Hospitality design, from someone who thinks about guests first.
Guest and Grace Design is led by Sonja Peters, based in Indianapolis, working with hosts and hoteliers nationwide.
Sonja Peters founded Guest and Grace Design to do one thing well: design short-term rentals and boutique hotels around the guest experience.
Every project starts with the same question. How will a guest actually live in this space? Move through it, sleep in it, gather in it. The layout, the lighting, the furniture, all of it follows from that answer, not the other way around.
That's the difference between a space that looks good in a listing photo and one that gets booked, gets a five-star review, and gets booked again.
Bold and specific.
Every short-term rental needs a genuine wow factor: something specific to that property that gives a guest a reason to book it over every other option in the market. A point of view built for that address, that market, that guest.
Restrained and editorial.
Boutique hotel work carries the same guest-first thinking in a quieter register. Timeless materials and palettes that won't date, because a hotel has to look right for a decade, not a season.
What goes into a space, and what doesn't
Natural finishes: wood, wool, cotton, stone. Materials that age well and hold up to daily guest turnover, not just a photo shoot. High-use pieces, sofas, dining chairs, anything guests sit on constantly, are sourced hospitality-grade.
What you won't find in a Guest and Grace project: synthetic materials that read cheap on camera, gimmicky theming for its own sake, or a cookie-cutter look that could belong to any property, anywhere. If a direction feels generic, it gets reworked until it isn't.
Direct access, start to finish
Every project runs through Sonja directly: creative direction, client relationships, and final approvals. A small production team supports her on drafting and sourcing, but the design thinking behind your project doesn't get handed off.
Tell us about your property
The first consultation is free. Bring your listing, your market, and your goals.