Client: Hughes Hill Ventures

Overview

One Chic Retreat converted a run-down, 2,100-square-foot-single family California Ranch house into a beguiling short term holiday rental. The goal was to create a comfortable, light-filled, contemporary space that would appeal to guests seeking alternatives to hotels.

Goals

Vacation rentals have very unique design challenges. In order to be cost competitive, interior design budgets must be kept to a minimum; at the same time, furniture, artwork, and surfaces must be of the highest quality and be both unique and original. In order to accomplish this goal, One Chic Retreat sourced most items from auction houses, eBay and Craig's List. "The challenge was really fun," says Mercedes Brennan, founder of One Chic Retreat. "There's a huge sense of accomplishment when you find quality items at prices a fraction of their retail cost." The goal of the finished renovation was for everything to appear as if it had history, as if it had always been there.

Process

The photography was commissioned by the designer, One Chic Retreat, from the Chilean photographer, Michael Jones. The ceramics, oils, and other artwork were vintage pieces purchased from auction house, iGavel.

Additional Information

Combining high-end items with cost efficient ones proved to be the winning design formula in 31 @ Arboles. "You can take an Ikea vanity and put a Perrin and Rowe faucet with it and all of a sudden it looks amazing," says Mercedes Brennan. "I jokingly call it “Marrying Up.”"