Rock Your Rental

December 16, 2019
Twin sisters Joanne (Styling with Salvage), a designer, and Rosanne Palmisano, an interior design consultant, gear their stylish and practical decorating guide to vacation homeowners looking to improve their rentals, but its money-saving tips are ideal for adding high style at low cost to any abode. The Palmisanos advise that statement pieces don’t have to be expensive—think boldly colored walls with vintage frames, oversize lighting fixtures, and giant maps—and offer clever tips for finding deals, such as querying suppliers for leftover materials and returns. Their suggestions for blending creativity and economy also include examples of how to reclaim seemingly unpromising spaces, among them a former closet outfitted with bunk beds, and an attic wall to which they added a built-in bed. Valuable advice for encouraging good guest behavior includes creating a guest binder (with a welcome letter, emergency contacts, and directions to local attractions) and a checklist for checkouts, while online promotional tips include the importance of keywords, creating an on-brand website, and keeping up a consistent social media presence. Witty and well thought-out, this guide is a must-have for aspiring vacation property owners.