Why an Airbnb in California had my heart
“Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place”
The year 2022 welcomed me with gratitude.
New Airbnb owners of a breathtaking property in California wished to create a rooted experience for a family of four. I was invited to conduct an emotional wellness workshop for them. By the end of my experience, careful observations on hospitality, wellness, and energy made me realize why some places stand out more than others.
It also made me wonder why we gravitate more towards some spaces than others?
The idea of lived experiences
The oak wooden floors welcomed a safe, spacious setting for everyday movement post their barbeque luncheons and nourishing swims. Guests also engaged in several paint nights that helped the families work together as an emotional unit. A customized Yin Yoga session at their gorgeous patio helped families to truly bond with their loved ones. Varied age groups carried emotional trauma, unconsciously suppressed in the buzz of the everyday.
With time, I realized how art truly had the power to heal. Careful observations and various streaks of diverse personalities came out through soft giggles amid detailed strokes. Like societal medicine, art does more than merely beautify our walls of a moment known or unknown. The intention to work with these practices spoke highly of how the hosts connected with guests. It went beyond the pressure of forcing the guests for superficial reviews through small conversations. It was about an emotional experience between the two.
The idea of space
The Airbnb boasts of a 3 bedroom spacious abode with two living rooms, breakfast, bbq corner, a cozy hot tub, an aquamarine swimming pool with farmland.
The couple instilled a clean, minimal look to promote a space for mental wellbeing. The idea of clutter and exuberance was at a pause. The warm minimalistic tone with its farmhouse feel was an intentional emotion. The couple as a part of their vision, chose high-end quality products to emphasize quality. Linen flip-flops, soft mattresses, fresh towels were an addition to our comfort.
The idea of abundant space was stressed, we created mini closets within our rooms. These corners carried a part of us from our past selves and the present ones working towards a better future self- filled with abundant memories and fresh restoration.
Idea of detailing
Welcome notes, constant communication, and personalized sightseeing were a refreshing start to our stay. Curated baskets with essentials decked each room. These reflected the level of empathy and pre-planning needed to understand the needs of each client.
Something similar could also be mirrored in our own homes. As individuals, we slowly imbibe the idea of empathy for our family members. Personalized gifts turned into pockets of comfort. Details such as these spoke about how the smallest of things were always going to be observed. Deeper joy reaches us through these tiny gestures and tiny circles we wished to invite into our zone of happiness.
The stay was an extension of the people who built it and the experience they wished to share as a part of their energy. Spaces have energy, people on reaching them embody it. Some spaces are created to heal, feel and celebrate life. This particular one in Redding, California had my heart.
The hosts can be reached on their Instagram profiles- riddhi kapoor (@rkapoor)and Abhinav Chadda (@abhinav0112). They own a gorgeous luxurious property in Redding, California. Reach out to them to book your next holiday!