Airbnb Power Couple - Suzanna and Jared on Scaling Smartly

**Jasper Ribbers:**What’s up, everybody? Welcome back to Get Paid For Your Pad. Today we’re continuing the conversation with Suzanna Styles and Jared Styles, the founders of Pink Door B&B. Last time, we spoke about a lot of different things, partnerships, scaling their short-term rental business out of Arkansas, and lessons learned along the way. They're in Fayetteville, Bella Vista, Rogers... small towns in that area.

Today, we’re going to dive into design, something Suzanna and Jared really specialize in. I mean, the name Pink Door B&B kind of gives away a bit of the theme. We’ll dig into what that really means. Welcome back, Suzanna and Jared.

**Suzanna Styles:**Thank you!

**Jared Styles:**Thanks, Jasper. Good to see you again.

**Jasper:**To start off, I’d love to hear how you came up with the name Pink Door for your brand.

**Suzanna:**You’d think a pink door would just be a design decision, and it sort of was. When Jared and I were renovating our first property, we were trying to decide on paint colors, and we kept going back and forth on the front door. I was thinking from the perspective of a woman arriving alone at night, I wanted it to feel warm, welcoming, and safe.

I’m not a “pink person,” believe it or not, it’s not in my wardrobe much, but we had this deep forest green house and pink felt like a great contrast. Later we found out pink doors actually symbolize warmth, creativity, and inclusivity. Those are all things we try to bring into our brand.

So what started as “what color should we paint this door” evolved into a whole vibe. Some of our properties have pink doors, but not all. It’s more about the Pink Door energy now, it communicates something broader.

**Jasper:**Yeah, I was checking out your website, pinkdoorbnb.com. Highly recommend people check it out. You clearly pay a lot of attention to design and staging. I went looking for pink doors and found a few, but not all were pink. But I noticed there’s usually a pink element in the space somewhere. That intentional?

**Suzanna:**Yes. We haven’t designed all of our properties, but probably close to half. And when we do, we always include something local. We want people to feel like they’re really in Northwest Arkansas. Not with bike art all over the walls, even though we’re the self-proclaimed mountain biking capital of the world, but more like a vibe that says, “You’re here.”

That might mean books by local authors, cookbooks, or even quartz crystals that grow here. Things that ground the experience in the place. And yes, usually at least a little pop of pink somewhere.

**Jasper:**Yeah, I noticed that, small things, like a pink book cover or a detail. You said something before we hit record that stuck with me, you mentioned how the novelty of Airbnb has worn off, and now it takes more than just “a place to stay” to get attention. You called it “stop the scroll,” right?

**Suzanna:**Yeah, I stole that phrase, but it’s powerful.

**Jasper:**It really is. That’s what we’re trying to do. The guest journey starts on the platform. They’re scrolling through hero images. And something that stands out, bold colors, unique elements, that’s what grabs attention. And that pink, it really pops.

**Jared:**Absolutely. Suzanna’s really talented with design, but Airbnb design is different from residential design. You want it to look amazing in person and in photos. The photos are your top marketing tool. But it starts with the design, because without that, you have nothing to photograph.

It also has to be durable. Furniture can’t fall apart in a year. Suzanna’s great at blending visual appeal, comfort, and durability in a way that makes the whole space cohesive and financially viable.

**Suzanna:**And you want repeat guests. Stopping the scroll is step one, but how do you make someone want to come back? That’s another layer. I think of our homes like the setting in a book or show. That background can shape the entire experience.

We like to create a container for cool experiences. That might mean putting something weird or interesting in the space that becomes a conversation piece. Maybe it’s a book, maybe it’s just a small detail that makes people feel like they were part of something special.

**Jasper:**Yeah, and people often underestimate the ROI of design. Like, say you buy a $1M property, and you're deciding whether to furnish it for $25K or invest $75K plus a designer. That’s still under 10% of the total investment, but it can drive 20-30% more in revenue.

**Jared:**Totally. It impacts experience, too. You need things that look good and last, but they also have to be comfortable. Getting all three right is tough. That’s why working with someone who understands both the aesthetic and the function makes a difference.

**Suzanna:**And it’s not one-size-fits-all. Even though we have a defined guest avatar, it shifts from home to home. You get a sense of who will stay there. Is it mountain bikers? Business travelers? That affects your choices. You sit with the space, and the space kind of tells you what it wants to be.

**Jasper:**I do the same. I always think: who’s the guest? Here in Colombia, I know a lot of our guests are digital nomads, so we added a standing desk. It’s about knowing what your guest wants, and being that guest yourself helps you figure it out.

**Suzanna:**Exactly. And if you’re on a budget, those choices matter even more. Maybe you spend extra on the mattress and save by skipping TVs in every room. You figure out what will bring people back.

**Jasper:**I love that. Because what guests remember aren’t the specs, it’s the moments. One time I landed in Brazil and the host was at the airport waiting for me. Totally unexpected. I’ll never forget that.

**Suzanna:**We remember those moments, too. One of our recent stays was during spring break. It was too cold to swim, but our girls stayed up late playing in the freezing pool. We sat on the porch, overlooking the lake, and just felt grateful. Those are the memories.

**Jared:**Design helps set the stage, but what we remember is the laughter, the bonding. It’s meaningful to be able to create that container for other people.

**Jasper:**That’s what we try to do with Freewyld, too. One way is wild mode, we provide wild boxes, conversation cards, hammocks, stargazing nets. We encourage people to unplug without fully going off-grid.

**Suzanna:**That’s amazing. We don’t have a name for it, but we call them pink portals, those little cues or invitations to slow down and connect.

**Jared:**Exactly. We include bird-watching books, binoculars, telescopes. Just little breadcrumbs that lead to discovery. People don’t always expect it, but they remember it.

**Suzanna:**We also put good books in the homes, not old business books or parenting manuals. Things people might actually enjoy picking up on vacation.

**Jasper:**That’s key. Guests want to feel something different. And for families, it’s a great way to reconnect. Parents are often worried about screen time. Giving people tools to connect offline makes a huge impact.

**Jared:**It really just takes a bit of intention. The little things can become big memories.

**Jasper:**Exactly. And speaking of intention, what services do you guys offer beyond hosting?

**Suzanna:**We offer beautiful homes for guests to stay in, and our boutique hotel, The Star on Spring, is opening soon in Springdale, Arkansas.

We also do full-service design for properties under Pink Door management. We don’t design for competitors, we believe strongly in preserving our brand identity.

We can also help with real estate, we do pro formas during the buying process to help avoid the biggest mistake: buying the wrong property. And we offer consultations on design, management, or acquisitions.

**Jared:**All of that’s available on pinkdoorbnb.com. Our digital door is always open.

**Jasper:**Awesome. Thank you both for joining again, it’s been a pleasure. And to our listeners, we’ll see you every Monday and Friday, right here on Get Paid For Your Pad.

**Suzanna & Jared:**Thanks, Jasper!