The best holiday homes to rent if you love architecture and interior design

Across Australia, there are some incredible properties you can experience as a short-term rental and soak in thoughtful design by renowned architects and interior designers.

From John Wardle’s dramatic Bruny Island retreat to a winning design from The Block, these are properties you’ll want to linger in.

The top six holiday homes to rent for design lovers

Shearers Quarters, Bruny Island

The Tasmanian rental Shearers Quarters was designed by renowned architect John Wardle. It sits on the historic North Bruny Island property of Waterview – a working sheep farm operated by the Wardle family. Wardle designed the home as his own and often stays there between guest bookings.

The building has a small footprint of 136 square metres but has been cleverly designed to incorporate a living-dining-kitchen area, a small bathroom and laundry, two bedrooms and a bunkroom.

Architecture lovers will swoon over the form of the building – which transforms from a profile of a slender skillion at the western end to a broad gable at the east end – and the use of recycled materials such as apple-box timber walls, chimney bricks, and corrugated iron on the exterior.

The details: Two-night minimum stay. $1060 per night.

Casa Warrandyte, Warrandyte

Casa Warrandyte is a love-letter to mid-century fanatics looking for a chance to step back in time.

Designed by Alistair Knox in the 1970s on the grounds of the Warrandyte State Park, the house nods to the era with large floor-to-ceiling windows that invite in the surrounding bushland, a flowing floor plan that encourages entertaining, and moody timber and colourful tiling finishes.

Mid-century design lovers will also appreciate the artisan furniture and decor featured throughout the home.

The details: Four-night minimum stay. $597 per night.

Cove House, Sydney

Cove House is the ideal stay for those who like modern coastal design. The crisp white minimalist interiors have been created by Nina Maya, an award-winning interior designer based in Sydney. Maya’s brief was to design a calming coastal retreat that made the ocean views the hero.

She achieved this through a neutral and cool colour palette, and using natural materials in the furnishings and fixtures.

Statement lighting by Canadian artist Randy Zieber and Britain’s Max Patte features throughout, and the walls are lined with artwork from Australian artists including Marisa Purcell, Tan Arlidge and Henryk Studio.

The luxurious amenities include an eight-seat cinema, a hotel-style pool, and a gym with a Peloton bike.

 The details: One-night stay. $4200 per night.

Timba, The Range

For those willing to venture to South Australia for a dose of top interior design, Timba is the place to unpack your bags.

This luxury bush retreat has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, making it the perfect off-grid experience for a family or group of friends.

Nature is at the centre of the property’s design, and thoughtful reading nooks have been created throughout the home to help guests indulge in some alone time and soak up the surrounding bushland.

There’s a beautiful selection of artwork on display and the choice of plush furniture and cosy rugs is intended to make the space feel like a home away from home.

The details: Two-night minimum stay. $1667.50 per night.

Sabi, Binalong Bay

Located in Tasmania’s Binalong Bay – the ideal base for exploring the Bay of Fires – Sabi is a celebration of wabi-sabi design, which celebrates the beauty of imperfection and nature.

Husband and wife duo Fred and Jessica Eggleston are the creatives behind the project. While neither of them comes from a design background, they have a passion for flipping houses and took on Sabi during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jessica studied the wabi-sabi design principles and used this ethos to transform the two-bedroom home.

Stunning stonework and natural timber can be found throughout the house, such as in the six-metre-high stone fireplace and the Japanese-inspired onsen made from a reclaimed oak barrel.

The details: Two-night minimum stay. $790 per night.

Matt and El’ise’s The Art House, St Kilda

It’s one thing to judge the properties on the hit TV show The Block from the comfort of your couch, but it’s another to experience the design in real life. Blockheads have the opportunity to do just that at The Art House by contestants Matt and El’ise from the 2019 season.

SOLD - $3,450,000

38D Grey Street, St Kilda VIC 3182

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The property, which is part of The Oslo, is available as a short-term rental. Inside, each of the four bedrooms has an en suite, but the real piece de resistance is the rooftop barbecue terrace designed by Dave Franklin. At the time, this earned the Perth contestants the highest score in Block history.

The couple came second that year, selling the home for an impressive $3.45 million and winning $460,000.

The details: Three-night minimum stay. $1050 per night.