Welcome back to our “At Home with Ashley” series, where we introduce you to team members from across the Ashley HomeStore family! Over the next few editions, we’ll highlight the stories and experiences of our Ecommerce Merchandising Team. This ever-growing team works tirelessly to provide our customers with a product assortment that meets the vision of their dream home.
A new Ashley HomeStore in the Bronx brought the beauty and culture of the borough’s exterior inside with graffiti. Prominent graffiti artist KEO, a local favorite in New York, gave the HomeStore entrance the ultimate dress-up – and we’re excited to share it with all of you!
We recently visited L.A. to get Weird––Creatively Weird that is. We partnered with interior designer and YouTuber, Mr. Kate, to challenge two #CreativeWeirdos to design a plain white room using all Ashley HomeStore products.
Our collaboration with blogger and influencer Kathleen Post all started when she was looking to furnish and decorate her new space. Jumping at the opportunity to collaborate with the Lemon Blonde creator, we got to work right away. Check it out here!
Home isn’t just a place to sleep, it’s where lifelong memories are made. We partnered with A Sense of Home and the Stauffer Family with the mission to give Janay and Noelle, a young mom and her daughter, one of the greatest treasures in life: a place to call home.
Our biggest sweepstakes yet has finally concluded! Check out all the cool things we did!
Bedroom Ideas, Home Accessories Ideas, Our Friends
Master Bedroom Makeover with Blogger Natalie Thompson
We have admired Natalie Thompson of Deeply Distressed for quite some time and were so excited to work with her on a master bedroom makeover!
Discover how a Tempur-Pedic mattress can change the way you sleep. Ashley HomeStore is the #1 seller for Tempur-Pedic Mattresses.
If you aren’t an Airbnb host yet, chances are good that someone in your social network is. Meet Rachael G., who along with her husband have rented out their Nashville home since early 2016. In addition to the added income, Rachael loves being in control of when and who she rents to, as well as the rental fees. Here’s a few of her tips for being a host and making guests feel at home.
Get the Proper Permits
Many municipalities require hosts to have a short-term rental permit. “We learned about this the hard way,” Rachael said. “The city monitors Airbnb. After reading reviews on our page, the city served us with a court date and we ended up being fined for failure to produce a permit.”
Know the Costs
Listing on Airbnb is free. They take a three percent host service on each reservation. More than one tax may be involved, depending on where you live. “We pay the six to eight percent city sales tax and a $2.50 occupancy tax for each night’s stay,” Rachael said. “Put aside money from each stay to cover all the taxes. If you don’t pay the city by the end of the year, they won’t renew your short-term rental permit.”
Identify your Audience
“We rent all year long but summers are huge in Nashville, mostly because of the (Country Music Awards) and Fourth of July. You can rent your house out every weekend if you wanted. But we’re being picky and renting only to couples, bachelorette parties (Nashville is second only to Vegas in this past time) and other all-chick getaways.”
Keep Your Keys Safe
“Guests are given a code to the lock box on our front door. We keep one key in it and if they lose it, we’re always nearby to get them back in. So far, there’s been no reason for handing out multiple keys.“
Lock Away Personal Items
“If you really treasure something, put it under lock and key. My husband and I stow all the important papers and valuables in two deadlock bolted closets.”
Make Your Home a Hotel
“We have separate sheets, pillows, comforters and towels for our guests and of course, we launder them after every guest visit,” says Rachael. “There’s also a dedicated space in our pantry and in the fridge for guests to bring their own items.”
Create a Guest Booklet
To make the Airbnb guest experience even more personal, Rachael created a booklet to help them get acquainted with the hosts, the home and the neighborhood. “We tried to cover everything a guest would want to know—for example, how to use the WiFi and TVs, where extra linens are stored, things to do and where’s the nearest Walgreens.”
Be Flexible
“Flights get delayed and canceled. Guests enjoy the city too much and don’t leave on time. Things happen!”
If you have an Airbnb hosting suggestion, share it here.
Fluffy Goldendoodles, designer room tours and home decor inspired coloring books are among many inspirational tools you will find in Melissa Michaels’ crafty and chic blog; and we can’t get enough of it! Her style guides are inexpensive to initiate, simple to follow and simply gorgeous in design. Whether you’re a coastal lifer, cozy cottager or farmhouse chic fanatic, Melissa has a guide for you. See these here.
We were so pleased to collaborate with Melissa on her latest project—giving a small room a giant makeover! What was once a cramped office space, became a gorgeous guest bedroom with furnishings by Ashley HomeStore. Melissa was tasked with creating a space that will welcome guests once they unpacked their luggage. She even upped the cozy with a selection of our own quilts and nesting tables, making the guest experience truly divine.
See the full, stunning collaboration here.
Melissa has had the honor of being voted Reader’s Favorite Decorating Blogger at Better Homes and Gardens magazine two years in a row. She is also the author of New York Times Bestseller “Love the Home You Have” released in March 2015. Melissa encourages her followers to explore their home style by truly embracing what inspires and motivates them—even if it’s a little quirky!
See Melissa Michaels’ full blog here and prepare to be inspired!