When Kirk and I travel, we often choose to stay in Airbnbs. On our recent trip to Florida we stayed in an airbnb on Sanibel Island and then in Jacksonville while visiting Nate. We found the most delightful Airbnb in Jacksonville and look forward to our next visit to stay again. We both agree that this hip and modern guesthouse has the best design and attention to detail we have ever experienced.
I would describe the decor as “Old Florida,” with modern and retro elements. It was definitely the most “Hip” place we have ever rented. During our stay, I enjoyed browsing the nice collection of design books on hand, including Hilton Carter’s book Wild Interiors. Even though the aesthetic isn’t close to mine, I found inspiration in the details. I’ve been adding more live plants in our home, so I loved that there were live plants throughout the house – they bring so much life to spaces.
Many Airbnb homes we have stayed in share a similar aesthetic—tidy, and thoughtfully arranged, yet they often lack any personality. There’s a common thread in the design, with a lean toward a modern farmhouse look: white walls, shiplap accents, neutral tones, and a few decorative touches like faux plants or inspirational quotes. While this style creates an appealing space, to me, it feels more like a staged showroom than a lived-in home. I get it. Owners want to keep their places neutral and low maintenance.
One day while Nate was at work, we hung back and caught up on stuff from home, read, relaxed, and took it easy. We kicked the day off with a short walk to a nearby coffee shop and bakery, then later we wandered out again for a light lunch. I took the opportunity to peruse the fun collection of books. I have to admit, this was a first for us to spend the day in at an Airbnb.
On our last evening in Jacksonville Nate joined us on a 5-minute walk to Dreamette, an iconic, ice cream stand in Jax that has been around since 1948. It was so good! The blueberry crisp sundae I ordered was delicious! The blueberry crisp was homemade!
Inspiration was everywhere in this sweet rental, and I’ve been considering ways to incorporate some ideas at our home. I think it would be fun to add some “Old Florida” and retro elements to our pool area, and I’m getting excited about warm weather days when I can spend some time outside, figure out where to use my found sea shells, and refresh the pool area.
