THE NEXT

Level

Taking your holiday property from house to home; advice from award-winning, international design expert Nicola O’Mara, on how to maximise on rental investment

The rental market in Cornwall is burgeoning and now, more than ever, it’s essential that holiday homes offer something unique and stand out from the crowd. Fascinated by colour, fabric and form, Nicola’s natural aptitude for interiors has seen her become one of Cornwall’s leading interior designers. Guided by both client and property, whether that be its location or architecture, Nicola offers a turnkey service for holiday or second homes, designing not only the interiors but fitting out the entire property, right down to the smallest details of bedding and kitchenware.

Working hand-in-hand with her design team, project coordinator and stylist, the results are creative and distinctive designs that are ultimately beautiful: “Many people have invested in property in Cornwall over recent years but in order to get the maximum amount of bookings and subsequent return on investment, it’s imperative that a property stands out from the crowd. With so much competition, it’s about offering an interior that is more of an experience, avoiding generic functional styles and outdated colour schemes, and lavishing as much love and care on it as you would your own home. ”

Investing from out of county can cause owners to feel ‘out of the loop’, especially if they are time-poor, something which Nicola is very aware of and mitigates with remote video calls so that clients feel included at every step. Nicola explains: “We begin by visiting a property and undertaking a detailed survey, which includes room sizes, heights of ceilings and windows, window furnishings, the layout of the kitchen and bathrooms, right down to the location of the individual electric points. We then put together design boards based on input from the client and our own observations, to include furniture layouts and spatial planning, using interactive software to tailor the design.”

Nicola and her team will then oversee the whole process from procurement and fulfilment through to build. “We monitor all of the deliveries ready for the installation day. We work with professional curtain and carpet fitters, carpenters and painters who ensure that every last detail is taken care of. Once the property has been furnished, we can also offer the client a professional portfolio of photographs. Our stylist and photographer work together to create a set of bespoke images that ensure our clients’ properties stand out from the rest of the market.”

In terms of style, Nicola advises that interiors should look and feel plush. “Some people feel that they opt for a purely hard-wearing and robust design, but I don’t believe that this is the route to take, especially as guests are becoming more and more discerning. Yes, I agree that a holiday home interior needs to be practical, but we can achieve this while maintaining an element of luxury and ultimately creating an experience for guests from the moment they walk through the door. People have busy lives, and when they come to the coast on holiday they want to relax. We aim to create an air of gentle serenity, not to the point where it's so minimal it's sterile, but a balance between light and air, colour and texture.”

Nicola works with the environment of the house, maximising on any sea views and, if not, bringing the outside in where possible: “An older property will often already have its own identity, but with a new build we have to create one with interior design; for example, we will add natural materials, perhaps cladding walls in wood to create textural layers. In contrast, if it’s an old Cornish cottage, we wouldn't be afraid to use darker tones. If the property’s personality is dark, we will embrace that, making the interiors feel as if they have naturally evolved while at the same time making it really gorgeous and sumptuous.”

Nicola can be involved at varying stages of a project. Sometimes from the very beginning, before ground is broken, which gives her the benefit of overseeing lighting and electrical plans, a beneficial detail when it comes to furniture placement. “These might seem like small things, but it really does make a difference to a rental property, if you have the lighting all in the right place from the start. It’s the same with how the kitchen works on a functional level, it has to be well thought out to work well,” adds Nicola. “Furniture should be carefully placed, perhaps in front of a fabulous view or by creating a cosy nook, somewhere to sink into with a book. Nothing should be uncomfortable, everything should be inviting.”

Nicola works on projects across the South West and as far afield as the French Alps, where a ski chalet project in Val D’Isere saw her awarded the coveted Design et al, Best International Ski Chalet Award. Her work covers prestigious holiday rentals in addition to primary and second homes. www.nicolaomara.com