12 lessons from 2024
A Year of Growth, Grit, and a Few Castle-sized Surprises
If you’ve ever thought life lessons were just clichés in disguise, let us change your mind—with a castle twist, of course! Here’s a peek into what 2024 taught us at Chateau Coliving, complete with hard truths, big wins, and plenty of memorable moments. 💫
JANUARY
Stopping is sometimes more productive than continuing
Momentum is great, but pausing to reflect? Game-changing. We learned that taking time off for deep cleaning (literally and metaphorically) sets you up for bigger success. January saw us closing for guests and diving into the hard stuff: finances, maintenance, strategy planning, negotiating and planning partnerships, and repainting every inch that needed love. What looked like a vacation on the outside was actually like a behind-the-scenes marathon.
Spoiler alert: we got a lot done and proved that “stopping” can sometimes be the best way to keep moving forward.
FEBRUARY
Comparing to others is not only unnecessary, it’s irrelevant
Then, February hit with a major reality check. During maintenance, we discovered a structural issue in our northwest tower. A century-old leak had rotted a massive support beam—500 kg of solid wood, needing urgent replacement 28 meters above the ground. The financial and logistical chaos reminded us: we’re not just running a house; we’re preserving history, and our challenges are uniquely ours.
It might feel lonely, but it’s time to accept that we’re in a league of our own.
No more apples-to-mangoes comparisons.
MARCH
Quality over quantity, always!
We kept March bookings minimal (thanks, February drama), unsure whether the castle would be ready. Fewer guests made us nervous—would the social atmosphere suffer?
Turns out, not at all. The small group bonded deeply, creating unforgettable memories filled with laughter, friendships, and inside jokes that still live rent-free in our heads. Proof that the right people matter far more than a full house.
Quality over quantity, every time.
APRIL
When in doubt, give!
A healthy community thrives when everyone gives more than they take. We already knew that, but it’s not always easy to make it happen IRL. April brought together a diverse group—returning guests, coliving newbies, and serial nomads—each contributing to the collective experience.
No expectations. No keeping score. Just genuine, heartfelt connection. It was a powerful reminder that the best communities are built on shared generosity.
MAY
Keep experimenting, take the lessons
May was our boldest experiment yet: a themed month called “Coliving Debunk.”
The goal? To encourage experimentation, especially among those unsure about coliving, hesitant to commit to a month stay, or skeptical because they heard something from a friend of a friend. So, we lifted all our restrictions and let everyone try it on their own terms. No fixed dates. No minimum stay. Come and go as you please.
Sound chaotic? It kind of was. While it attracted curious new faces, it also shifted the vibe (hello, social fatigue and dirty kitchens). Definitely not a proof of the best possible experience.
Lesson learned—there’s a reason we structure stays the way we do, and this month helped us feel even more confident in that approach. Quality connection takes time.
JUNE
A moment to be grateful
Our château sits in the heart of D-Day history, and the 80th anniversary of the landings made us reflect on how lucky we are. Our property, once occupied during WWII, now stands as a place of peace, connection, and freedom.
Some of our guests come from war-torn countries, sharing stories that remind us how fragile peace can be.
It’s easy to take freedom for granted—June was a humbling reminder to appreciate our privilege.
JULY
You harvest what you plant
Summer was a season of reaping the rewards of years of work. The château came to life in ways we had not even dreamed of when we started renovating this semi-ruined castle. It’s now a revived place filled with laughter, creativity, and purpose – no longer just a vision, but a reality.
Years of persistence, mistakes, and hard work finally bloomed. Proof that when you plant seeds with love and care, the harvest will be worth it.
AUGUST
Coliving is personal
Forget the business metrics for a second—coliving is deeply personal. No other business lets you live with your clients, often blurring the lines between clients and friends.
Guests returning for their third, fourth, or even fifth stay aren’t coming back just for the fancy architecture anymore—they’re here for the feeling of belonging. Friendships, late-night talks, and the sense of home and being part of something bigger.
That’s the heart of it all.
SEPTEMBER
When you find your people, hold on to them
Team turnover is common in coliving. Many don’t actually have permanent team members because the nomadic life is calling all of us, and the social fatigue inevitably hits, even if you have the most amazing humans as colivers.
But September reminded us how lucky we are to have such an incredible team as the backbone of our coliving. It’s rare and precious to have a core group you can trust completely, extended team members who keep coming back to support us through challenges, and visiting facilitators to collaborate with regularly.
We’ve built a network of people who show up, support one another, and make amazing things happen. And we’re holding on to them, hard.
OCTOBER
Collaboration is key!
We always say collaboration beats competition—and in October, we lived it once again. Partnering for the second time with the Digital Nomad Girls community for their Autumn Women’s Camp reminded us why we love this work.
Seeing women support, empower, and inspire each other, sharing ideas, fears, and spontaneous karaoke sessions—priceless.
Collaboration truly fuels growth.
NOVEMBER
Master adaptability
The coliving landscape evolves constantly. Staying relevant means adapting. And in our case, setting the new trends on the market.
This November, we kicked off themed months (like our Writer’s Haven and French immersion) to foster deeper connections beyond just being location-independent.
So, what’s the verdict? Gathering people with shared intentions sparks a whole new level of community magic.
Themed months helped people connect over shared interests, creating deeper bonds and a richer experience. Hopefully, we’re paving the way for a new era of coliving.
DECEMBER
Good things take time
December marked a massive milestone—after 12 years of blood, sweat, and wallpaper, we finally secured full ownership of our island by purchasing the last building on the property. It wasn’t easy (or cheap). It took negotiations, persistence, and a lot of hard moments, but we finally made it happen.
And while some of the reactions we encountered were, “Are you insane to take on yet another mortgage??”
For us, it’s freedom—and we couldn’t be prouder.
2024 has been a wild ride!
It was filled with lessons, laughter, and a few literal structural crises. But through it all, we’ve grown stronger, more connected, and more certain than ever that what we’re building here isn’t just a business — it’s a home.
Here’s to the next chapter and the stories yet to be written with you at Chateau Coliving