Often, members of our TDG community ask what I am doing/what products I am using at my place so I created this handy little Shop My Place post. I talk about my condo, Paradise at the Plantation, all the time here at TDG, but I try not to over-promote it. I’m here to educate you about vacation rentals, not sell you a vacation at mine! But I’m proud of what I built. To be honest, owning and managing a vacation rental home on an island is a real challenge. Some days I just want to throw in the (fluffy cabana) towel and go back to a regular 9-5.

It’s the happy guests and the vacation rental community that keep me going—whether a glowing review or just a quick email of praise. I’ve put a ton of time into this condo, and seeing others appreciate this vacation rental property revitalizes me on this journey! (I’m sure you can relate.)

So, without further ado, put on your sunglasses and floppy hat and let’s go to the sunny Garden Isle of Kauai!

Here she is! My property is on the left hand side, up those steps.

The Living Room

Guests enter right into the living/dining/kitchen at Paradise at the Plantation. Luckily the architects designed the open-concept kitchen before “open-concept” was even a popular term, let alone a necessity.  So even though my place is only 1,300 square feet, the layout makes it feel so much larger.

I inherited the living room furniture (island style) when I purchased the vacation rental property and decided to keep it, but modernized it with the blue and white theme you see today.

CONSOLE TABLE
LAMP
BASKET
MEDIA STAND
CEILING FAN
WINDOWN COVERINGS
THROW RUGS
CUSTOM #KAUAILOVE SIGN
COFFEE TABLE BOOKS
THROW BLANKET

The Kitchen

As I mentioned, the kitchen opens up to the living space creating that easy flow we all know and love. I like to keep things light and airy to really capture that lazy island vibe, so I use a lot of wicker, natural materials and crisp white for travelers. It gives off the perfect beach vacation feel.

I also try to watch my spending, but some pieces are worth the splurge—like my barstools.  I originally purchased barstools locally, but within a year they were falling apart.  Fast forward a few years, and I’ve replaced them with these fabulous bar stools and I could not be happier.  They are sturdy and super-easy to clean.

I am also a realist and try to keep that in mind when fitting out my kitchen with small appliances, hence the no-fuss Mr. Coffee there in the corner.  Everyone knows how to use a Mr. Coffee. No coffee emergencies here! My last pro tip that never disappoints?  I provide two sets of knives—serrated knives and non-serrated knives.

BARSTOOLS
GUEST MANIFESTO MAGNET
COFFEE POT
TRIVET
WINDOW COVERINGS
LIGHT FIXTURES
POT HOLDERS
FIRE EXTINGUISHER
SERRATED KNIVES
NON-SERRATED KNIVES
POTS & PANS

The Dining Room

When I originally purchased my vacation rental, it had a super-ugly table that only sat 4….and my place sleeps 6. Not great for a family vacation!  But as a practical gal, I saved my pennies so I could purchase a new table. That took me about four years to do. (In the meantime, guests were able to use the kitchen barstools and the table out on the lanai.) The new table and chairs pictured above are end the result of my penny-pinching. Love it!

DINING ROOM TABLE
DINING ROOM CHAIRS
SLIP COVER CHAIRS
FAUX ORCHID

The Master Bedroom

Like the living area furniture, the bedroom suit was inherited from the previous owner.  It’s not exactly my style and not something that I would have picked on my own, but the warm hue does work nicely with the simplicity of the blues and whites of the textiles.

I won’t feature every bedroom here in “Shop My Place”—for consistency, I use most of the same items in each of the bedrooms. It makes it easier for my cleaners when all the throw blankets are the same. Plus, there’s something appealing about all the rooms being tied together with a consistent theme.

LAMPS
LAMP SHADES
WHOLESALE LINENS
MATTRESS ENCASEMENTS

PILLOW PROTECTORS
DUVET INSERTS
THROW BLANKET
THROW PILLOWS
THROW PILLOW INSERTS
BOX SPRING COVERS
THROW RUG
CEILING FAN
BLUETOOTH SPEAKER

The Bathroom

I once had an Airbnb Superhost guest who texted me to ask where I kept my pool towels. When I told her, “They’re the yellow striped towels on the teak chair in the master bath” (pictured above), she was shocked! She’d seen them, of course, but couldn’t believe I’d leave such nice towels for guests to take to the private pool.

The secret is, with wholesale pricing, the towels only cost me $8 each. So, as you can see, there are some places I splurge and others where I save!

As a textile addict, I’m always trying out new product. So my yellow stripe pool towels are from a vendor that, unfortunately, does not sell retail. BUT! If you are open to buying wholesale quantities—sometimes as few as 12 or 24, totally doable for us vacation property owners)—then you may be in luck.

HINT HINT: Check out my free Wholesaling Linens Guide to learn more.

BATH MAT
TOOTHBRUSH
TOOTHPASTE
COMB
SHOWER CAP
PERSONAL CARE KIT
TOILETRIES
HAIR DRYER
HAIR DRYER BAG

The Garage

Now it’s time to give my garage some love. It’s not a design showstopper, but you can still make smart choices in this functional space. In an effort to stay organized, I had my handyman install this rack to help hold one of the most used piece of gear at my short term rental: the beach chairs!

Here’s a list of other items I supply in the garage to make my guests’ stay effortless:

BEACH CHAIRS
BEACH UMBRELLA
COOLER & ICE PACKS
SAND TOYS

And this concludes your Kauai condo tour + introduction to the magic of affiliate income at your vacation rental. What are the favorite items  you supply at your vacation rental home?  Drop us a comment below so we can share it with the world!