Designer Ashley Ross turned her one-bedroom guest house into a globally inspired Airbnb that feels miles from its downtown Gastonia address.

Who: The self-taught interior designer launched her firm, Muse Noire Interiors, in 2019, just after giving birth to her daughter. She’s now on Luxe magazine’s 2023 next in design list.

The space: When Ross and her husband bought their home, the now-Airbnb was a work space. They did a full renovation — including the addition of a bedroom.

Style: Ross’s signature contemporary global aesthetic can be experienced all throughout the cozy cabin.

• There’s the contrast between vintage and brand new furniture and accessories. Ornate rugs balance with grass wall hangings and light fixtures. Wood-paneled walls are painted white, ceilings are left exposed.
• It’s fresh but not trendy. Layered but not fussy.

Art and culture: Ross also uses art to bring culture to the forefront of her design. A portrait of a woman hanging in the Airbnb’s dining nook is one of her most-prized possessions.

• “It’s difficult to find art where you see heritage through hair in a way that’s pretty damn interesting and cool,” Ross says.
• Art is one way to show representation and start conversations, she says.

Take a look around.