Guest Bloggers
We love to hear from like-minded souls and be inspired by their creativity and adventures. Makers and wordsmiths join here via a love of language, design and all things unique.
Guest Bloggers
Designer insider: Seamus Shanks
This month, we´re celebrating our architectural masterpieces and masterminds. Here, architect and owner of properties Elemental and Usonia, Seamus Shanks, welcomes us into his world.
More from Guest Bloggers
Adventures in the Beacons
This month, in celebration of Britain´s finest peaks, we head to Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) to understand how action-packed escapes are a must for all that venture here.
Island makers: Harris Tweed
This month, we´re spotlighting our incredible isles and those lucky enough to call them home. Here, we speak with a well-known member of the Harris Tweed weaving family, Catherine Campbell, about the material´s iconic journey from its early island days to global acclaim.
Bring the outside in: transform your home for spring
As the first signs of spring begin to emerge, we get ready to welcome the new season. Here, flower grower and floral designer Emily from 3acre Blooms shares how to bring a touch of spring to your home.
The forgotten living space: Pollyanna Wilkinson on making your garden an extension to your home
Multi-award-winning garden designer Pollyanna Wilkinson shares her tips on how to make your garden an extension to your home this summer.
An intimate Cheshire wedding doused in vintage style
Floral designer and venue stylist Hannah Shaw shares inspiration for an intimate vintage-style wedding at dream country wedding venue, Scarlet Hall.
A naturally styled Christmas
Sustainable floral designer and author Bex Partridge shares her tips on decorating for Christmas using natural materials, as seen in Unique Homestays´ cottage near the Cornish coast, The Hatch.
Why every booking with Unique Homestays counts
Kate Barclay from Rewilding Britain explains why and how rewilding is so necessary to safeguard our planet for future generations.
Top tips on creating a luxury bathing experience at home
Leading bath makers William Holland share their top tips on creating a luxury bathing experience without ever needing to leave the comfort of home.
A surprise proposal at The Chalk House
Wedding planner Fern Godfrey shares her latest collaboration for a surprise proposal at The Chalk House.
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.
Meet the maker: Gstee
With no formal training, aerial photographer and creative George Stephens discusses his artistic journey and how improvisation and exploration have influenced his nature-led aesthetic.
Romantic rituals
Bringing your countryside escape in a bottle, 100 Acres´ co-founder Ellea shares her top three romantic rituals and how just because you can’t be physically in a hundred acres of countryside, doesn’t mean you can’t be mentally.
Wedding styling in 2021: the guide to small but impactful celebrations
After many postponed gatherings, 2021 is the year to inject personality into romantic celebrations, whatever the size. We speak with Ginny, co-founder of Virginias Vintage Hire who shares this year´s key wedding styling trends.
Cosy up a space for winter with French Connection
From natural accents, ambient lighting and sparkling decorations, French Connection´s Head of Homeware Catharine Denham shares how to make your home cosy for winter, all set in our modern retreat, The Meadows.
Four festive floral ideas for your home this Christmas
Florist and flower farmer Gemma shares four festive floral arrangements to embellish your home this Christmas, styled at our new and exclusive shoot location, Coswarth.
Picture-perfect seclusion
We look back on photographer Daniel Casson´s stay at The Creamery where he captures North Devon´s atmospheric landscape during a cosy winter´s week.
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.
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.
Meet the artists behind the UK´s creative hub
We speak with Katherine Sorrell and Anya Rice, the creators of Make: Cornwall: A Celebration of Modern Craftspeople from the South West.
Meet the maker: Zee van Gils
Dutch artist Zee van Giles discovered her obsession for resin while working with surfboard shapers in a tiny fishing village in Lombok, Indonesia. Now she creates layered ocean-inspired artworks that feature in homes worldwide.
The Cornish Grazing Co. Visits Nare´s Yard
Celebrating the rise of grazing platters, a unique catering trend originating from Australia, The Cornish Grazing Co´s founder Samantha Heard speaks with us about the importance of eating local and what she got up to during her stay at Nare´s Yard.
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.
An Intimate Wedding at Florin
Wedding photographer Owen Howells shares his experience shooting at Florin, a stunning Welsh manor house and unique wedding venue.
Birthday Celebrations at The Palladian
BBC broadcaster and presenter of the One Show, Alex Jones, recently stayed at The Palladian for a double birthday celebration. She recalls her visit to the Georgian style Cotswolds Manor.
A Magic Moment at Northcott Beach House
Alone on top of the cliffs is the perfect location for a big family getaway or private wedding. The big fenced garden offers a dreamy spot for both sea view ceremonies and al fresco receptions above the waves.
Honeymooning by the sea
Photographer Lloyd Evans and his new wife find post-wedding bliss at a Scandinavian-style beach house in Porthleven, Cornwall.
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.
Baby on Board
Today we talk to Melanie, Mum to the beautiful Benji, about the joys, challenges and top tips of travelling with a baby on board.
A Relaxing Reading Retreat at Scarlet Hall
I have been dreaming of hosting a reading retreat ever since the launch of my small book business, but trying to find a property which ticks all the boxes necessary was proving to be quite a difficult task. That was until I discovered Scarlet Hall.
A Winter Weekend at Libertine
Poldark´s Eleanor Tomlinson spends her final days filming for the BBC drama series with a stay at Libertine near the coastal town of Perranporth.
A Whimsical Elopement Wedding
I’ve always had a soft spot for Unique Home Stays properties. It was a blissful birthday weekend away at a Unique Home Stay cottage that convinced my partner and I to move to Cornwall in the first place. So when it came to choosing a venue to shoot imagery for my new wedding planning business, I knew where to go.
Milly in the Moontide
Eager to escape the smog and endlessly increasing temperatures of London Milly decided to book a mini staycation with a friend to Moontide, the perfect escape from the grind of daily life. Just what the doctor ordered for two busy women with a never-ending to do lists.
Art for Homes
There’s no set formula to what makes a Unique Home Stay and sourcing artwork for such individualistic homes can be a challenge. We asked CIRCLE Contemporary gallery to select a few of their favourite pieces and the homes in which they’d showcase them.
The Art of Disconnecting in Ireland
In a world of smart phones and computer screens the world can feel both big and scarily small, but nothing can compare to exploring nature in all its raw beauty. We embraced this and more at the beautiful Skyros in Schull.
Wedding Photographer Joab Smith | The Lost Orangery
Based in Somerset yet capturing magical weddings across the UK, wedding photographer Joab Smith gives us an insight into of his most recent weddings at The Lost Orangery.
Relaxation and Rejuvenation
You don’t simply escape when staying in this unique home, in fact, you absorb, embrace and connect with it. Thank you Aquila for helping us find ourselves again - James McVey
Wedding Photographers James and Lianne | Figtree House
Yorkshire based wedding photography duo James and Lianne share their experience capturing a beautifully rustic wedding at Figree House, set within 17 acres of rolling Cumbrian countryside.
Photographer Owen Howells | Weddings at Florin
Professional wedding photographer Owen Howells tells us about his experience capturing weddings at Florin, our magical Welsh wedding venue near New Quay.
The Ultimate Garden Wedding
Are you planning a luxury UK garden wedding in 2018, perhaps inspired by beautiful destinations such as the romantic Provence or the Tuscan hills?
The Making of Ellesmera Mill
Stylist and interior designer Siobhan Hayles explains how she worked with the property owner of an enchanted old mill, sourcing furnishings from far and wide, to inject new life into this beautifully unique Devon home.
Celtic and Co Spring 2017 Shoot at Whimplestone
Celtic & Co shoot their beautiful Spring 2017 collection at Whimplestone in the verdant Tamar Valley.
The Bulrushes
Interior Designer Siobhan Hayles explains the unusual inspiration behind our old flour mill´s recent makeover, in the latest striking Unique Home Stays interiors revamp.
Photographer Jessica Raphael | Weddings at The Lost Orangery
We invited professional Lifestyle photographer Jessica Raphael to tell us about her time shooting for Polly and Rob´s wedding at The Lost Orangery.
6 Artful Ways to Create Inspirational Spaces
So, you’ve found and renovated the perfect retreat, in the most beautiful place. It’s time to think about adding that extra little ‘bit of magic’ to share with those lucky enough to step inside. Here’s a few artful pointers to help give your prize home that final flourish of style…
Behind The Scenes with Celtic and Co at Firefly
Shooting an Autumn catalogue during Spring, is always a challenge for us at Celtic. Not only can the weather can be unpredictable and changeable here in Cornwall - but everything about the location of the shoot needs to scream of the season we are trying to emulate, Firefly by Unique Home Stays was the perfect fit.
Delphin | A Scandi Style Cornish Coastal Hideaway
“I’m sure it’s along here somewhere” I reassured my husband as we retraced our route back down the tiny Cornish cliff top lane we’d just driven along, because the first thing that strikes you on arriving at Delphin, is just how incredibly private it is.
An Intimate Wedding at The Lost Orangery
I was thrilled when Candice contacted me about arranging the wedding flowers for her special day which took place at The Lost Orangery.
Four Go To Woolacombe
The house was divine. Built in the 1930s, its position overlooking Woolacombe Bay was breathtaking. "Let´s explore!" exclaimed Juliana, as she turned the key in the lock and dashed down the hallway.
Coco Wolf Shoot at The Lost Orangery
In a recent collaboration with Holland and Sherry, my brief was to find a property that wasn´t too far from London, had beautiful gardens, backdrops, photo opportunities and a place to stay. The Lost Orangery ticked all of the boxes and more.
Twins That Travel visit Cornwall
This spring we invited popular travel blogging duo Twins That Travel to spend a cosy weekend in Cornwall. Just over four hours from London, with perfect hosts and a cosy wood burner for post-beach walks, what better place to match them to than The Little Charcuterie? Laura tells us all about her adventure.
Our Stay at The Honey Pot
I found this cottage on Unique Home Stays´ ´romantic hideaways for 2´ tab and instantly fell in love with The Honey Pot. It was picture perfect; so English, so adorable and so very Cotswolds.
Isle of Ewe Stardust
‘I love you’ rolls off the tongue almost by accident here; I can certainly recommend Stardust as the ideal destination to spend the days after your wedding, reminiscing, reflecting, relaxing in the perfectly placed hot tub, essentially wallowing in each other whilst the natural beauty of the west coast of Scotland lulls you back to normality. ‘Isle of Ewe’ Stardust ;-)
A Unique Property Finding Service
Whether you dream of owning a place where you and your family can escape the routine of the everyday, or are charmed by the idea of owning a property which can earn you a healthy second income, many of us have pondered the possibility of owning a second home.
