Meet the Backes family.
We’re Michelle and Nick, and we’re a lot like you.
We aim to gather experiences over things, show our children the world & create memories that make us smile when we’re crinkly and gray.
We knew after our first stay in an Airbnb that we could become the hosts of our own beautiful properties—and that we would absolutely love doing it.
We love connecting with new people, we adore travel, we’re foodies through and through, and we appreciate a well-curated touch.Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Between my history as an interior design teacher and affinity for thrifting & styling spaces, plus Nick’s interest in real estate investing and entrepreneurial spirit, we figured we could make a great team in cultivating personalized rental retreats for our guests.
We started with our Lake Geneva duplex, renovating both the upstairs and downstairs private units to emit modern, hygge luxury while maintaining the 1860s charm of the original dwelling. We fell in love with the process of sharing our space, culture, local art, and food recs with our guests, while providing a cozy nest from which to explore nature, rest, reconnect, and create lifelong memories. Now, we’re renovating a retro log cabin in Door County so you can have the same meaningful experience in another of our favorite spots. And we know we won’t stop there. Who knows where we will go next?!
We’re all about making your stay more than just another trip. We hope that staying with us is a restful, but adventurous, experience you’ll remember forever. We want you to feel like each time you visit one of our properties, you don’t have to think about the basics or do a ton of research on your own. We’ve done the work for you.
Our goal is to provide all of the accommodations you’ll want and need inside our cozy and stylish rentals—plus tons of our personal favorite & local recommendations, so you can just focus on getting here, settling in, and making unforgettable memories with your loved ones.
We hope you’ll be back to stay.
michelle and nick
Get to know our family.
I’m the creative + artsy type, he’s the analytical + thoughtful type—and together we have two beautiful kiddos and one dreamy life.
Of course, it’s far from perfect. But we’re more into building something we’re proud of, something that shows our kids they can (and should!) go for their dreams, rather than trying to achieve picture-perfection. We believe in taking risks and learning as we go. Some of our big dreams? Adding more doors to this business… definitely some a-frames (*swoon*)… styling others' spaces, traveling the country in our Airstream, and eventually opening our own brewery!
The stylist & experience cultivator…
Michelle
I have big dreams. Like… BIG. I always have, even if they’re not always within (immediate) reach. Before deep-diving into the rental-hosting and interior design world, I was a high school family consumer science teacher for 13 years. I taught child development, interior design, and food & nutrition classes. After having our second baby, I left teaching to pursue mom life while running our rental properties at the same time. I’m an avid Pinterester and DIY-er, always attempting the next pretty thing. I just signed up for a weekly pottery class to keep my hands doing something active, other than holding a baby. I’m obsessed with thrifting and can cultivate a signature style from any treasures found. And I’ve even been partnering as a stylist for other Airbnb hosts! I am a planner by nature, the get-the-job-done-no-matter-what-it-takes type. We also recently bought an Airstream and are in the process of renovating it. Our dream (or I should say, one of our dreams) is to travel in it while we renovate more homes to add to our portfolio across the country!
The business & real estate procurer…
Nick
My husband, Nick, is a jack of all trades: he’s a consultant by day and owns a business that works with aerospace engineering companies on cost price analysis and negotiations with the government. (Yep, he is the yin to my yang.) He’s also a home-brewer, a beekeeper, and an Eagle Scout who knows so many cool & random life skills. He’s also the GOAT of canoe steering… like, he legit navigates a mean canoe! He loves real estate investing and is just an all-around smarty-pants (but will never make you feel that way). He’s the spontaneous one and the one that never thinks a dream is too big. He believes in me and in us. We balance each other in all the best ways and make a pretty great team, if we say so ourselves.
The best little encouragers…
Beckett & Harper
(& one on the way)!
Our daily motivation, the sweetest smiles, and the very best reminders to stay present and take things one moment at a time.
What are you waiting for?
We can’t wait to share these magical places with you. With three charming rentals to choose from in Lake Geneva and Door County for groups of all sizes (and anything you might need for kids & babies), you can find whatever you’re seeking for your next memorable getaway. We’re beyond thrilled to have you.