Justine Palefsky, co-founder of the San Francisco-based home-swapping platform Kindred, approaches hosting with a relaxed philosophy, prioritizing connection over meticulous planning. “I love impromptu gatherings, and group dinners and I love having the kind of home where friends and family just drop in unannounced,” Palefsky told Wallpaper* magazine. “It makes a really sizeable difference in my enjoyment of my own life, to perceive more connected to my extended community.”
Kindred, launched in 2021 by Palefsky and Tasneem Amina, operates on a membership model where users host others within the network, earning credits to stay in other members’ homes. The platform, which secured $15 million in funding in April 2023, aims to make travel more affordable and foster a sense of community, according to TechCrunch. Members pay Kindred a service fee – up to $30 per night – to coordinate stays and provide home protection, while also covering cleaning costs. The company does not profit from cleaning fees, its founders have stated.
Palefsky, a former employee of Opendoor alongside Amina, described Kindred’s inception as an “experiment in seeing if we could build the kind of world that we aim for to live in.” The platform’s network spans the globe, featuring homes in locations ranging from New York and the Cayman Islands to Costa Rica, Estonia, and even the Stockholm apartment of designer Gustaf Westman.
Despite her enthusiasm for hosting, Palefsky admits she isn’t a skilled cook, relying on her fiancé to handle the culinary aspects of gatherings. “I really hate cooking,” she said. “We purposely live walking distance to a great grocery store, and I will often pick up some pre-made food or get takeout when we’re hosting.” She embraces this approach, finding that removing the stress of cooking encourages more frequent hosting.
Palefsky’s hosting style often centers around shared activities, such as watching television shows together. Currently, she hosts gatherings around the show “Night of the Seven Kingdoms,” providing a large pot of popcorn with a variety of seasonings for guests to customize. She also emphasizes the importance of providing non-alcoholic beverage options and creating a relaxed atmosphere with a puzzle laid out on the coffee table to encourage conversation, particularly for more introverted guests.
When entertaining, Palefsky favors a playlist of 1970s classics, including artists like James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac, and Van Morrison. She noted the historical significance of a recording studio near Sausalito, California, where Fleetwood Mac recorded their album Rumours, expressing a desire to host a party there.
Palefsky identified Taylor Swift as her dream dinner party guest, citing Swift’s evolution as both a musical artist and a businesswoman. “Her music has been the soundtrack to so many different eras in my life,” Palefsky explained. “I would love to hear and learn more about what that journey’s been like for her.”
Palefsky stressed the importance of remembering guests’ names as a fundamental aspect of good hosting. She also offered a simple rule for guests: “A guest should never feed the house dogs from the table.” she believes the key to a successful evening lies in prioritizing connection over perfection. “People won’t remember what everything looked like as much as they will remember how you made them feel when they were in your home,” she said.
