Overall, I enjoyed my one week stay at Patrice and Jeff’s place. I rented the studio on the second floor of a single family cottage that was converted into Air BnB units.
Below are some pros and cons to consider before booking this studio space.
Pros:
1. The hosts were very responsive and attentive to my text messages. They were friendly and welcoming.
2. Excellent location: central location near the subway, grocery, amenities, cafes, restaurants, main thoroughfares like Bloor, College, Dundas. It’s on a tree-lined street in Old Toronto in a lovely historic home. The neighbourhood has not been cursed by gentrification (yet) so it remains authentic. I lived in Toronto from 2001-2008 so I was very happy to be staying in this neighbourhood.
3. Well designed space: although quite small, this functional space had a very a compact bathroom with excellent shower pressure, lovely eclectic design details (barn door, funky lighting). The internet wifi was very reliable and the kitchenette had sufficient cutlery and dinnerware and pots and pans for cooking.
4. Bay window provided wonderful natural light.
5. It got cold at night so there was an electric radiator to warm up the studio space.
6. The bed was very comfortable
Cons (only one)
1. It’s a small house with 3 Air BnB units. There might be more, but I think there is one proper apartment on the ground (street level) and 2 adjacent studios on the second floor. These studios are basically private bedrooms with their own private bathroom and kitchenette. Since this is an old house (possibly built between 1910-1920), noise travels.
Throughout the week, I heard doors constantly opening and closing. It was slightly distracting. It did not feel like a mini building with apartments. It felt like a house with rooms.
Across the corridor from my second floor studio was a very disruptive neighbour. She was very loudly reciting her lines (she was a theatre student) and when I complained, the Air BnB owner knocked on her door and asked her to lower her voice.
This person did not understand that sound travels in old houses. She acknowledged the problem, but continued to rehearse her lines loudly, without considering the other people living in the house.
The bottom line is that it’s a wonderful space to go to sleep, but it’s a challenge to work there during the day.
Since I am working remotely as an academic librarian and teaching remotely to college students online and synchronously (live), I was very happy about the reliable internet wifi. The loud sounds were a nuisance, but not a major problem. Luckily, I was able to use noise canceling earphones during my week when my neighbour was being extra loud.