Recognizing Hosts who offer stand out homes with iconic architecture and interiors.

Nana’s home was built in 1965 and with many homes of that time having been bought up by developers and demolished to make way for high rise condos, it is one of the few well-maintained homes of the mid-century modern period in Accra. Nana remembers visiting the building site, at the age of 5 when the home was being built by her parents. So when it was passed on to her and her brother, she renovated it with a commitment to keeping and improving original features such as the terrazzo floors and the tropical glass louver windows. She also upcycled pieces like the 70’s era wooden furniture.

Using local artisans and local material, Nana converted two rooms into Airbnb listings, including the studio that was formerly a storeroom. “Creativity is an intrinsic part of my DNA,” says Nana who has been a Superhost for 8 years – the length of time she has been hosting. When describing what inspires her she says:

“I am inspired by nature, by balance, simplicity and harmony; by the effect that colour has on emotion and mood; by the juxtaposition of color, patterns and natural materials and textures. I am drawn to spaces that have an indoor/outdoor aesthetic, where the outdoors feels like part of the internal space. I love the richness of our Ghanaian pageantry and West African fabrics from Ghana, Mali, Guinea, Senegal and Nigeria. Functional design, good execution and attention to detail is also inspiring to me.”

Nana, who is a realtor with interior design skills, got the idea of hosting on Airbnb from her son, Henry. She thought it would be the perfect way to give visitors to Ghana a unique experience while earning a little bit of extra income. A self-confessed “global nomad” and informed by her years of following her diplomatic parents around the world, Nana felt she had a good sense of recognising guests’ needs and preferences. Her love of great design, art and discovering new cultures has clearly helped too! She has hosted many guests from every continent including numerous solo, female travellers, some of whom have not visited Africa before. She goes out of her way to ensure they feel safe and comfortable, while respecting their privacy in a home away from home. One guest said in her review: “Nana’s place is for everyone but I highly recommend it for solo travellers. It felt just like home.”

Guests typically comment on the beautiful, functional and intentional design of the space, the sense of comfort, the efficient use of space and the serenity of being surrounded by nature. According to her guests, Nana is “ a kind soul who served as the perfect ambassador to Accra.” She has created “a gem”, “a haven” and “a small oasis in the heart of Accra”.

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