Tour a Texas Short-Term Rental Designed for Good Vibes and Rock 'n' Roll

Interior designer Jessica Duce is known in the industry for short term rental design, a market that comes with its own strategy and style. In Jessica's words: "Budget, wow factor and durability are like the holy trinity of designing for these spaces." For this Brenham, Texas, abode Jessica needed to create the kind of party-ready, big impact space that would stop rental clients from scrolling. When she found out the owner (a former oil executive and amateur musician) played in a rock band, a music theme seemed like a natural fit for the property.

The show-stopping pool is just one fun feature on the 7-acre compound, which is also home to a speakeasy, grown-up bunk beds and a top-of-the-line sound system rigged up by some of the best in the music business. But, believe it or not, the pool was created by a local builder — not a theme-pool expert imported from Dallas.

"Well, I just did a cowboy boot," he told Jessica when she asked him about designing a guitar-shaped pool for the property. "How hard could this be?" The pool features light-up seating, a hot tub and tanning shelf. There's even a stage nearby for impromptu concerts. "You can sit in the guitar pool, sipping a cold drink, while watching a live band perform on stage. It doesn’t get more rock 'n' roll than that," Jessica says. Read on to tour the whole space.

The home is divided into a 2,331-square-foot main house and a 2,025-square-foot "bunkhouse" with the pool in between, and Jessica didn't want to sacrifice style for practicality anywhere on the property. "We wanted to have the juxtaposition of this fun vibe with a little more sophisticated palette for furnishings," she says. "You know, a velvet sofa and custom green leather chairs aren't typically what you would expect in a vacation rental that has a giant rock 'n' roll pool."

Installing open shelving is one Jessica's go-to tricks when designing a kitchen that will be used by a crowd. Open shelves make it easy for guests to find things quickly. Plus, tons of cabinet space is not especially critical in these vacation scenarios, says Jessica. Most guests tend to leave their supplies out on the counter during their stay.

An important feature of any vacation rental is a place where the whole group can eat together, says Jessica. While many hosts make sure there are enough beds and bedrooms, they sometimes overlook the need for that kind of communal space. This long wooden table and pew can accomodate a crowd. The fabric on the banquette (from Revolution Performance Fabrics) is made from recycled plastic water bottles. According to Jessica, performance fabrics are critical in making a short-term rental stand the test of time.

When more room is needed for dining, this four-top table can be scooted to the end of the banquette table for additional seating. Left on it's own, it makes for a great kids' table or a cozy place for a quiet breakfast.

With its wall of windows, this room off of the kitchen offers more opportunities to sit, eat, drink and hang. Bonus: It has a clear sight line to the pool and yard, so parents can be in the air conditioning while still keeping an eye on their children.

The musical wallpaper by Mind the Gap was inspired by the iconic Woodstock festival. The abstract pattern continues from the adjacent dining room into this portion of the sitting room to tie the main living areas together. The distressed green cabinet was left behind by the homeowner, and Jessica fell in love with its rustic look. It offers a fun pop of color in this largely neutral section of the house.

From Elvis tour posters to black-and-white photographs of Mick Jagger and James Dean, artwork is another way Jessica chose to tap into the music theme throughout the home.

No room is devoid of personilty here — even the bathroom. This colorful guitar-print wallpaper, also by Mind the Gap, turns what would otherwise be a basic white bathroom into an electric (or should we say acoustic?) space.

The speakeasy is all about the vibes — so much so that Jessica continued the banquette fabric up to the ceiling to cover a window she felt was killing the mood. Black-and-gold guitar wallpaper from Spoonflower and a stunning glass chandelier by Regina Andrew contribute to the chic-meets-cozy feel.

The speakeasy seats 10 and also has a wet bar for entertaining all night long. Black tile, black accessories and black cabinets at the bar enhance the moody ambience.

Perhaps the coolest part of the speakeasy is its hidden entrance. Located in the main home's living area, this album covered (wall painted in Caviar by Sherwin-Williams) is actually a secret door.

With so much visual stimulation going on in the main areas of the home, Jessica wanted to keep the bedrooms a bit more restrained and restful. Jessica tries to strike a balance between masculine and feminine design in all of her spaces to create an atmosphere anyone can feel comfortable in. This room is a prime example; the clean lines and black accents have masculine edge, while textured bedding and pillows in soft shades add feminine warmth.

This vibrant blue bathroom is one of the few spaces without a clear musical theme. The kaleidoscopic-print wallpaper still feels thoroughly rock 'n' roll though. Jessica grounded the groovy pattern with neutral white finishes and black hardware.

Bunk beds are one of the top safety issues for rentals nationwide, Jessica says, and sometimes insurance companies won't even cover a property that has them. Since she wanted to utilize bunks here to create a “dormitory vibe” for adult renters, she made safety the priority. "They're from Icon Bunks, made out in Montana, and they're one of the few bunk companies that's actually been approved by insurance companies in the vacation rental world because they are so strong," she says. Each bunk fits a queen-size bed and has hidden storage.

The dorm vibes in bunkouse continue in the stall-style bathrooms. Jessica kept her tile budget low by using subway tile, but she switched up the placement for visual interest. Here, a pink toilet adds a whimsical touch to counterbalance the sleek black-and-white palette. The cowgirl painting was sourced at the epic Round Top Antiques Show in Texas.

The stall showers might be a matter of convenience for a packed rental, but Jessica didn't skimp on luxurious elements either. What you can't see is the giant digital mirror Jessica installed in this space. The mirror provides adjustable lighting and a makeup station vanity, so that a group of women can get ready together — just like in their college days!

The bunkhouse nods to its barn origins with industrial metal siding on the exterior. A minimalist outdoor set turns the patio into a chic spot to relax and enjoy the events of the day — or night. To commit to the concert experience, the entire perimeter of the main house, barn and the outdoor area have hundreds of light options that can be coordinated to music played over the compound's sound system.

After a late-night partying in the speakeasy, an afternoon lounging by the pool in the sun offers guests the best of both worlds. Situated on seven sprawling acres, there is plenty of room to roam.