How She Designed a Luxury Haven in the Blue Ridge Mountains That Got Wander's Attention

Meet Taylor Bates, the creator of The Afton House — a stunning, luxury home made for gathering and nestled in the heart of Virginia wine country. Growing up, Taylor wanted to be an architect or a Fortune 500 CEO — she’s always loved the intersection of marketing, design, and business. After working in a few marketing management and nonprofit leadership roles, Taylor wound up starting her own boutique interior design firm focusing on residential and commercial projects. And it was around this time when the idea of building a luxury short-term rental that was conducive to mult...