To get a property ready for guests, I spend a significant amount of money (10-15k) in linens, mattresses, small appliances, rugs, decor, soap, coffee, etc.

oh, yeahI have been researching the local super hosts and I think I have a good idea of the decor needed to get the bookings they do, as well as the importance of great communication and cleanliness.  

I have meticulously designed, built, decorated, furnished, cleaned, stocked with hotel-like essentials, cleaned again, and published my property as a vacation rental on AirBnB.

Lower unit: new floors, texture and paint walls, new light and plumbing fixtures, new doorsUpper unit: making a larger kitchen with an open concept living dining and kitchen, new floors, rock, tape and paint throughout, new trim and doors, new cabinets and new bathroom New windows and siding, 12x12 decorative concrete patio for each unit, new concrete floor in garage, new driveway, removing elec baseboard heat and putting naturally gas forced air in both units.

There is a bed set up, the children are playing on the floor and the mother is decorating the walls with large colorful "ABC" stickers.

Holiday decorations can be put up two weeks prior to the Holiday and must come down one week after the Holiday.

When all of things are newer and you manage the guests well, the actual maintenance costs for a STR tend to be about the same, if not a tad lower, than long term (NOT including the ongoing cleaning costs . . . which again helps reduce the unplanned maintenance and repair costs of the STR).However, in another way you're likely to have MORE maintenance and repair in STRs because essentially you have all the volatility as a normal house, plus furniture and decor, plus a revolving door of guests. 

We have been using Floor n Decor for tile, BMC (Stock) for lumber/windows.  

I totally agree with @Joel Owens on the decor.

This place is decorated like the Trump Palace.