Lisa’s Story, Co-Founder Foresta Property

Brackenberry Cottage

When we bought our holiday cottage in the New Forest, we had a clear vision: to create a welcoming place to stay, finished to a consistently high standard. The property needed work, which gave us the opportunity to carefully renovate and create something special, with every decision made with guests in mind.

The journey wasn’t without its challenges — from steep learning curves to unexpected issues like broken pipes. Looking back, having experienced advice early on would have saved time and avoided much of the trial-and-error.

Once launched on Airbnb and Vrbo, the response was immediate, with strong bookings, excellent reviews and many repeat guests. Now in its fourth year, the cottage remains a successful holiday let.

That first-hand experience — from renovation and launch to ongoing management — is what underpins everything we do at Foresta Property. Contact us for more information on our services.

These photos show the cottage when we first purchased it.

Empty living room with beige walls, wood flooring, a fireplace with decorative tiles, staircase with carpeted steps, and a doorway leading to another room.
Compact kitchen with wooden countertops, gray cabinets, a gas stove, a toaster, and a white door with a window, under a skylight.
Living room with a round table covered with a white tablecloth and three wooden chairs, a brick fireplace with a wood stove, empty shelves, and a beige wall.
Empty bedroom with a metal bed frame, a mattress, a window with beige curtains, and a ceiling light fixture.
Living room with two gray sofas, decorated with navy blue, black, and pink pillows. A glass coffee table with a potted plant and books sits in front. A large window with white blinds lets in natural light, and a framed painting of a cow hangs on the
A modern kitchen with gray cabinets, a wooden countertop, and a skylight on the ceiling. There are pots on a shelf above and various utensils hanging on the wall. The stove with a stainless steel backsplash is on the right, and a dining area is visib
Dining area with a wooden table set with black plates, glasses, and a white vase with green plants. A staircase with beige carpet leads upstairs to the right, and the wall behind the dining table has a purple accent with framed artwork and decorative
A neatly made bed with white bedding and various black and white patterned pillows, a navy blue headboard, two black bedside lamps, a white bedside table with a small potted plant, and two decorative star wall hangings in black and gold on a plain wh
Living room with two beige sofas, navy and light pink cushions, a glass coffee table, a patterned pouf, a potted plant, a decorative mirror above a pink feature wall, a wood stove, and a framed artwork of a cow.
A neatly made bed with white bedding and black and white pillows, with a towel and rolled blanket on top, in a bright bedroom with a window showing greenery outside, beige carpet, a white side table with a potted plant and lamp, and a beige chair nea
A white townhouse with a pink front door, brown brick chimneys, and a small porch. There is a bench and bushes in front. A sign reads "Brackensberry Cottage."
A dining room with a wooden table and four matching chairs, a white ceramic teapot-shaped plant holder on the table, a black fireplace mantel with a framed photo of a person wearing a face mask, a green potted plant, and a decorative shelf with glass
A white outdoor table with four chairs in a garden, with a potted pink flower on the table and a stone pathway leading to a wooden gate, surrounded by lush green plants and trees under a blue sky with white clouds.