When Pam Smith and her husband purchased the building at 52 E. Mulberry St. as an office space, the Smiths faced a hefty dilemma: What to do with the building’s unused top floor?

“It was right in the heart of downtown,” Smith said. “During the blues festival, you’d be able to look out the window and get a straight view of the concert and the festival. There wasn’t a lot to make this an office, but I thought it could be a nice place to stay in downtown.”

Smith created Simplify Rental, a vacation house that’s not really a house. Smith describes it as a “short-term rental” facility.

“It’s like an oasis in the city,” Smith said. “Basically, we wanted to create a get-away spot you could rent for a night or a weekend or even a week and just enjoy Lebanon without too much stress.”

Simplify Rental offers a two bedroom, 1 1/2 bath private flat with a large living and dining room space spread out on the top floor of a historic downtown Lebanon building.

Smith said that the vacation spot could be used for a variety of reasons, including weekend sporting events; a girls weekend out; business travels; visiting friends or family in town; a romantic evening or to stay downtown for one of Lebanon’s special events.

“Our first guests spent the weekend here for the Carriage Parade and Christmas festival,” Smith said. “They were able to not have to worry about parking, escape the fray when necessary and still get great seats for the parade.”

Smith said her hope is that Simplify Rental will allow visitors “to experience the majesty of Lebanon” and hopefully share it with visitors to the town.

Smith said that she spent nearly a year refurbishing the apartment into a high-class space. The refurbishment opened a new found love for interior decoration within Smith, she said.

“I really didn’t know I had a love for decorating until I started playing around here,” Smith said. “Then, because I had the time and energy to do what I wanted, I just started finding new items and created what I wanted.”

Smith said her husband was less enthused about her decorating passion.

“He had to carry this 40-pound sink up three flights of stairs,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t think he wants to do that again.”

Smith said the name was inspired by her late grandfather.

“Simplify was his philosophy in life,” Smith said. “It’s what I hope to accomplish here for our guests.”