This pretty London apartment in a converted factory building is both a much-loved home and also an office for fledgling business owner, Alexia Pinchbeck. But when she’s out of town the luxury London apartment takes on yet another role as part of London’s unhotel, allowing Pinchbeck to earn an extra income by having guests stay while she’s out of town.
The building was a former textiles factory. However it is now become part of London’s first unhotel as one among onefinestay’s carefully curated collection of distinctive private homes available for guests to book.
For Pinchbeck, having guests to stay in her luxury London apartment is not only financially beneficial; it’s an idea that she has grown accustomed to through her own travels. As someone eager to live like a local when she goes away, she tends to choose to stay in real homes where she can. So helping visitors to London to do the same is something that she feels at ease with. She recently stayed in an apartment in Copenhagen with some friends.
Pinchbeck said: “When you go away, staying at someone’s home offers so much more character. You just feel that bit more at home – you can cook your own meals and get a real sense for what it is like to live in a city rather than just pass through a place.”
She is one of over 500 members to join onefinestay and list their home exclusively with the service, each with a unique, centrally-located home and each earning thousands every year. The company, which provides a full spectrum of services to members including insurance, cleaning, meeting guests, photography and marketing, has proved popular with owners of upscale homes and with guests alike.
Guests also enjoy luxury amenities like 5-star hotel linens and toiletries from The White Company in London and Kiehl’s in New York as standard. Every guest is also lent an iPhone for the duration of their stay which is stocked with local tips from the home’s owner, and from which they can make free local calls.
After its initial success in London since launching in May 2010, onefinestay expanded to New York in May this year. This is the first step in wider plans for international expansion.
What’s your view on onefinestay’s service? Would you let out your home like this? Reply in the comments area below or join the conversation on Twitter: we’re @Adelto
