Affordable and Stylish Furnishings for our Short Term Rental in Texas

After styling three of our short term rentals, we know a thing or two about what type of furniture to include, what guests appreciate and those items that are worth or not worth the splurge. Read below for a full rundown as we talk about and share our sources used for our latest rental in Port Isabel, Texas - Sea Vista.

First a little background on Sea-Vista. After having so much success with Sea-Esta, our other short term rental in Port Isabel, Texas, the owners decided to purchase the lot right next door and build a brand new short term rental, Sea-Vista. Rather than sell Sea-Esta, they decided to keep both homes with the hopes that both would be rented out by large, traveling families who wanted to experience the ultimate beach vacation!

Sea-Vista is a double story, 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom beach house located right on the water. With sweeping, breathtaking views of the Gulf, it’s probably easy to see where it’s name came from :) when furnishing Sea-Vista, we wanted to keep the ocean as the focal point, while making the interior of the home bright and airy, with a touch of boho flair. We also wanted to keep in mind “budget friendly furniture” and that many of our guests would be traveling with small children, so in the event that accidents happen (as they tend to do with small children), we wouldn’t be having to replace such expensive items. That being said, I think we nailed it on providing our short term rental guests stylish furnishings, while checking the affordable box on our end!

Our sources are listed as links below each image:

Family Room: Couch | Accent Chairs | Coffee Table & Game Cabinet | Bench | Gold Leaf | Curtains | Area Rug

Kitchen: Toaster & Coffee Pot | Knives and Salt/Pepper shaker | Area Rug | Pendant Lights | Bar Stools

Master Bedroom: Bedframe | Bedding | Pillows | Curtains | Hanging Lights | Night Stands | Black Out Shades

Spare Bedroom: Headboard | Hanging Light | Bedding | Pillows | Chunky Blanket | Curtains | Night Stand

Bunk Beds: Bedding

Bathroom: Bath Mats | Shower Curtains | Bath Towels

Balcony: Bistro Set

Patio: Adirondack Chairs | Fire Pit | Lights | Picnic Table

Planning a Summer Vacation in Texas

I’m sure by now everyone has their summer vacation plans booked. Many people head to warm destinations, like Florida and California, which are wonderful, but can become overcrowded due to their popularity. After searching for other summer hot spots, we came across an article in Forbes titled The 22 Best Places to Travel in the United States in 2022 where we found Texas had made the list, specifically Houston!

“As one of the most diverse cities in the United States, Houston boasts an exciting mix of cultures, food, art, sport and green space to explore”, said Mariana Cano is a bilingual lifestyle, travel and parenting blogger at yomariana.com. “The city’s harmonizing diversity is what makes ‘H-town’ truly unique.”

After submersing yourself in the hustle and bustle of the Houston city life, you will most definitely need a place to unwind and relax, somewhere calming, preferably with an ocean view and cool breeze ;) Ladies and gentlemen…may we introduce you to…drumroll please…Sea-Esta! A quick 1hr flight from Houston to Brownsville where paradise awaits! Our kid-friendly beachfront bungalow boasts 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a fully stocked kitchen, an outdoor al fresco dining experience and all the amenities included in the HOA gated community, like a pool and spa, basketball court, picnic area and swing set for the kids. Our kid friendly bungalow makes it easy to travel with little ones, what more could you ask for when planning a summer vacation in Texas?!

Turn Your Beach Vacation into a once in a Lifetime Experience

So you booked a stay at Sea-Esta and now you want to head to the local beach. Thinking about riding some waves, basking in the sun, grabbing some lunch, but I bet “seeing a rocket launch into space” wouldn’t be on your list ;) well, it just so happens that you can do all of the above from the same location!

Introducing Boca Chica, a beach on the southernmost tip of Texas and a sudden tourist attraction shortly after Elon Musk built a launch complex to test massive rockets that will carry his explorers on their journey to space.

The chance to witness a rocket close-up is drawing tourists from around the world to this remote stretch of the Texas coast. For test launches, which SpaceX has been conducting around once a month since late 2020, hundreds of sightseers can also be seen at Isla Blanca Park, which offers some of the best views.

Unfortunately, not all rocket chasers get to see a launch. SpaceX is notoriously secretive, releasing little advance information. One trick is to track the so-called Temporary Flight Restrictions issued by the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure airplanes don’t fly above the rocket. Social media is also key for monitoring highway closures and any warnings SpaceX issues to Boca Chica residents.

Here’s to hoping you’ll be one of the lucky ones who get to turn your beach vacation into a once in a lifetime experience!

Stylish Vacation Cabins in Lake Arrowhead

Beautiful home with all the amenities needed for a perfect stay with young kids, and sophisticated enough to not feel like we were sacrificing design for a "kid friendly" listing.

This excerpt was a review from a recent guest and it reassured everything I was trying to accomplish when designing Casa Cabina. Being that we live in California I wanted it to be a stylish vacation cabin but also kept in mind that families with young children would be staying with us so the design had to have meaning and purpose. A high chair that is clean and simple, sleek metal bunk beds, a modern crib - all things I know I wanted to include to be kid friendly so I had to make sure they were stylish as well. Not only was style important but comfort as well. I wanted to create a home away from home for our guests, and also for our family as well! Soft sheets and linens, games and toys, wood for our fireplace, a fully stocked kitchen, outdoor bbq, fire pit and lounge area, the list goes on and on! When you book with Piva Casa, just know you will be staying in a home that is stylish, comfortable and functional.

Speaking of stylish vacation cabins, I thought I’d share a few of my favorites with you! These are all in Lake Arrowhead and are absolutely stunning IMO!

Palisades Point by To Dwell Here

The Mountain House by Emily Henderson

Mallards Landing by Brooke Wagner

Old Creek Cabin by To Dwell Here