Behind the scenes at onefinestay - New Homes team edition

Our New Homes team work tirelessly behind the scenes to find the destination's most beautiful homes to host our guests in. From scouting out London's best neighbourhoods to managing relationships with our homeowners, the team spends their time on the ground connecting with the local scene.

Each member of the team is passionate about interior design and architecture and has discerning taste when it comes to selecting the city's loveliest hideaways. Whether it's a stylish penthouse in the heart of Soho or a magnificent family townhouse in the leafy bounds of Fulham, our team knows exactly what makes a place special for our guests.

From the moment of onboarding, every detail is taken care of for our homeowners. The team makes an individual blueprint for each home, so we can take care of all the guests' needs during their stay. Every last detail in the home is photographed and documented so we can ensure our homeowners return to find everything just as they left it.

Here we speak to Millie, our Account Manager in London, about her love for interiors, her upcoming travel plans and her favourite home find in London.

Tell us a bit about your background, where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in London, just around the corner from Kew Gardens. I spent my childhood visiting the gardens and spending lots of time in Richmond Park; however, I could also get into Central London easily, so really, I had the best of both worlds growing up. I moved to Bristol for university, which is a wonderful city, but I missed the hustle and bustle of London.

What drew you to your role at onefinestay?

I absolutely love exploring new properties! I'm obsessed with the Architectural Digest's Open Door series and my job is basically doing that in real life, which I adore. I am a real people person, I love meeting new people and getting to know the individual story of each of our homes and homeowners. Basically, my job allows me to do the things I'm passionate about every day in the city I grew up in and love.
 

Talk us through a day on the ground.

I look after every new London homeowner enquiry that comes into onefinestay, vetting each and every one of the homes to ensure they are up to standard. In fact, a large part of my role involves rejecting the homes that aren’t a good fit for us!

I then personally visit the homes that stood out to me to make sure everything is aligned with onefinestay's exacting standards. I meet with the homeowners and discuss how we will work with them, acting as an ambassador for onefinestay. While I am there, I calculate the nightly price for the home and give the homeowner an idea of how much they can expect to make. During busy periods, I visit up to 15 homes a week all across the city.

What’s your favourite onefinestay place you’ve visited over the years? Somewhere you’ve walked in and felt your jaw drop…

Every time I visit Earl's Court Square XI, I am amazed at just how phenomenal this home is. It has a grand staircase and hundreds of steps - luckily, it also has an elevator, as I would be exhausted going up and down all the time! It is such a magnificent space - each part of the home is immaculate and encapsulates luxury.

The place was originally a hotel, so you can imagine how much work it took to restore it to a beautiful family home. The owners did the restoration so thoughtfully, restoring the traditional elements of the home with care. Today, Earl's Court Square XI sleeps 11 guests (much quieter than its hotel days), and you can really feel the rich history in every room.

Tell us about the best holiday you’ve ever been on.

The best holiday I’ve ever been on was a trip to India and the Maldives. We started in Delhi, and then travelled the“Golden Triangle” visiting Agra and Jaipur, which were so rich with culture. We saw the Taj Mahal at sunrise, which was unforgettable! We then flew down to the Maldives for some much-needed relaxation time on the beach - the perfect end to the holiday!

Give us your top local tips for London...

- King Henry’s Mound is a spot in Richmond Park where you can see an uninterrupted view of St Paul's Cathedral and the skyline of London while being surrounded by greenery and deer!

- My favourite Italian restaurant is hidden in plain sight on Portobello Road! Tucked away in an arcade, you'll find the charming Portobello Garden Arcade Caffe, where you can get traditional antipasti and see the dishes made right in front of you. Although it's located on one of the busiest streets in London, you can stroll in on a Saturday and always get a table.

- Kensington Palace Gardens is a street connecting Kensington to Notting Hill and is home to several embassies and some of the largest mansions in London. I just love wandering down it, spotting the flags of the embassies and admiring the different architecture - like I told you, I am obsessed with property... Kensington Palace is also located here, so you can visit that too while you're there.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

My family live in Cape Town and I would love to live there so we can have a weekly braai.

Three things you’d take to a desert island with you.

A good book, a bottle of rosé and my cat.

Finally, where next? What are your travel plans for this year?

I’m spending the summer in Bodrum and Paxos, and then onto Texas for the Austin City Limits music festival in October, which I cannot wait for.