How to make your home AirBnB ready? MarbleAir Architects Oxford Case Studies.
How to make your home AirBnB ready? @MarbleAirArchitects Oxford Case Study.
Banbury Road, Summertown, Oxford
We recently worked with a client located in Summertown, Oxford, who had purchased a probated property that had received no renovations since at least the 1970s.
Instead of keeping the property up to date, the previous owner rented it out and left it. Insufficient maintenance and incidental (inconsiderate) alterations since the 1970s resulted in the space needing right uplift and refresh, which made a case for thermal and infrastructure upgrades. For example, the amalgamation of floor finishes laid over each other caused the floor of the living room to step up from the rest of the flat, causing a trip hazard.
Although the property’s condition was poor, it was situated in a prime location. It was located between Summertown and Oxford City centre with easy public transport routes into and out of Oxford. The beautiful, picturesque University Parks are just minutes away, and Port Meadow was close too.
In addition to its proximity to the city centre and nature, the property was also close to several highly regarded schools. Together, these benefits made Moore Place a great investment. However, work was needed to bring the property up to date. This is where we came in!
How Our Client Found Us
Our client initially contacted us as a referral. Following an exchange of emails and a site meeting, we decided we were a good fit and could help.
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The Onboarding Process
While every client is different, we use a similar onboarding process to determine whether or not we’re a good fit. Here we discuss our clients objectives for their project, as well as any ideas they have regarding its development. This helps us to understand preferences, and create a design that meets expectations.
After gaining a broad understanding of our client’s needs, we started to dig deeper. This involved a range of questions that covered our clients:
- Budget
- Desired timeframe
- Design ideas
- And more
Once we had the details, we discussed how much involvement our client wanted us to have in the project. This varies from one project to the next, and can cover everything to a simple overview. We also discussed the pros and cons of the construction process and the route we should go down to get the desired result.
The aim of our client was to completely refurbish the flat. They wanted the property to be functional and pleasant for a family of 4 to use, with the goal of living in the flat during weekdays.
At the same time, our client also wanted to make the flat rentable for students or via AirBnB when not in use. They emphasized this shouldn’t be overcapitalised on, as the property would be secondary and temporary accommodation.
In terms of design, our client wanted to be brave by using bright colours. They were happy to experiment, and used our CGI service to get an understanding of what they liked and disliked without needing to spend thousands on paint samples and repairing unsuccessful outcomes.
In addition to colours, we were asked to help with the design and building of furniture for the property. We also used CGI for this to focus on the finer details and discover what our client liked.
All details were confirmed in the free proposal, which was sent off shortly after.
Our Solution
Once we understood the brief and client’s objectives, it was time to develop a solution.
We started by assessing our client’s ideas for Moore Place, taking into consideration that they would be living in the property during the week, and would eventually rent it or use it as an AirBnB property.
We surveyed and assessed the current conditions of the property and our client’s budget. Using this data we suggested a plan that met our clients’ needs, ensuring the property would be suitable for living in now and for renting in accordance with AirBnB guidelines.
During this process, we always like to steer the concept design, inviting unique out of the box thinking to create our clients desired result.
After formulating a plan, we discussed everything with our client and gave them the opportunity to make comments and changes on our design. This is an important part of our process as it gives our clients the opportunity to be creative.
After agreeing on a design, we finalised the concept and researched, confirmed and obtained any statutory permissions required.
Now it was time to put our plan into action. We used one of our trusted contractors to bring our design to life, ensuring they went through an extensive vetting process to ensure they were the right contractors for the job.
The Results
Once our contractors had finished the work, Moore Place was looking better than ever. We completely remodelled the interior of the property, improving the existing flow of space. In particular, we broadened the entrance hall, visually linking it to an open plan living room and the kitchen. The use of a glazed partition helped to also balance the natural light in this space, which included a new kitchen with built-in seating and storage.
In addition to improving the flow, we completed a total redecoration of rooms, including the installation of new flooring, energy efficient lights, and underfloor heating. We also revamped the bathroom, and all controls were aesthetically concealed.
As with many projects, not all visions came to be. For example, not all of the built-in furniture was constructed during the first phase of construction. Furthermore, some of the more adventurous room décor was commissioned from a rentability aspect.
Nonetheless, we met our client in the middle to create a space that evoked the perfect balance of a comfortable living space full of creative décor.
If you want to see the design itself, you can check it out below:
Bardwell Road, Summertown, Oxford
In addition to Moore Place, we also recently worked on a property on Bardwell Road. This was a similar location, offering great transport links to Oxford City centre, easy access to local parks, and it was situated close to several quality schools.
How Our Client Found Us
Our client contacted us online after finding our details on Google. After an exchange of emails, we jumped on a call to discuss their project and how we could help.
Would you like to discuss your project? Contact us at MarbleAir
The Onboarding Process
During our initial meeting we discussed our clients’ needs and expectations. They planned to transform an Oxford period duplex apartment into a stylish, modern second family home. The aim was to rent the property out as a short term let.
For the design, our client looked to create a minimal, but chic and spacious flat. The flat would be big enough for a family with one or two school aged children.
To stand out in a highly competitive market, our client was looking for the wow factor. We took this into consideration when creating a design, and used our CGI service to provide different design options that would ultimately increase the value of the property.
The Results
We completely remodelled the living room and kitchen areas, creating an open plan family space where parents could easily keep an eye on children. We joined the bathroom to the master bedroom to create an en-suite, and also implemented a cloakroom next to the kitchen.
To open up space in the flat, higher ceilings were constructed over level one. We also installed new lighting to enhance the features and décor of the property.
To make the property as energy efficient as possible, existing fenestration plumbing and electrics were upgraded and underfloor heating was added throughout.
Our client loved the results, and ended up with a stylish 3 bedroom duplex apartment that could be divided into two studio flats, if required in the future.
Throughout the process, several adjustments were made to our initial design. For example, we had initially planned for a balcony to be added to the master bedroom. However, negotiations with the planning authorities had proven difficult and lengthy. Consequently, our clients decided to play it safe and move on with other construction works.
Furthermore, we also had to replace tiles when a tiler failed to follow an agreed pattern. This didn’t meet client expectations, and therefore we went above and beyond to find a solution. This led to the installation of plain graphite tiles on the floor, which still looked amazing.
If you’d like to see the design, you can check it out here:
https://marbleair.com/portfolio-item/bardwell-road/
or
Have any other questions?
If you have any questions or you’d like to work with us on a project, simply contact us via EMAIL and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
If you’re planning to rent on AirBnB, make sure you click here and check out their guide
