood dining table and what their faces light up with delight as they enjoy the Halloween shapes biscuits, huddled on the dining bench.

Use a basic biscuit dough to make these biscuits, using Hallowe’en cutters to get the shapes. Roll out royal icing, coloured with a few drops of orange food colouring or buy ready mixed black icing and use the cutters to cut out corresponding shapes. Using small dabs of runny icing as a glue, stick the icing shapes on top.

You can use the Hallowe’en biscuit cutters to cut out shaped sandwiches too. And don’t forget to place large plastic frogs in the jelly…

Everyone has a superpower

Parties are about having fun and there is nothing better than a theme to get the fun started. Halloween is a theme which has so many opportunities to dress up that it’s a shame to let it past.

As well as your typical guests of witches and ghosts, why not give a modern ring to your Halloween party. Witches were feared because of their supposed superpowers so why not ask everyone to come bearing a superpower? Even your pet pooch could get involved.

You could also make the pumpkin carving part of the Hallowe’en party. Pumpkin scoops are like mini shovels, perfect for little hands to handles.

Simply place the pumpkin fresh into your compost or if it isn’t too stringy – like in the smaller pumpkins – with plenty of seasoning, it makes a great pie or soup.

What do you think makes the best Hallowe’en party? We’d love to see your photos.