A Storybook Escape: Inside Hobart's Del Sol Treehouse - Part One
Perched above the Derwent River, just minutes from Hobart, Del Sol Treehouse is a wonderfully whimsical retreat created for slowing down, reconnecting with nature and rediscovering a little childlike curiosity.
The storybook haven is the creation of Airbnb Superhost Jizelle White, who has woven her love of design, nature and hospitality into every corner. We caught up with Jizelle to chat about the renovation journey, her approach to curating such an eclectic and welcoming space, and her secrets to being a successful Airbnb host. Of course, we also had to ask her about the art of bedroom styling and how she uses our Salt Living premium French Flax linen to ensure her guests enjoy the most restorative sleep possible.
Pour a cup of tea, settle in, and enjoy our conversation with Jizelle.
The Journey of Del Sol Treehouse
Hi Jizelle! Thank you so much for chatting with us. To start, let's get to know you and Rhys a little better. Could you please share who you are, where you're both from and where you're living now?
Hi Jacinta, thank you so much for having me. I am a country kid from rural Queensland who grew up on cattle farms, climbing trees and swimming in muddy dams with my three siblings.
Rhys is a city boy from Brisbane who spent most weekends surfing with his family along the coast. We have been together over 15 years, we have travelled the world, lived overseas and in Tassie for a stint, and for now, we are residing in Cabarita, NSW.
How did your journey creating Del Sol Treehouse begin? Were you looking to create boutique accommodation, or did it evolve into it later?
During the COVID lockdowns, I was working as a high school teacher, which was a pretty wild time, and I was really yearning for something else. I have always had an interest in interior design, mostly just to learn how to elevate my personal space. I had been following Sarah Andrews (a well-known Tasmanian spatial scientist and designer with the famous Captain's Rest at Strahan) for some time and stumbled across her course The Hosting Masterclass.
I decided to do the course just for myself, even though I didn't have a property yet and we weren't looking at the time, but I knew we would be soon enough as we were saving a house deposit. I was really just chasing my curiosity and dreaming of an alternative life. The world felt quite out of control, so levelling up my own space felt like a tiny piece of escapism that I could control.
Jump forward a year, and we were actively looking to buy in Hobart and I was going to really busy open homes most weekends. When I saw the listing, I was in love immediately — the natural timber poles and wooden walls, the whimsical garden and that view! It was just so unique from anything else we had been looking at and I could see the magic. I dragged Rhys along to the inspection, and with a bit of convincing from me, we had bought it only 5 days after the listing had gone live.
We'd love to hear about the very beginning. What was the house like when you and Rhys first purchased it? Did you immediately see its potential?
Yes, when we went to that inspection, I was walking around and I could just feel it was the right property for what I wanted, and I knew with a little love we could make it work as a hosted home. The market was kind of crazy then, and though there were a lot of people at the inspection, I was aware that the property would not appeal to many families with its unique two level layout, minimal kitchen and lots of stairs. A month later, we had moved in and I was madly curating my Pinterest boards and applying my THM knowledge to help me dream up the house story.
A major renovation is a huge undertaking! What kind of work did you actually have to do to transform the property into what it is today?
So the bones of the house were there, but it had been built and lived in by an elderly couple since the late 80s. They were avid gardeners, so the surrounding gardens were beautiful and tended to, but the maintenance of the house had definitely taken a bit of a backseat. Due to the bathtub/shower and curved stairs to the lower level, they mainly resided in the upper level in their later years. Along the balcony, they had set up a watering system, I assume for the hanging plants, but this had actually caused the timber poles underneath to rot at the base with the constant dampness. We knew we would eventually need serious engineering work to fix them.
Initially, we got stuck into the maintenance of the wood, sealing internal walls and deck, and addressing things like the gutters and mending the balcony fencing. We removed the oddly shaped built-in wardrobe from the upstairs bedroom to make space for our bed too.
Did you live in the treehouse while you were renovating it? If so, what was that experience like?
Yes, we did live in the mess the whole time and it was… dusty. We sort of just moved ourselves between each level as we worked on the other one. We changed bedrooms numerous times during the process, moving all of our things into each space via the curved, wooden staircase (not much fun!) and we adopted a greyhound that year as well.
I kept refining my mood boards, collecting and curating pictures that really pointed to the vibe that I wanted to create in the treehouse. The vibe went through many evolutions, but eventually I narrowed it down to a Venn diagram of 3 recurring themes, and that was biophilic, textural and a touch of whimsy.
The finished kitchen — cork, plywood and checkerboard zelligeThe Renovation & Decoration Process
In the upper level, we gutted the bathroom and kitchen and moved half of the wall they shared to bring everything into alignment. In the kitchen, we went with cork flooring, plywood cabinetry and black bechtops with a cute checkerboard pattern zellige tile splashback to bring in some colour and personality. We finished the space with some floating shelves and sanded and restored the bench, and searched for a secondhand seat to match.
Additionally, we demolished the existing daybed and replaced it with a custom larger one that Rhys built himself. This gave us more storage and to allow two people to fit for the ultimate snuggling spot. Finally, we painted all of the walls using faux lime paint style to give it that textured look. We decided to keep the original living room wallpaper as a nod to the previous owners. It is peeling in some places but I think it adds a little romance and history to the space.
Rhys is an electrician by trade, so he breathed new life into the upper level with soft strip lighting in the bathroom and kitchen which makes night so dreamy. He also replaced all the existing directional lighting with Japanese hanging lanterns, and he installed the most beautiful woven pendant light shades made by Jan, his mum. She is a sculptural artist and makes the most exquisite, woven copper pendant lights. (Follow @janbrownmetalart on Instagram)
On the lower level, we demolished the desk and replaced it with a breakfast bar (toaster, kettle and fridge). We laid new carpet in the bedroom and sanded and sealed the floorboards to restore them to their former glory. Finally, we painted all the walls and tiled the bathroom keeping the original vintage basin. We wanted this space to be a self-contained studio, separate from the upper level.
Where did the name come from?
While we renovated and dreamed up all the possibilities, the working name in my head was Follyfoot Treehouse. This came from a thrifted book I had on the bookshelf about a farm where horses who had been hard done by their previous owners could retire in peace. It felt fitting at the time, plus I was influenced by the elderly couple who had lived there previously and their ornate and intricate furniture in the original listing images. Eventually, as niched down on my house story, I realised that I didn't want the name to feel too fussy, feminine or childish, and I was playing around with logos and branding that featured a sun, as the upper level is embraced with spectacular sunrises every morning, which just bathe the house in the most magnificent, warm light.
Rhys and I were just doing a word dump brainstorm of the word sun and solar and eventually we landed on Del Sol, which in Spanish means ‘of the sun’. Once we had that name, I knew it was the right one and I got immediately to work checking and registering the name, updating the website copy and securing the social handles.
The property has such a unique, storybook feel. How did you go about capturing and enhancing that magical essence during the renovation?
I was working on the house story over a few months, really diving deeply into fleshing out this ‘character’ whose house this once was. I practically wrote a short story about who she was, her history, how she ended up here, what and who she loved, how she collected things, travelled, loved her garden and was connected deeply to nature.
It kind of evolved as an amalgamation of the themes I love, such as antique Victorian items, the history of dark academia and collections of natural things (feathers, shells, seeds etc.). Tasmania is such a wild place with strong historical (and often pretty dark) links to England and convicts, so the house story took root from there.
I felt really pulled to music to help cement the idea and the mythology of the space. Fleetwood Mac's Rhiannon, Gypsy and Gold Dust Woman and Florence and the Machine's many albums of feminine rage and experiences are some of my favourite and they helped materialise this mystical, feminine energy that is at one with nature who watches over the treehouse.
What was the most challenging part of the renovation process? And on the flip side, what was the most rewarding moment when bringing Del Sol Treehouse to life?
The toughest part of the renovation process was time. We knew we had 6 months to get it all done, before we were planning to move back to Queensland. We had a date close to Christmas booked for the barge to the mainland, and we wanted to launch Del Sol by January of 2026. We packed most of our stuff into a container and sent it off to Queenland a few weeks before, and then, we packed our troopy and did the 20+ hour drive from Hobart to the Gold Coast the day before Christmas Eve.
It was a totally mad rush to get everything done at the end — it was pretty exhausting and stressful, and things were not perfect. After months of renovating, decorating and styling the house, building the website and drafting the listings, jumping through the local council hoops, we only just had it ready in the nick of time before our photographer arrived on December 27th, and we were already interstate.
I fly down every few months with a checked bag full of new items and goodies to improve the space and refine it just a little more. I am always changing things up and moving items around to see what works. There are no hard rules, I think just playing with items and their placement is the way to go to see what you like or not.
Your aesthetic is wonderfully eclectic, blending vintage treasures with curated curios. Do you have a favourite space or corner in the treehouse that holds a special story?
There is no one specific item, but I do have a special place for the many vintage binoculars. I just love to go op shopping and I am always on the lookout for art or items that make sense. One thing I love about Hobart is the tip shop. I went there religiously every two or so weeks for months to scour for items that helped tell Del Sol's house story. I also was a regular at the many vintage/second hand shops in the area and spent hours on FB Marketplace, Etsy and Pinterest to figure out what I was searching for. I also continued to do this long after Del Sol was live on Airbnb. I am always on the lookout and take things down with me each time I return.
My favourite space is the daybed where you can watch the yachts come and go, the plentiful birdlife in the trees and admire the ever changing sky. My second favourite space would be the bathtub — I am a big fan of a long soak with a book.
When designing a space meant for guests to "slow down and reconnect," what key elements do you think are absolutely essential to include?
Essentially, I wanted the space to be luxurious and elevated but still with a distinctly analogue or nostalgic feel. There is no microwave or TV by design. The bathroom on the lower level demands that bathing become an extended ritual — it is difficult to have a ‘quick’ shower there. I wanted music, puzzles, chess and cards to be the entertainment while inside, and the city of Hobart to be the entertainment outside. I notice it immediately when I arrive, as soon as I step inside, the rest of the world melts away, and I truly exhale. I love staying there and being able to share it with others is a privilege.
The Airbnb Superhost Experience
You've achieved the wonderful status of being an Airbnb Superhost! What do you love most about hosting guests from all over the world in your Tasmanian haven?
I really enjoy sharing this little slice of Tassie with people from all over. Honestly, it is the positive feedback that guests share with me that makes it magical. They often comment on how the space makes them feel the minute they arrive. They love how unique it is, and I feel it really helps to elevate their Tasmanian holiday, making it truly memorable. The guest book is where I encourage guests to journal or leave a drawing or pressed flower, and reading through the entries always brings a smile to my face. I think Del Sol really connects with people's creative side, and they embrace it during their stay.
Creating a memorable guest experience goes beyond just beautiful decor. What are some of the small, thoughtful touches you provide that seem to resonate most with your visitors?
I always think about what I want when I arrive at a place. I want the entry to be seamless, accessing keys and codes and things. I want space to place my bag and lay out my toiletries and makeup. I try to keep the clutter of real life hidden and provide space to guests to unpack and make it their own.
For those who are unaccustomed to an icy, cold winter like we were when we first moved from Queensland to Tasmania, I really noticed the difference a dry, warm towel and heated flooring can make when getting out of the shower or during a midnight bathroom run. We added these two luxury elements to both of the bathrooms and guests always give positive feedback about it during winter.
We have provisions for coffee and hot choclate as a slow ritual (no espresso pod machines in sight), cookies and marshmallows as standard, plus all standard kitchen items of high quality such as knives and pots and pans. Bathrooms have natural products and generous provisions and the bathing experience is amplified with bubble bath and salts from a local supplier.
We try to celebrate all things Tasmanian-made where we can. I also think it is not about providing more stuff, but adding an element of delight or making meaning around what is provided to make it feel special.
A slow morning ritual at Del SolFor those who are curious about dipping their toes into the world of Airbnb hosting, what is some advice you would give them?
To take it slow and think deeply about what will make your experience and space unique to you for your guests. The market is saturated, so to be successful, I think you need to stand out and offer something different. Even though everyone wants to start with the purchase of things like furniture and decor, I think the real success comes from determining what your brand as a hosted home will be and how your house story develops, well before you get to the decorating part.
Something else I would encourage is to launch even if the space doesn't feel ‘done’ or you don't feel quite ready. Regardless or how prepared you think you will be, the learning curve is steep. Guest feedback can be valuable in determining what is worth putting time and effort into and what isn't. You may discover that overhauling your kitchen or bathroom isn't actually going to add to guests booking your space.
Finally, evolve your systems and processes for how they will be managed. I manage Del Sol from interstate and it was not easy in the beginning. I sort of stumbled my way through and learnt how best to streamline things like housekeepers, stock management and guest communications as I went.
If someone is looking to renovate a property specifically for short-term stays, what should they prioritise in their budget to ensure longevity and guest satisfaction?
I think be bold in your choices and back yourself. You can make your space impactful on a budget if you take the time to source items slowly or wait for the right piece, instead of jumping in too quickly. Really dive deep into how guests will use your space and how they engage with your location to help inform smart renovations. If the space is in a big city with amazing restaurants and cafes everywhere, then investing in a whole new chef-worthy kitchen probably isn't the best bang for your buck, as guest use will be low. Whereas, if your space is more remote, you may want to provide more activities or provisions for guests, as they cannot easily get to a supermarket or shop.
The Canopy bedroom, styled with layers of French Flax linen What is next for you and Del Sol Treehouse? Are there any new projects or additions on the horizon?
Now that we have our processes and systems in place, I am focusing on streamlining everything for efficiency and improving the offerings we have for guests. It has been so fun for me to source and trial local Tasmanian-made items and food products and dream up ways to make the guest experience even better.
Currently, I am upgrading the VIP packages for our longer term guests and I am working on our website blog to help guests plan their itinerary. I have also been busy organising VIP add ons such as cheese platters for arrival or a personal chef experience for those who want something truly bespoke.
Finally, when guests pack their bags and leave Del Sol, what is the main feeling or memory you hope they take away with them?
I want them to feel relaxed and deeply connected to nature by the time they leave. I want them to have explored the decor and items with wonder and the guest guide journal to have reignited their child-like curiosity and creativity.
My hope is that they will incorporate the nostalgia, pace and connection of Del Sol into their busy lives once they return home in some small way. I want their stay at Del Sol to be unforgettable and a highlight of their Tasmania trip — a little sanctuary amongst what can be a pretty scary world.
A huge thank you to Jizelle for inviting us into her world and sharing the beautiful story behind Del Sol Treehouse. It is truly inspiring to see how much love, intentionality, and hard work goes into creating a space that allows others to pause, breathe deeply, and reconnect with nature.
If you are planning a trip to Tasmania and dreaming of a stay that balances seclusion with the charm of Hobart, we cannot recommend Del Sol Treehouse enough. Follow on instagram @delsoltreehouse You can explore more and book your stay directly through their website
And if Jizelle's beautiful bedroom styling has inspired you to refresh your own sanctuary, you can explore our collection of premium, pre-washed French Flax linen here.
Until next time, sleep well and live beautifully.
Jacinta x
Bring the Del Sol Feeling Home
Shop the premium, pre-washed French Flax linen that dresses the beds at Del Sol Treehouse.
