Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris & Claire Bullard The Déjà Vu Collective.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Deja Vu Collective was born out of our love for Nashville and a desire to build a different kind of life. Chris has been in the music industry there for more than 15 years, so the city has played a huge role in our lives. Tourism in Nashville has supported our family for years, and we wanted to give something meaningful back to the city that has given us so much.
In the beginning, the goal was actually pretty simple. We wanted to create enough cash flow from one thoughtfully designed vacation rental to replace a few nights of Chris playing on Broadway each month so we could spend more time together as a family. We had no idea that one decision would completely change the trajectory of our lives.
From the very beginning, we knew we wanted to create more than a place to stay. We wanted to create destinations that became part of someone’s Nashville story. Every home would be intentionally designed, rooted in local hospitality, and inspired by the energy, creativity, and experiences that make people fall in love with the city.
That philosophy became Deja Vu Collective. Chris has spent his career telling stories through music, and we’ve carried that same mindset into every home we create. Just like a great song, every stay begins with a story. Every design decision, amenity, and guest touchpoint has a purpose, working together to create an experience people remember long after they’ve returned home. That approach has shaped our core values- Bold design, playful luxury, and thoughtful hospitality. It continues to guide every property we create.
What started with one thoughtfully designed one-bedroom property has grown far beyond anything we imagined. In less than two years, we’re preparing to open our 17th property in the Nashville market while partnering with investors to bring their own visions to life through branding, design, launch, and co-hosting. We’re also excited to be expanding into new markets, carrying the same passion for hospitality and experience-driven design wherever we go.
Looking back, we’re grateful that what began as a way to create more time together became something so much bigger. Today, Déjà Vu Collective is a reflection of who we are and what we value most. Which is creating places with purpose, helping people make unforgettable memories, and proving that hospitality is about so much more than providing a place to stay.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The growth has been exciting, but it certainly hasn’t come without its challenges. We built Deja Vu Collective while raising a young family, balancing Chris’s music career, and learning an entirely new industry along the way. Like most entrepreneurs, we made mistakes, solved problems we never expected, and figured out a lot through experience rather than a playbook.
Growing from one property to preparing to open our 17th in less than two years has been incredibly rewarding, but scaling that quickly has required us to build strong systems while staying true to what makes our company different. We intentionally keep our branding, design, sourcing, installations, and launches in house because we believe every detail contributes to the guest experience. Protecting that level of quality as we’ve grown has been one of our biggest challenges and one of our greatest accomplishments.
We’ve also learned that hospitality is about so much more than beautiful design. We’ve navigated construction delays, changing regulations, shifting markets, and the unexpected realities that come with launching properties from the ground up. Those experiences have made us stronger partners for our clients because we’ve lived through those challenges ourselves and know how to adapt when things do not go according to plan.
Looking back, we’re grateful for every obstacle because each one has made us better. They have strengthened our business, our partnership, and our ability to serve both our guests and our clients. We still believe in the same mission that started all of this: creating unforgettable experiences while building a business that allows us to spend more time doing what matters most, together as a family
We’ve been impressed with Deja Vu Collective, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Déjà Vu Collective, we believe the best performing vacation rentals are built around unforgettable experiences, not just beautiful interiors. We specialize in helping investors create hospitality destinations that tell a story from the moment a guest books until long after they’ve returned home.
We offer a full service approach to short term rental development and operations. Whether a client is purchasing their first investment property or expanding an existing portfolio, we partner with them through every stage of the process. That includes market analysis, underwriting, guest avatar development, branding, naming, interior design, sourcing, installations, photography, listing optimization, launch, design refreshes, and full service co hosting.
What sets us apart is that we do everything in house. By keeping the creative vision, design, and launch process under one roof, we’re able to create cohesive brands that stand out in competitive markets and deliver exceptional guest experiences from day one.
We often describe our process as experience architecture. Beautiful design is only one piece of the equation. Every floor plan, furnishing, amenity, and detail is intentionally selected to support the story of the property and the guests it was designed to serve. We believe thoughtful hospitality creates stronger guest experiences, better reviews, and ultimately better performing investments.
While our roots are in Nashville, we’re excited to be expanding into new markets and partnering with investors who want to create destinations guests remember. Whether we’re refreshing an existing property, launching a brand new one, or providing full service co hosting, our goal is always the same: creating places people cannot wait to book and never forget after they leave.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Our faith is the foundation for everything we do, so the Bible is the resource we come back to most often. It shapes how we lead our business, serve our clients, and make decisions.
We’ve also been incredibly fortunate to learn from our dads, who are both entrepreneurs and business owners. Watching them build businesses with integrity, lead people well, and navigate both success and challenges has had a lasting impact on how we approach our own company.
Beyond that, our greatest resource is each other. Some of our best ideas have come from conversations over coffee, long drives, late nights after the kids are asleep, or while walking through a property together. We challenge each other, ask a lot of questions, and are constantly refining ideas.
We don’t follow one specific author, podcast, or business leader. Instead, we’re always learning from a variety of people and industries. Whether it’s hospitality, branding, music, real estate, leadership, or entrepreneurship, we believe great ideas are everywhere if you’re willing to pay attention. We also pay close attention to the experiences around us. Every boutique hotel, restaurant, local coffee shop, or thoughtfully designed space becomes an opportunity to ask, “What made this memorable?” Those observations continue to shape the experiences we create for our guests and our clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.thedejavucollective.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedejavucollective?utm_source=qr
