Superhosts of Mountain Lake Bungalow Share Their Airbnb Design Secrets

Inside the Scandi-inspired Mountain Lake Bungalow. Photo: Winona Barton-Ballentine.

Just a quick two-hour drive from NYC, you’ll find a bright and airy bungalow nestled among the tiny community of Smallwood, primed and ready for guests. Owned by Melinda Martino and Matilda Ekholm, the duo breathed new life back into the dated 80-year-old cottage and began renting out the space on Airbnb. Thus, Mountain Lake Bungalow was born, a two-bedroom respite surrounded by a beautiful lake, as well as a waterfall and hiking trails.

Today, guests are welcomed to the space with minimal, Scandinavian décor inspired by the couple’s native Sweden. Out on the deck, visitors can enjoy a magical woodland garden, then cozy up by the fireplace with a good book and a glass of wine. Melinda and Matilda have created more than just a short-term rental, but rather a place to call home. We chat all things design and how to get your Airbnb property into tip-top shape.

Was there a specific moment when you realized you wanted to host on Airbnb? 

Melinda: Since I’ve gone back to Sweden for extended periods since moving here 20 years ago, I started renting my place out—often to friends of friends—to offset the high costs of NYC living during my travels. I’ve always enjoyed preparing my place for renters and making it homey. I had a simple house manual and NYC guide in a Word document that I’d share with them. There wasn’t a specific moment when I realized I wanted to host, but I’ve always loved the idea of sharing my home and favorite places with visitors; to provide an experience and not just a place to stay.  

Tell us about your Airbnb! Where is it located and what inspired you to purchase the property?

Matilda: @mountainlakebungalow is located in the hamlet of Smallwood in Western Catskills. We spent time in the area during the pandemic and absolutely fell in love with this quiet, friendly lake community with many cute little log cabins from the 1930’s and 40’s. We have the lake, a waterfall, forest reserve with hiking trails, an outdoor gym, post office, and restaurant all within walking distance from the bungalow. 

During the summers, Smallwood's own beach is also open. This area of the Catskills offers every outdoor activity imaginable including swimming, hiking, canoeing, boating, tubing, rafting, fishing, cycling, ziplining, horseback riding, bird watching, apple picking, snow tubing and skiing, snowboarding. I could go on and on, but I’m out of breath. 

Melinda: The cottage is only a short drive from Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the original Woodstock site, Lake Superior State Park, great restaurants, vineyards, cute shops and antique stores, as well as picturesque river towns Narrowsburg and Callicoon. We thought the bungalow had a lot of potential and liked its close proximity to the lake and everything else.  

Let's chat design. How would you describe the interior of your rental? Do you have a favorite room? 

Melinda: The decor is inspired by our native Swedish roots and our design choices were guided by our desire to make the home cozy and stylish, as well as functional. Since we opened up the kitchen to the living/dining area and there were different flooring in the two rooms (tile and parquet), we decided to paint the floors white to give the space a more uniform look. It also maximized the light we get in this mostly wooded area and really brightens the space up. 

Matilda: We also love how the furniture and art really pop against the neutral white background. Our favorite room might be the primary bedroom – the dormers and four exposures allow light to enter at interesting angles and the minimalist decor make for a relaxing, serene space.

Painting the floors white gives the space a more uniform look. Photo: Winona Barton-Ballentine.

Do you have any interior design tips for new rental owners? What should they invest in? 

Melinda: Decide on a design aesthetic and overall color scheme– be deliberate about the branding of your short-term rental. You have to make sure your place stands out in the crowded short-term rental market.

Matilda: Consider what will photograph well, since that will be your foremost marketing material. Art, plants, pillows, and other accessories will provide warmth, texture, and a homey feel. While hiring an interior designer may seem like a big step, even just getting some advice and a person to bounce ideas off of will make a difference in making your space feel complete. 

Melinda: It will be an investment that pays off quickly, since you will be able to increase rates and occupancy. In fact, we’ve started providing interior design services at an affordable price — so anyone who’s interested in remodeling or updating their home or rental property, let us know if you want to schedule a consultation!

What would you say is key to enhancing the guest experience? 

Matilda: Provide more than a place to stay by offering an awesome guidebook to the area, like through Folio! Offer something that will make your place stand out — for example, we provide complimentary use of our canoe, SUPs, and inner tubes to our guests. Think about the details, such as convenient places to charge your phone, a place to put your toiletry bag in the bathroom and to hang clothes at night in the bedroom. 

Do you have any host tips for those looking to join the Airbnb game? 

Melinda: Research the area and make sure there aren’t any short term rental restrictions and that the market isn’t overly saturated. Pay for an interior designer if you don’t have a good eye yourself. Learn about Airbnb’s tools and algorithms to make sure your listing will rank high. 

Matilda: Work on increasing awareness of your place through marketing off the Airbnb platform, we suggest using social media platforms like Instagram. Also I’d recommend applying to be part of curated STR collections. We're currently included in Red Cottage Inc's roster of upstate vacation rentals, and have also been accepted by two others that we're excited to announce soon.

Let friends stay at your rental to work out the quirks before listing on Airbnb. Photo: Winona Barton-Ballentine.

Were there any challenges when you first started running your rental? If so, how'd you overcome them? 

Melinda: It’s always a good idea to let friends stay at your rental for free, or at a discounted rate for a “dry run” in return for their feedback. That way, you can work out the quirks, instead of starting out with a damning Airbnb review.

Matilda: At first, we had an issue finding a cleaning company that was available, reliable, and that cleaned to our standards. To host is a lot of work and it really takes a team. If you don’t live nearby, we recommend hiring a local rental management service and co-host — we work with Catskill Cabin Care and are so grateful for their services. There are so many things that can go wrong, and if you don’t live in the area, it makes hosting much less stressful if you can rely on someone who can pop over in case of an emergency. 

Who would be your dream guests to come stay at Mountain Lake Bungalow?

Our parents and siblings, who live in Sweden!

Learn more about the Mountain Lake Bungalow and book your next getaway on their Airbnb page, through Red Cottage, or book direct on their website. You can read more host stories for additional insider tips on turning your short-term rental into a top-rated destination.