Photo: @Alekseva

The last word to describe BANGTEL? Boring.

With ten furnished homes that offer short and long-term stays around the Chicago area, BANGTEL is making waves in the vacation + furnished rental industry, all thanks to Liz Klafeta.

When Klafeta, a Chicago native, left the city for the Big Apple three years ago, she listed her home on Airbnb. Guests raved about the space, which encouraged her to expand her design talents – rooted in 13 years as a wardrobe and prop stylist in the commercial ad world – beyond her Chicago digs. “My heart has always been in changing a space for the better,” she says. “It comes naturally to me. I was always knocking down walls in my mind and opening up a space.”

Today, BANGTEL has multiple furnished homes that offer short and long-term stays. Each space is not only equipped with around-the-clock concierge, but also offers guests an opportunity to vacation in an oasis of boundary-pushing, distinctive design. “If there is something someone says that we can’t do, it becomes an immediate area I want to explore. I like mixing in random items that one would not ordinarily use, such as a giant papier-mâché bunny or mannequin legs that are painted fun obnoxious colors,” says Klafeta. “Every element is thought of as a work of art, from the faucets to the linens.” Additionally, the carefully curated décor is available for purchase directly from BANGTEL, transforming each space into a living gallery.

But BANGTEL doesn’t stop there. Klafeta leverages the highly creative Chicago community by collaborating with local makers and brands like Jacob Thomas, Silk Shaman, and Nana Creme, sourcing most of BANGTEL’s art, home goods and treats locally. Sharing new and innovative products with guests – like Nana Creme, the only vegan-friendly ice cream that tastes like ice cream and is 100% allergen free – grows Chicago’s maker movement and boosts BANGTEL’s appeal.

Although already a successful platform, Klafeta hopes to make the BANGTEL experience accessible to even more people through an upcoming bed and breakfast design project in partnership with real estate company New Era Chicago.

Klafeta’s extensive background in design, passion for the arts and commitment to the Chicago maker community have helped BANGTEL surface as a pioneer in the rental industry.