Decorating & Design
July 23, 2020
10 Canadian Airbnbs To Bookmark For Your Next Weekend Getaway
With travel restrictions and physical distancing guidelines currently in place, vacations are going to look a little different this year. Whether you’re considering a relaxing couples’ retreat in the quiet countryside or an adventure-filled journey to Canada’s Rocky Mountains, a comfortable place to stay is even more important right now. From Cape Breton to a small island off the coast of British Columbia, we rounded up 10 of the most unique Airbnbs across Canada.
These stylish getaways have all the luxuries of home in some of the country’s most alluring locations and natural landscapes — designed to ensure that after you return from a day’s worth of adventures, you can unwind and recharge in a beautifully designed space.
Scroll down and get inspired to pack your bags!
Treehouse Cabin Retreat — Durham, Ontario
Located in Ontario’s quiet countryside, this family-run Airbnb is the perfect place to escape the city for a group getaway. It feels like your own private resort with over 100 acres peppered with all of the essentials: the treehouse of your childhood dreams (there’s even a slide!), a bright cabin with pops of pastel pinks and blues, a pool, a handful of hammocks, and an outdoor poolside dining area, kitchen and lounge.
Mother-daughter duo Lynne and Tristan Knowlton’s design approach is centered around comfort with lots of neutrals, linens and cozy textures in the treehouse. The luxury boutique style makes it the perfect place to slow down, find peace from beneath the piles of fluffy pillows and duvets, and reconnect with nature.
Cob Cottage Earth House — Mayne Island, British Columbia
This Airbnb is named after “cob,” the “traditional Welsh earthen building technique that was brought to the Pacific Northwest by [ecologist] Ianto Evans,” as the hosts explain. This unique Earth House was hand-sculpted out of sustainable, natural materials local to British Columbia, with a focus on greater harmony with the natural world. Plus, how cute is the Hobbit-style rounded roof?
This whimsical getaway is the architectural embodiment of hygge with arched doorways, large windows, colorful cushions and rugs, warm wood accents, and a spiral staircase leading up to a cozy loft-style bedroom with a walk-out deck. With unparalleled views of nature and a welcoming, creative design, this Airbnb offers guests a small slice of magic among the trees of British Columbia’s lush forests.
Bothan Beag — Port Hood, Nova Scotia
Translating from Gaelic to “tiny hut” in honor of its founding family’s Scottish roots, this petite house is perched on an oceanfront property, where you can enjoy the sound of waves crashing as you sleep and wake up to views of the Atlantic. Setting out to create a space that felt like it was part of the landscape, this tiny Airbnb’s design is completely inspired by the beauty of the location. With light, breezy decor, cedar-board exterior walls and a solar-powered system, the Bothan Beag lives up to its goal of bringing the outdoors in, while paying homage to the natural surroundings with its low environmental footprint.
To make their compact quarters feel more spacious, the hosts (along with their family members) took a minimalist design approach, but made sure it contained all of the comforts of home with plenty of windows, a private deck perfect for morning coffees and long chats, and a relaxing lounge space.
The Summer House — Southampton, Ontario
Designed in collaboration with designers Tiffany Leigh Piotrowski and Autumn Hachey, The Summer House was inspired by the idea of creating a boutique luxury experience with hotel-inspired touches. With a wellness-inspired design approach, this oasis embodies the essence of summer and is the perfect place to find relaxation on the shores of Lake Huron, close to Southampton’s downtown.
For the hosts, designing this dreamy getaway began as an expression of what life has to offer: beauty, play, light, softness, after they experienced a period of darkness through their struggle with infertility. Now, they welcome guests into their cottage with a peachy pink color palette, plenty of curves and golden touches that embody a feminine, creative energy. Talk about seeing life through rose-tinted glasses!
Mahone Bay Hide-Away — Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
Nestled in the quaint coastal town of Mahone Bay, this cozy 360-square-foot hideaway feels like a haven where cottage meets luxury spa getaway. The bright and inviting space was expertly built from the ground up. With a peaceful pastel palette, neutral-toned pillows, bright kitchen and plush lounge, this Airbnb is the perfect escape, and only a short distance away from picture-perfect Lunenburg — the closest thing to Stars Hollow you will find.
When designing their rental home, the hosts were inspired by their experience as local buy-and-sell merchants to look for treasures and put them together to create a space that is textured and inviting. If you do find yourself willing (and able) to leave the comfiest bed on the East Coast, as lifelong Mahone Bay residents, the hosts are passionate about sharing the small town’s natural beauty and history to inspire your daily adventures!
The Historic 1800s Loft — Montreal, Quebec
Nestled on the third floor of a historic building in Montreal’s Old Port, this open-concept loft is filled with old world charm, exposed brick walls, hardwood flooring and rustic-industrial decor. The arched floor-to-ceiling windows and houseplants make you feel like you’re far from the concrete jungle.
In addition to thoughtful style, the hosts added personal touches to ensure guests feel at home in their home-away-from-home with essential oils, beauty products, a full kitchen and a cozy queen bed. Only steps from the water, coffee shops and local bakeries, the loft’s location is equally inspiring as its interior — and the hosts are full of recommendations on where to eat, drink and explore during your stay.
Hereabouts B&B — Cochrane, Alberta
This tiny-home bed and breakfast offers a pop of color among the Canadian Rockies with its retro-inspired decor and artistic touches. The doors are from an old church, there’s a coffee table crafted from a poplar tree and the trim is created from fir lumber. Beneath your feet, you will find an earthen floor adding a natural feel that is softer than concrete or tile.
The husband and wife duo initially dreamt up and hand-built the Hereabouts B&B as a way of meeting people while also showcasing a home with a smaller environmental footprint. This goal, combined with their passion for creating nourishing meals out of ingredients grown in their own garden, means that guests will never have to worry about leaving the tiny house hungry — with your pick from a seasonal menu of delicious and nutritious meals delivered straight to your private suite. And if you’re inspired to cook up something on your own, this rental is complete with a small pastel kitchen. After you’re full, head over to Banff or venture along the river — but wherever you go, this charming B&B provides the perfect place to cultivate connection.
Riverside Hideaway — LaHave, Nova Scotia
This hand-crafted cabin — tucked away in the woods of Nova Scotia — has a “Canadanvian” style, named for its Scandinavian simplicity and cozy Canadian cabin feel. Originally built by the hosts as an escape from city life, your stay begins with a nature-filled walk down a 100 ft. boardwalk leading up to the cabin’s wraparound deck — and with a modern timber frame constructed from local spruce, the cabin fits right into its peaceful forested surroundings.
Lighting up the cabin from the inside out, the Airbnb’s warm interior is complete with honey-colored decor, a full kitchen, a welcoming living space and a snug loft with a skylight for a full view of the cheerful afternoon sun and star-speckled sky. Outside, the cabin sits next to a babbling river named Penny Brook, which guests can enjoy from the comfort of the private, wood-fired hot tub.
The Woodland Hive & Forest Spa — Hillsborough, New Brunswick
This geodesic hive has guests buzzing! Located on a private forest-surrounded area along the Fundy Coast, the hosts wanted to design a space inspired by its natural environment. With panoramic windows, you can rise every morning to the best of New Brunswick’s landscape — whether you are enjoying the view of snow-topped trees or soaking in the balmy summer sun. Did we mention there’s a wood-fired hot tub and cedar sauna waiting outside?
Local white cedar and pine were used to build the dome’s furnishings, including the bed, countertops and cupboards. The interior is complete with a fireplace to keep your evenings cozy, too. Along with the hand-crafted decor, this unique getaway is complete with a full bathroom, kitchenette, outdoor cooking area and gazebo for a comfortable camping retreat. While this Airbnb is close to tourist attractions and trails, you don’t have to venture far from the dome, as you’ll likely get visits from local animals.
New York-Inspired Loft — Winnipeg, Manitoba
Inspired by the streets and fashion of New York City, this 100-year-old converted warehouse offers guests an architecturally unique stay in the midst of Winnipeg’s up-and-coming Exchange District. The apartment’s original details, including maple wood flooring, exposed brick walls and wooden beams, are complemented with clean, modern design to create a space that is both practical and inspiring.
This Airbnb’s host put herself in the position of the traveller to create a space that felt seamless and considerate by adding personal touches throughout, including an assortment of specialty teas, chunky knit blanket, fresh linens and eloquent lamps.