Silvia truly does everything she can to make you feel welcome in her house and make your stay as comfortable as possible. She responds immediately to questions and is very helpful. This is the second time I stay in her house and I will definitely return again. I've even had the pleasure to meet her and she's an absolutely lovely lady. The house it self has tons and tons of charm. It's not the most practical house and if your're looking for modern standard you should look elsewhere. This house has a country house feel to it and if you visit in the vinter I would bring warm clothes because it can get a little bit chilly. But all of this get's compensated by the charm of the house, the interior that Silvia has handpicked, the old details in the house like coloured glass window in the bathroom door, the slant and crooked doorways and wooden floors. The house has get's a lot of sunlight from the big windows and the high ceiling which gives it a bright and airy feel. The street outside is very quite and has a nice little green triangular park which inhabitats birds that sings in the morning. There is hardly no traffic at all which makes it very easy to sleep. The neighborhood however offers is full of amazing restaurants like the tapas place which serves delicious Spanish dishes, an Italian restaurant with so much atmosphere it' suddenly feels like you are on a trip through Italy and have found a small little restaurant in some remote village in the mountains. Food is great here and the staff extremely friendly. There is a pub at the corner called The Royal Oak that used to be the pub where the workers went from the flower market which is why it's still open really late (or early) hours. The Flower market transforms the whole block and Columbia Road from being a quite street to a noisy and packed festival. The entire Road gets filled with flowers. Colors and the most amazing scents from the flowers fills your senses. All the boutiques are open on saturdays and sunday and you can find everything from furniture to food and books and perfume. I really enjoyed walking from here and up to Hackney. Hackney City Farm is really close by if you have kids or if you want a well cooked lunch or breakfast and a walk in the little garden. On saturdays you can walk to Broadway Market which is a market held every week where you can buy amazing vegetables, cheese, sausages and meat or buy lunch from one of the many food stands. Bring something with you down to the Regents canal. Take a walk along the Canal and look at the boats and sometimes interesting architecture. Sit down and enjoy a drink or a coffee. There is lot's and lot's to do and see in this area. Close to Shoreditch with hip places and bars...