Interior Designer (STR Conversion)

Goal: Redesign an existing rental into a high-performing short-term rental (Airbnb/Booking/Agoda) in Koh Samui. We want a photo-first, durable, easy-to-maintain design that lifts ADR, occupancy, and reviews.

About the Project

Location: Koh Samui (on-site access preferred for install; remote OK for design)

Pilot Property: [e.g., 2-bedroom villa / 1-bed condo]

Target KPIs (first 90 days post-launch): +[20–40]% ADR, [75–85]% occupancy, 4.8★+ average rating, strong photo CTR & save rate.

Constraints: Tropical humidity/salt air, easy cleaning/turnover, family-friendly durability, budget discipline with clear ROI.

Scope & Deliverables

Phase 0 — Audit & Strategy

STR competitive audit (comps, gaps, hero shot ideas)

Layout assessment: flow, storage, work-from-home corner, kid-friendly options

Revenue thesis: how design choices raise ADR/OR/RevPAR

Phase 1 — Concept

2x design concepts (mood boards, palette, materials)

“Instagrammable” 3–5 hero moments with proposed camera angles

Lighting plan (layered), art & décor direction (local Thai accents encouraged)

Phase 2 — FF&E & Sourcing (Thailand-ready)

Detailed floor plans with furniture layout

FF&E schedule with SKUs, vendor links, lead times, THB pricing, and alternates

Supplier mix optimized for Thailand (e.g., IKEA TH, Index, SB Design Square, Thai/local carpenters, Shopee/Lazada, Makro, HomePro)

Material choices that are mold/moisture/sand-resistant; hospitality-grade fabrics

Phase 3 — Install & Styling

Install plan & sequence (1–3 days), snag list

Styling checklist & photo-shoot shot list (angles, props, time-of-day)

Optional: on-site install supervision (day rate) or remote supervision via video

Phase 4 — Handover

Final spec pack (PDF + editable): layouts, mood boards, palette, lighting, FF&E

Procurement tracker (Google Sheet): costs, delivery dates, contacts

Cleaner’s staging reset checklist + replacements SKU list

Care & maintenance guide (textiles, wood, outdoor, AC/dehumidifier usage)

Practical Requirements (must-haves)

Portfolio of short-term rental or hospitality design with before/after examples

Experience with photo-first setups and styling for bookings platforms

Strong FF&E scheduling and vendor/source knowledge in Thailand (or ability to propose equivalents that actually ship here)

Proficiency in SketchUp/AutoCAD (or similar) + clear plan drawings

Clear communication, budget control, milestone discipline

English required; Thai language/local vendor network is a plus

Nice-to-Have

On-site days available in Koh Samui (travel reimbursable)

Experience specifying: blackout solutions, smart locks, luggage racks, vanity/makeup stations, mirror placement (selfie-friendly), durable sofas, outdoor sets, washable rugs, 5-star bedding, layered lighting

Understanding of safety & wear in tropical villas (anti-slip, pool safety, ELCB, rust-proof hardware)

Budget & Milestones (propose your structure)

M1 – Audit + Concepts: $ ___ (or THB ___)

M2 – Layouts + FF&E + Sourcing List: $ ___

M3 – Install Plan + Styling + Photo-prep: $ ___

Optional M4 – On-site Supervision: Day rate $ ___ / day

Bonus (optional): Performance bonus if KPI lift achieved after 60–90 days

Also include a target FF&E budget proposal for the pilot: [THB ___ per bedroom] + [THB ___ outdoor/common]. Provide a good/better/best option.

Timeline

Design & documentation: 3–5 weeks

Procurement & install: 2–6 weeks (depends on stock/lead times)

Go-live photoshoot: within 48 hours of install completion

What You’ll Get From Us

As-built measurements, photos/videos, brand notes

Target guest profile, comps list, existing listing data if any

Decision speed and fast feedback

How to Apply (non-generic proposals only)

Start your message with “ISLA-STR” so we know you read the brief.

Share 3–5 portfolio links of STR/hospitality work (include at least one before/after).

Provide a mini concept board (1 page) for a Koh Samui tropical-modern look: palette, one hero corner, sample furniture references.

Attach a sample FF&E page (real or anonymized) showing how you spec items, links, and THB pricing.

Propose:

Your milestone fees for the scope above

A target FF&E budget for the pilot property

A timeline with key dates and install approach (on-site or remote)

Answer these in bullet points:

How would you create 3–5 “hero shot” moments for a 2-bed villa (be specific)?

Your top 5 Thailand-friendly vendors/sources you rely on and why

Three materials/finishes you recommend in high-humidity environments

One quick redesign idea that could uplift ADR immediately for a typical Samui living room

• STR competitive audit (comps, gaps, hero shot ideas)
• Layout assessment: flow, storage, work-from-home corner, kid-friendly options
• Revenue thesis: how design choices raise ADR/OR/RevPAR
• Phase 1 — Concept
• 2x design concepts (mood boards, palette, materials)
• “Instagrammable” 3–5 hero moments with proposed camera angles
• Lighting plan (layered), art & décor direction (local Thai accents encouraged)
• Phase 2 — FF&E & Sourcing (Thailand-ready)
• Detailed floor plans with furniture layout
• FF&E schedule with SKUs, vendor links, lead times, THB pricing, and alternates
• Supplier mix optimized for Thailand (e.g., IKEA TH, Index, SB Design Square, Thai/local carpenters, Shopee/Lazada, Makro, HomePro)
• Material choices that are mold/moisture/sand-resistant; hospitality-grade fabrics
• Phase 3 — Install & Styling
• Install plan & sequence (1–3 days), snag list
• Styling checklist & photo-shoot shot list (angles, props, time-of-day)
• Optional: on-site install supervision (day rate) or remote supervision via video
• Phase 4 — Handover
• Final spec pack (PDF + editable): layouts, mood boards, palette, lighting, FF&E
• Procurement tracker (Google Sheet): costs, delivery dates, contacts
• Cleaner’s staging reset checklist + replacements SKU list
• Care & maintenance guide (textiles, wood, outdoor, AC/dehumidifier usage)