Francesca Reed
With a passion for interior design and travel, Head of Brand Francesca can usually be found flicking through coffee table books or exploring the world´s most paradisiacal beaches.
Owner Chronicles
Unique Homestays owners come together at Cornwall´s Castle Trematonia
Reclined on a floral sun-lounger sipping iced pink cocktails by the pool may sound like a holiday, but here it’s BAU. This May, Unique Homestays owners were invited to Castle Trematonia.
More by Francesca
Interiors
Unique Homestays partners with The White Company
The White Company partners with Unique Homestays to launch an experiential holiday cottage in a first-of-its-kind collaboration for the luxury British brands. Think signature fragrances and glossy earthenware wrapped up in cob walls.
Lifestyle
Key wedding trends for 2023
January is a time for planning, so we asked the UK’s best wedding planners and stylists to share their predictions for 2023; think stripes, signature cocktails, the great outdoors, all-weekend-long weddings, and eighties pizazz.
Lifestyle
Top interior trends for 2023
From the colours on the walls to the patterns in the halls, our home interiors are tapestries of personality. Here we share our pick of the top home trends for 2023; from Pantone´s shade of the year to the 70s revival no-one saw coming.
Lifestyle
Unique travel trends for 2023
We’re seeing out-of-the-box thinking (and travelling) on the horizon. Here, we round up our pick of key travel trends for 2023; from the inside-outside snow globe aesthetic to places fit for Shinrin-yoku. Plus, an insight into what homestays are topping the leaderboard (and why).
Lifestyle
Unique Folk
With an ethos that speaks to the secret ideals of the nomad inside, our loyalty scheme rewards guests by taking them on the first few steps of their next adventure. For the vagabonds and wayfarers, craft makers and cocktail-shakers, find out how we honour your seat at our table in the Unique Folk Loyalty Programme.
Owner Chronicles
The enchanted castle on the river
Owner Frieda Gormley shares her story on how she and husband Javvy became custodians of Castle Trematonia; an intriguing Cornish country house on the banks of the River Lynher.
Lifestyle
Wedding trends to watch in 2022
Checkerboard dancefloors and maximalist bridesmaids, polished gowns and pearlcore. After 18 months of cancellations, restrictions and postponements, we forecast the top weddings trends for the year ahead.
Lifestyle
Come to stay in towers, castles, and fairytale follies
Castle ramparts smothered in blazing creepers, walled gardens protected by whimsical follies and towers so luxurious that no maiden should ever wish to be saved, however handsome the rescuer.
Fare
Winter brie and berry tart
In the season of coming together to indulge in late-night chatter over tables piled high with fine foods, Unique Homestays affiliate chef David Sargent shares his Cornish truffler brie, thyme and cranberry tart topped with pickled red onion; a vegetarian dish packed full of festive flavour.
Travellers' Tales
Wild West Cork
Ireland is having a bit of a moment. Gaelic glamour, Hollywood scenery and deserted white-sand beaches all coming into the limelight; this emerald island sparkles brighter than ever. Here we look back on last year´s visit to Skyros in County Cork.
Lifestyle
Al fresco styling for summer
One positive to come from the pandemic is the nation´s newfound infatuation with outside styling. Be it arthouse film nights huddled around a projector screen or secret garden soirées complete with cascading Champagne fountains; we share five tips on how to style your outdoor space this summer.
Lifestyle
A Black Mountains Elopement
Remote farmhouse retreat Charity opens its doors to couples for modern bohemian celebrations nestled in the rolling hills of the Black Mountains. In a styled editorial shoot, runaway lovers embraced the intimate and the informal, with poetic florals and air of retro glam.
Lifestyle
Fairytale romance on the West Wales Coast
Within the realm of a Victorian country manor on the West Wales Heritage Coast lies a wedding venue spilling with classical beauty. Uncover a modern day fairytale at Florin.
Lifestyle
A weddings revival
While wedding planners, venues and suppliers have been forced to take an extended hiatus due to Covid-19 restrictions, there’s been a whole heap of creativity brewing beneath the surface. Like a bottle of Britain’s finest fizz fermented to perfection, an industry revival is set to see weddings return this summer in a scintillating explosion of style and romance.
Lifestyle
Unique Homestays launch new video service
Unique Homestays have launched a personalised experience for luxury travellers and property owners, with their all-new video call service.
Guest Bloggers
JoJo Maman Bébé at Bohéme
With an environmentally conscious edge and a quirky French flair, Bohéme was a match made in heaven when it came to finding a shoot location for JoJo Maman Bébé´s new collection.
Lifestyle
Elegant modernity for a Cornish elopement
Fusing the raw with the refined, The Unbridled captures an elopement wedding editorial shoot with mood and elegance in the heart of rugged Cornwall.
Lifestyle
The 2021 wedding: elopement inspiration from the Cornish coast
During the pandemic, Unique Homestays continue to celebrate responsible wedding and honeymoon planning, because if there has ever been a time we all need a heart-warming love story it’s now. Here we kick off 2021 with elopement inspiration from The Beach Hut in Cornwall.
Lifestyle
Fantastical follies
“Form follows function” is a maxim observed by most modern architects. Not, however, for fans of the folly. Following the heart-over-head principles of Romanticism, homeowners are once again becoming creative with their estates. From ornate waterside dwellings to forgotten farm buildings reimagined, the folly is making a comeback.
Lifestyle
Understated luxury
If there´s one thing 2020 has taught us so far, it´s to see beauty in the littlest luxuries - simple, clean living being the biggest of them all. Now that travel restrictions are easing, demand for low-key lavish escapes has never been greater. Here we round-up the best holiday homes for UK staycations with a theme of understated luxury.
Guest Bloggers
Artist in residence: Sara Reed
Contemporary artist and teacher Sara Reed explores the raw, elemental beauty of nature through a study of colour, light and continuous line on hand-stretched canvases created in her studio on the North Cornwall coast.
Guest Bloggers
Julita London Bride
Intricate, ethereal and spiritual is how Jo Kuniewicz-Murray describes her work. Created for today´s modern bride, every order is handmade to the client´s most detailed measurements in Jo´s London studio, like fine works of art.
Lifestyle
Destination honeymoon
The effects of the coronavirus crisis have been felt everywhere, but one of the hardest hit sectors has been the weddings industry, leaving hundreds of couples weighing up their options amid restrictions on travel and social gatherings. For those not able to wed or honeymoon overseas this year, there´s an alternative to cancelled romantic celebrations, the modern-day minimoon.
Fare
Angie Smith’s fraudshake
Banana bread aside, this is the lockdown recipe everyone in the know has been talking about. We spoke with our favourite celebrity stylist, Angie Smith, who shared the secret ingredients behind her latest trend: the spinach-packed smoothie that tastes like white chocolate.
Lifestyle
Soundtrack: faraway winters
In a series where the team share their holiday memories, this soundtrack conjures up memories of solo travels through Costa Rica; of 6am yoga, warm rain showers, fried squid and deep infinity pools.
Lifestyle
Walpole Book of British Luxury: the launch
This spring saw the launch of the 2020 Walpole Book of British Luxury at London´s Fortnum & Mason. The book explores the future of the sector through thought-provoking essays from leading commentators, cover art by House of Hackney and brand stories from 60 Walpole members including new addition Unique Homestays.
Lifestyle
Britain in bloom: enchanted garden escapes
And just like that, the world stood still. Amid travel bans and isolation orders, the magic of the natural world continues. This month we celebrate Britain´s best garden getaways, delivering you a breath of fresh air through a hand-picked selection of private homes with exceptional gardens.
Interiors
Out of office
As the nation holes up and more of us work from home, we share seven unique living spaces to inspire your at-home office.
Lifestyle
Natural selection
A new generation of architects put the environment at the heart of their projects, weaving buildings into their natural surroundings, crafting furnishings from organic materials and creating homes that embrace the living world with open arms.
Guest Bloggers
The Life of a Modern Digital Nomad
British photographer Evie Johnstone writes about a life spent travelling the globe in pursuit of world-class surf and unique photographic opportunities with an underlying theme of female empowerment. Here, Evie takes time to reflect at Siren cottage in Cornwall.
Lifestyle
Green Love
The colour of love turns green this February as we celebrate the rise of the eco wedding. Organic food, British bubbles and paperless post; we show how you can consider the planet without sacrificing your vision of a beautifully designed luxury wedding.
Lifestyle
Simple Luxury
Holidays matter. They are our lifeline to sanity, a chance to step away from everyday life and reconnect with the people we love. Simple Luxury, the latest campaign by Unique Homestays, follows three parties on their unique escapes in rural Britain.
Lifestyle
Be good (to yourself): wellness breaks for 2020
Discover the very best breaks to suit all your wellness wishes for the new year. Gone are the days of cookie cutter retreats, 2020 is the year to get creative with your health-boosting holidays. Here is our guide to tried, tested and supremely tranquil retreats in the UK.
Lifestyle
Hunter Gatherers
Tapping into our human instincts, we celebrate the season of hunting and gathering, of bonfires and feasting and preparing for the first bite of winter, as we scout out our favourite trends for this autumn.
Guest Bloggers
Meet The Maker – East London Parasols
East London Parasols blend modern-day design with age-old traditions from the colourful lands of India and Indonesia, to create fun and flamboyant one-off pieces. Founder Lucy Ferguson tells the story behind her unique brand.
Fare
A Culinary Retreat in the Quantock Hills
When it came to Valentine’s weekend this year, we wanted to celebrate by offering guests something that would last far longer than a dozen roses. Instead, we teamed up with culinary vacation experts Stirred Travel, who specialise in the nation’s first love.
Owner Chronicles
Homes of The Makers
To enter an artist’s residence is to enter another’s creative mind. Experiencing day-to-day life in the home of a creator lends a feeling that transcends simply viewing their work on a wall. This month we delve inside dwellings that act as galleries, studios and inspiration for the artisans who call them home.
Lifestyle
Hibernation season
The hunt is on for that all-inspiring location in which hunker down and admire the winter wonderland scenery all around. From mountain hideaways to white-washed yoga retreats by the sea, we round-up the best boltholes to book this Spring.
Owner Chronicles
TukTuk to Turkey – Unique Homestays gets involved
Trekking 273 miles along the Cornwall South West Coast Path, the Unique Homestays team are raising money to support our owner´s (Rachel and Bharat of Zamani) TukTuk to Turkey Voyage in aid of SUDEP Action - a charity very close to their hearts.
Interiors
The English Eccentric
Unique Home Stays gives you exclusive access inside the lives and homes of inspirational, eclectic and ingenious individuals by handing you the keys to their absurdly beautiful abodes.
Lifestyle
Remote Luxury
For us, romance and remoteness go hand in hand. The anticipation of driving into the hinterland solo, or with a loved one, is matched only by the triumph of finding your destination and feeling blissfully far from the madding crowds. We round-up the best secluded hideaway escapes.
Travellers' Tales
Summer Stories of The Stack
It’s Friday the 13th July and Britain continues to bake in the longest heatwave since ´76. With not a drop of rain in the long range forecast, this weekend called for nothing but sea swimming and milling around in the Cornish sunshine.
Lifestyle
The Hills are Alive
There´s something about life in the hills that truly makes one´s heart sing. We´ve searched high and low, throughout fells and valleys, to find Britain’s most inspiring cottages and hideaways. Flee the crowds and journey into the hills and far away.
Lifestyle
Go Large or Go Home
From stately manor houses to artsy party pads complete with disco balls and indoor pools, we round-up the best big houses that can be exclusively yours.
Lifestyle
Unique Wedding Trends for 2018
Tying the knot this year? We tell you six things you’ll want to know when it comes to planning your wedding day of dreams. From this year’s hottest venues to timeless décor with a difference; we’ve got your unique wedding covered.
Owner Chronicles
Unique Homestays Springtime Soirée
This week saw owners and friends of Unique Homestays come together for a merry old time at Somerset´s favourite party house, Bohème.
Travellers' Tales
A Quiet Place Somewhere
Because sometimes you just need that quiet place somewhere. To wake up on Friday morning, pack the essentials and disappear off the radar.
Lifestyle
Holidaying in the South Hams
There’s no denying that the diverse county of Devon offers a divine sense of freedom for all who cross its craggy border. Closer than Cornwall but still far, far away from the buzz of the capital, this holiday hotspot is a haven for relaxation. We headed to one of Devon´s dreamiest destinations: the South Hams.
Lifestyle
The Best Party Houses to Rent for New Year
Whether you’re plotting a cosy New Year just for two, or a raucous affair for a few… we’ve rounded up the best private homes available for your New Year’s celebrations.
Lifestyle
The Cosiest Cottages for Winter
Blustery walks, roaring open fires and delicious hampers stuffed with seasonal goodies should be just what the doctor orders as the temperature drops. Pack your wellingtons but leave the shovel at home, there´s nowhere else you´d rather be snowed in than at these luxury holiday cottages.
Owner Chronicles
Unique Home Stays Garden Party
This month we came together with owners and friends of Unique Home Stays for our annual end-of-summer gathering, hosted at the oh-so-gorgeous Valentina´s Lost Orangery.
Interiors
All-White Living
Baring the nation’s unwavering love for neutrals, the pared-back aesthetic has dominated the design world over recent years. From the rustically white-washed to the whimsically romantic, we explore the depths and diversity of the white-on-white home trend.
Interiors
Interiors in Bloom
As well as being ultra-feminine, floral prints are a fine way to bring the great British outdoors in. Injecting the season’s blooms into your interior scheme can create an air of summer romance all year round. These homes show how flower power interiors are done best.
Lifestyle
Instagrammable Escapes
Just like promenading along seaside boulevards in the Victorian times, online posing is the sport of this decade. To keep all your social media followers swooning over your holiday snaps, we’ve hand-picked the most photogenic escapes for this summer.
Interiors
Sitting Pretty
The occasional chair: as the name suggests, not an entirely essential home furnishing. But if there’s one piece that can transform a living space from standard to statement then it’s one of these. Here’s a selection of Unique Home Stays showing how it’s done best.
Interiors
Hero Headboards
Statement headboards play a key feature in today’s most impressive bedrooms, adding an undeniable element of excitement to any sleeping space. Here we showcase the most daring, seductive and OTT beds on the Unique Home Stays portfolio.
Travellers' Tales
Holidaying on Home Turf
Flanked by flower-clad cliffs and crooked fisherman’s cottages, Boscastle is impossibly photogenic. There’s always been a ‘magic’ about the village. Having grown up here as a child, when Aphrodite joined the portfolio it was the most perfect excuse to visit my old haunt.
Interiors
Spring Greens
As the key trends for 2017 are announced to the nation, there´s none stirring quite the amount of interest in the interior design world as that of Pantone´s Colour Of The Year. We take a look at our luxury homestays with greenery-inspired interiors, giving you the opportunity to stay in the UK´s most on-trend homes this year.
Lifestyle
Unique Wedding Venues for 2017
Did you get a sparkly diamond ring this Valentine´s Day? Picking your special venue is the first step to creating a truly unique occasion. Here is our pick of the most romantic wedding venues the UK has on offer - imagine the photographs!
Lifestyle
Wandering Wild
The greater the wilderness, the greater the revelations. Being in the back of beyond allows us to loosen the ties that bind us to the familiar world and rediscover the simple pleasures in life. Let these remote retreats inspire your next great escape, into the wild.
Interiors
In-Vogue Homestays
To celebrate the centenary of the fashion bible, we’ve collated a selection of the most ‘Vogueish’ homestays on the Unique Home Stays portfolio. From a rustic, peacock-themed barn conversion to an orangery embellished with dripping chandeliers and lemon trees, take a look inside some of the UK’s most decadently stylish private homes.
Lifestyle
Unique Home Stays Turns 15!
Last weekend we celebrated Unique Home Stays´ 15th birthday, which topped off a stellar three months for the business. Staff and owners gathered for a merry evening of live music, canapés and Prosecco on tap.
Lifestyle
Unique Surf Day
Despite our prim and preppy appearances, we like to think we’re quite the team of action women here at Unique Home Stays. So when Cornish Wave invited for some expert surf tuition (all in the name of guest recommendations), we quite literally jumped at the chance.
Owner Chronicles
Sugar Fame and African Style: Stories of Goldhorn Manor
Once leased to Colonel Lyle (of Golden Syrup fame) for £1 per annum, our gorgeous Goldhorn Manor has a fascinating and colourful history. We stole a moment with owner Julia, who told us a little more about her very unique home.
Interiors
A Bohemian Revival
We´ve collated a collection of our most boho-chic homes to inspire your inner wanderer, adventurer, vagabond or gypsetter. Let us take you a luxury Bohemian adventure you won’t ever want to leave.
Owner Chronicles
The Story of Smuggler’s Cottage
Owner of Smuggler’s Cottage, Simon, purchased the cottage following a stay with Unique Home Stays and having utterly fallen in love with Cornwall’s Lizard Peninsular. We chatted with Simon about how he found his dream home-from-home and why he decided to open its doors for others to enjoy.
Fare
Cornish Charcuterie
When it comes to creating Unique Home Stays’ luxury welcome hampers, we hand-pick the best products on the market so that we can make our guests feel at home with a selection of the UK’s finest foodstuffs. We spoke to Kate from one of our longest running product providers, Cornish Charcuterie, to see what makes their products so special.
Travellers' Tales
An Invitation I Could Not Refuse
When the owner of Pelsham Manor sent me an invitation to stay at The Madison, I simply could not refuse. It was a gloomy November morning, I swung my chair around to ask my fellow romanticist and ‘froleague’ Charlotte if she’d like to join me for a long weekend away in the country!
