From Guest to Host: How I Ended Up Running a Short-Term Rental

Like so many big life decisions, this one started with a totally temporary idea.

During the pandemic, I left Chicago and bought the cutest Victorian home in my hometown. It wasn’t supposed to be a forever thing—just a change of scenery, a little space, and maybe a fun design project or two (famous last words). But I had always toyed with the idea of running a short-term rental. After more than a decade as an Airbnb guest—staying everywhere from Japan to Cuba to Sweden—I figured it was time to flip the script and try hosting myself.

Fast forward five years, and I’m still here. Well, sometimes—because one of the best parts about this whole adventure is that I get to enjoy the home when I want and share it with guests when I’m not. It’s been a wild ride of learning, designing, and the occasional minor panic over a last-minute booking, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I’ll be sharing more about what I’ve learned, the projects I’ve tackled, and, of course, the moments that made me question my life choices (because there have been plenty). If you’ve ever thought about jumping into the short-term rental world—or just want to see what it’s really like—stick around.