A Brand New Seattle Beachfront Rental + 5 Tips for a Great Weekend Trip

A weekend getaway to a beach house in Seattle is the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind, and enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. With our famous rugged coastline, abundant water, and access to a thriving city scene, a weekend trip has so much to offer. Before you go, here is a home tour of a stunning new Des Moines rental and some tips to get the most out of your trip!

1. Plan Ahead and Book Early: Securing a beach house in Seattle can be competitive, especially during peak seasons. To avoid disappointment, start planning your weekend getaway well in advance. Research and book your beach house rental early to secure the best options. Consider factors such as location, amenities, and proximity to the beach to find the perfect spot that suits your preferences. There are many waterfront areas, some in more urban settings (including houseboats in Seattle!) and some are more remote (Whidbey Island, Vashon Island). This beach house in Des Moines offers a little bit of the best of both worlds. It’s pretty secluded but is a short drive to lots of restaurants and activities.

2. Pack Accordingly: Seattle's weather can be unpredictable, so it's essential to pack clothing suitable for various conditions. Even during the summer, coastal areas can experience cooler temperatures, fog, and occasional rain showers. Layered clothing, including a light jacket or sweater, will ensure you're prepared for any changes in weather. Don't forget to bring comfortable footwear for beach walks and outdoor activities. And if you forget something, enjoy a visit to the downtown Nordstrom flagship!

3. Explore Local Beaches and Parks: Seattle is packed with beautiful beaches and parks waiting to be explored. Take the time to discover some of the area's hidden gems. Alki Beach has a boardwalk that feels very west coast and has a strip of tons of restaurants, Golden Gardens Park is one of the only sand beaches in the area (and allows bonfires!), and Discovery Park is a sprawling park with beach access if you’re up for a little hike (or you can vie for the few parking spots available at the beachfront). This house is situated a little ways south of Seattle just next to the Des Moines Marina and beach, which is a beautiful place for walks and tossing rocks.

4. Embrace Outdoor Activities: Seattle's beach towns offer a plethora of outdoor activities to enjoy. Engage in water sports like kayaking, paddleboarding, or even take a scenic boat tour. This rental comes equipped with kayaks so you can launch straight from shore! If you're an adventure seeker, consider hiking along nearby trails or try your hand at beachcombing. Visit local marinas to rent equipment or join guided tours for a unique experience: Seattle by Pontoon is a great way to take in Seattle views and jump into the refreshing water! If you happen to catch a rainy weekend, the Seattle CityPass is a great way to get into some indoor-friendly activities!

5. Indulge in Local Cuisine: Seattle is renowned for its diverse culinary scene, and a beach house weekend presents an excellent opportunity to savor local flavors. Treat yourself to fresh seafood and all kinds of snacks at Pike Place Market. Visit the Des Moines Farmers Market for a taste of the region's finest produce. Enjoy a sunset dinner with a view at Anthony’s or have a beachfront picnic on a budget.

Enjoy the home tour of this beautiful new Des Moines rental on Airbnb, and book a weekend trip!

Airy Bellingham Airbnb | Vacation Rental Photography

Nestled in the picturesque city of Bellingham, where nature's beauty takes you away from the bustle of Seattle, lies a hidden gem—a short-term rental home exuding bright and airy vibes and adorned with whimsical decor. With lush greenery as its backdrop (it’s surrounded by nature preserve), this charming home invites guests to check out of the grind and into the imaginative state of being that an inspiring and restorative getaway is so good for. This was such a fun home to photograph and brings me to a few key points of a successful short term rental listing photos shoot:

• Embracing Natural Light:

Photographing a bright and airy home starts with harnessing the power of natural light. In Bellingham, sunlight filters through the dense foliage, lending a soft, ethereal glow to the surroundings. Maximize this vibe by opening curtains and blinds to allow ample light to flood the space. Notice the way that light naturally interacts with the space. Turn off the overhead lights and allow for nature’s light source to take the lead.

• Composing the Perfect Shot:

To showcase the whimsical decor and the seamless integration with the surrounding greenery, pay attention to composition. Frame the shot to capture the home's unique elements both in tight composition and in a pulled back shot that gives an idea of the full space. Preserve window views by bracketing exposures, especially when they help tell the story of the space.

• Colors and Textures:

The color palette and textures play a crucial role in the ambiance of this vacation home. Pay attention to the details that the designer painstakingly selected. This house has an amazing juxtaposition of glam and nature, and it’s done really well. I loved the combination of the mirror backsplash with the black marble countertops. In the dining area, an antler chandelier perfectly plays off of floral dining chairs next to yet another pattern in the subtle wallpaper. Incorporating a few of these relationships into a shot brings together the design vision.

• Accessorizing the Scene:

In order to fully immerse the viewer in the home, a few key accessories help to bring the vision together. Adding in a few small lifestyle elements really makes the difference between photos that feel real estate vs. luxury travel and hospitality. A glass next to a book signifies a relaxing place to read. A blanket over an adirondack near the firepit suggests a cozy bonfire.

• Outdoor Oasis:

The beauty of this rental home lies not only indoors but also in the enchanting outdoor spaces. Bellingham's greenery provides an idyllic backdrop, so venture outside to capture the magic of the surrounding nature. Photograph a hammock nestled among the trees, the large lawn perfect for active kids and great privacy from neighbors. Incorporating these outdoor shots into your collection will complete the story of this serene retreat.

This is really just the tip of the iceberg of what goes through my head during a shoot, but it gives a solid starting point to plan a successful shoot! Get in touch if you’d like to bring your property to life through engaging, vivid, bright photography.

This house is offered by Gather Vacations.

Contractor: Bellingham Bay Builders

Design: Andrea Zakharoff

You can book this beauty on Airbnb here.

Modern Luxury Airbnbs in Leavenworth | Seattle Photographer

When I think of Leavenworth, I think of quaint shops, delicious sausages and beer, and epic mountain views.  Admittedly, I’m not usually throwing around words like “modern design” and “elevated interiors” when I’m thinking about my favorite little mountain town just two hours from Seattle.  However, all of this is changing right this moment with the arrival of Hara Homes.  Owner and developer Camila Borges has landed a serious slice of luxury into this town.  Like literally, right in town.  

While the exterior has kept with the traditional roots of the Bavarian style surroundings, these six homes are anything but traditional inside.  Each home is a unique masterpiece of interior design and style.  Camila has exceptional taste and has outfitted each vacation rental with the luxuries you’d want on vacation with clean and elevated design.  Natural light flows into each space and the open floor plan allows for long days of preparing meals, enjoying each other’s company and getting some much needed post-pandemic rest.  These are not your average Airbnb vacation homes.  

Each home is prepared for a full family and beyond.  There are bunk rooms for the kids and beautiful primary bedrooms on both the first and second floors.  The first floor rooms are the showstoppers of design with feature walls, boutique lighting and architectural side tables.

Photographing these spaces was a unique project!  I spent an entire day on the property creating with Camila.  Running from one house to the next felt a little like the cartoon hallway of doors, and me with my gear popping in and out and over!  It was truly amazing to see the way light changed in the spaces throughout the day and to slow down and create some beautiful vignettes mixed in with capturing the spaces themselves.  It’s not enough to just have good photos of the spaces alone – when you introduce lifestyle content into your vacation rental photography it stands out.  Guests can imagine themselves enjoying your Airbnb experience when they can see it with a little help from your photographer.  It’s no wonder that professional Airbnb photos help increase your listing and earnings by 20%.  

Enjoy the beautiful spaces and book your stay here!

Mod-Zen Airbnb near Seattle

Shooting lots and lots of Airbnbs around Seattle, I always look forward to seeing each space and seeing how the owners have brought out its unique qualities to make an excellent guest space. In this vacation rental, the owners worked with a contractor to design a custom wood wall divider with sliding panels to make for a really zen feel, while also offering two sleeping spaces. The panels also filter the light really beautifully and honestly I had to resist the urge to just put down my camera and take a nap. ;) Interiors photography is such a joy for me — I get to relive all the best parts of playing countless hours of The Sims as a 12-year-old, designing and redesigning spaces. The spaces we surround ourselves with are a part of us, whether we’re living in them permanently or just airbnb-it for a weekend trip.

Hope you enjoy the photos of this beautiful space!