The Short Term Collective

The Short Term Collective Virtual STR interior design | Investor-first approach | Colorado mountain expert, available nationwide | Design that drives revenue, not just aesthetics.

03/23/2026

Family travelers book longer. Stay happier. Review better.

A dedicated kids reading nook costs almost nothing to create. Bean bag, a few books, some wallpaper and a poster.

But to a parent booking a vacation rental — it signals that someone thought about their kids.

That’s what turns a good stay into a five star review.

Design for the whole guest. Not just the adults.

Virtual STR design for first-time investors. Link in bio.

Colorado mountain design isn't about trends. It's about feeling like you belong there.St. Mary's Glacier, Colorado. Ever...
03/16/2026

Colorado mountain design isn't about trends. It's about feeling like you belong there.

St. Mary's Glacier, Colorado. Every material chosen to feel intentional — not decorated.

Virtual STR design for first-time investors. Link in bio.

03/11/2026

Nobody talks about this when you’re buying a Colorado STR.

In 2020 we came within 1/4 mile of losing three cabins to a forest fire. A year and a half of work. Countless hours spent on top of working 40 hour a week W-2’s.

We got lucky. The properties survived. But it changed how we think about every investment since.

Colorado carriers are quietly dropping STR homeowners policies. After one of the driest winters on record, it’s worth paying attention to.

This isn’t a reason to not invest. The Colorado STR market is still one of the best opportunities out there.

It’s a reason to go in with eyes wide open. Know your insurance situation. Know your defensibility. Have a contingency plan.

The investors who win long term aren’t just the ones who find great properties. They’re the ones who think through every angle before they close.

Investor first. Designer second. Always.

Virtual STR design for first-time investors. Link in bio.

03/09/2026

4.98 stars. Guest Favorite. Top 5% globally. 43 reviews.

They haven’t even been hosting a full year.

This Denver basement sits below where the owners live — a house hack in one of the city’s most walkable neighborhoods. Restaurants, nightlife, everything guests want within walking distance.

The goal was simple: cover the mortgage. The design made it possible.

This is what an entry-level STR investment looks like when the strategy is right.

Virtual STR design for first-time investors. Link in bio.

03/06/2026

Designing for photos will get you the booking.

But if the space doesn’t deliver in person, the reviews will suffer. And when your reviews drop, so does your revenue.

The properties that perform long-term are designed for the guest who’s actually standing in the room.

Every corner curated. Every detail considered. Because that’s what turns a one-time booking into a five-star review and a repeat guest.

Design isn’t decoration. It’s a revenue strategy.

Virtual STR design for first-time investors. Link in bio.

03/04/2026

11 five-star reviews. Top 5% globally.
This one launched in December and has barely slowed down since.

Bailey cabin. Colorado mountains. Designed to compete at the top of the market from day one — and it’s doing exactly that.

Virtual STR design for first-time investors. Link in bio.

03/02/2026

Three bookings. $24,760 in payouts.

This is what happens when you stop decorating and start designing for revenue.

Colorado mountain STR. Designed for the guest. Priced for the market. Built to perform.

First-time STR investors always ask me if the design investment is worth it.

This is the answer.

Virtual STR design for first-time investors. Link in bio.

02/27/2026

Designed, installed, photographed, and booked in 9 days.

Property #5 of 5. Kansas studio.

Here’s the timeline:

Day 1: Final design finished and delivered, furniture ordered
Days 2-6: receive packages and install the entire property (with two kids under 5 in tow)
Day 7: Professional photos shot
Day 8: Photos back
Day 9: Listed, first booking by afternoon

This is what happens when you design with a clear strategy and execute fast.

Kansas urban STRs are a different market than Colorado mountains, but the principle is the same: design for your guest, not for yourself.

Business travelers need ease and efficiency. Families need functional space. Alumni groups need party-ready layouts.

Know your market. Design for the guest. Execute fast.

This is what virtual design with installation support looks like. Not theory. Real properties. Real bookings. Real ROI.

—

Virtual design for first-time STR investors. Link in bio.

vacationrentaldesign

02/25/2026

Property #2 of 5. Launch-ready. $1,000/night potential.

College town STR. Walking distance to the sports complex. Game room with shuffleboard, pool table, and hang space. This property isn’t designed for average weekends—it’s designed for premium dates.

Football weekends. Graduation. Homecoming. Parents weekend.

The dates that command $1,000+ per night with 2-night minimums.

Here’s the strategy:

Location. Walking distance to the stadium means alumni and visiting families will pay a premium to avoid parking chaos and game day traffic.

Game room. This isn’t decoration—it’s functional pre-game and post-game space. Guests aren’t just sleeping here, they’re hosting here.

Group-friendly layout. Built for 8-12 people. Parents + kids. Alumni groups. Extended families. The bigger the group capacity, the higher the nightly rate.

College town STRs are a different game. If you’re not designing for game day, you’re leaving money on the table.

3 down, 2 to go this week.

—

Virtual design for high-performing STRs. Link in bio.

02/23/2026

90% installed in one day. With two kids under 5. Here’s how we crushed it.

Pro tips from the field:

Maximize nap time. When the baby goes down, we GO. Fastest furniture assembly you’ve ever seen. No breaks, no scrolling. Pure productivity.

Older kid runs errands with dad. Supply runs, return trips, coffee stops—she gets quality time with dad, I get focused work time. Win-win.

Break down boxes immediately. Flatten and stack as you go. Clutter kills momentum. Clear space = clear mind.

Keep the workspace tidy. Quick resets every hour. Tools away, trash out, floor clear. Makes the final push so much easier.

Enjoy the journey. The baby just took his first steps this week—literally happening in the middle of install chaos. These are the moments. Building a business with kids means they’re part of it. And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

We finish the final 10% tomorrow. But the heavy lifting? Done in one day. As a family.

This is what real-life logistics sometimes looks like.

02/20/2026

When the architecture is this good, the design gets to be intentional, not compensatory.

Collaboration with .o.d._arch_design on this one, and they absolutely nailed it.

Custom millwork. Level 5 drywall. Light coves and architectural accents that make you stop and admire the details. This is what happens when architects design with the user experience in mind—not just square footage and code compliance.

They left us the perfect canvas. Clean lines. Thoughtful proportions. Lighting that actually works.

Our job? Furnish it to match the caliber of the space. High-end clientele expect high-end everything. The furniture had to earn its place next to those custom cabinets.

This is what raising the bar looks like. .o.d._arch_design gets it. They see the potential in STR design beyond builder-grade finishes and template layouts. They’re designing properties that command premium rates because they deserve them.

Honored to work with a team that takes this seriously.

First guests check in next week. Can’t wait to see the reviews roll in.

Address

Alma, CO
80420

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Short Term Collective posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share