Kara Thorstenson had a dream of filling her Lincoln Square home with original art, though she thought she could never afford it on her school librarian’s salary. But the 33-year-old found a workaround, acquiring works from friends and repurposing found art. The charming decor has turned what was once a no-frills apartment into a sought-after Airbnb rental.
When Thorstenson temporarily relocated to Hyde Park last summer for a six-week teaching gig, she needed to cover two rents; Airbnb seemed the obvious solution. She priced her Lincoln Square pad low for the neighborhood and got bookings right away. Hosting houseguests has given her the chance to make some new acquaintances—and has provided her with a few new pieces of art. “People leave me gifts. That, I didn’t expect,” she says. “In the bedroom is a beautiful print of the Chicago skyline that someone left.”
