We booked Nora's lovely Hollywood Hills home for our two week honeymoon and we could not have been happier!
Short version of my review: Stay here! Just stay here because it is the most lovely, well stocked home, with incredible views and Nora is a fantastic hostess that gives you complete privacy. 5 stars all the way!
More detailed review: Although I live only an hour away, it has always been a dream of mine to stay in the Hollywood Hills and this was the ideal time to make this dream a reality! The house is on the top of a ridge allowing for incredible views of both the sunrise over Griffith Park and the sun setting in the west as well as views of the downtown LA skyline.
For anyone concerned about privacy, I would like to reassure you that while Nora lives downstairs (like many houses in the hills, it is the top floor that is the main house and the part you see from the street), she has her separate entrance and yard space allowing complete privacy to anyone who stays at her house. In the two weeks that we were there we would not have known that Nora was there other than when we reached out to her. She was a most gracious hostess and a joyful person to chat with (but again, only if you reach out!).
The house is beautifully cared for and full of all the special little details that make it a true home. The kitchen is exceptionally well stocked and lovely to cook in. There is plenty of fine dining nearby and we had some fantastic dinners out (it was our honeymoon after all), but we also made plenty of home cooked meals and loved the options of eating at the dining room table with the spectacular view from the sunroom or having cozier meals at the kitchen table.
I truly could go on and on about our experience! The living room is spacious and includes a grand piano that you are welcomed to play. The shelves are full of interesting books, many art books and biographies to browse through. While we didn't watch much television, there are many viewing options with cable and movie channels as well as a nifty selection of DVDs.
The bathroom was recently remodeled and is absolutely amazing with the star attraction being a huge "tea for two" bath as well as a large walk in shower with two shower heads. As you can see from the photos, the tub is in beside a large window (don't worry, on the ridge no one can see you but you can take in the breathtaking view of Griffith observatory, Beachwood Canyon, and even downtown LA!). It is an amazing experience to soak in this huge tub!
There is a bay window in the larger bedroom and we enjoyed falling asleep seeing the stars shining over the hills and waking up to the sunrise (but on the mornings we wanted to sleep in, we just lowered the blinds). Another feature that I enjoyed in this beautiful home was the his and her closets on either side of a built in dressing table which made me feel as if I movie star when I'd get ready to go out on the town!
When I wasn't soaking, cooking, or getting all dolled up to go out, I was hiking the many roads and trails of Hollywood Lake, Hollywoodland, and Griffith Park. There are hikes for every level of hiking experience and it's such a treat to be able to walk right out the door and head out on a walking adventure! We saw deer every time we walked around the lake and even one in the neighbor's yard! The neighborhood is full of unique houses that are fun to look at and we found that the people were all friendly.
After two weeks, I'll admit that it was a bit hard to pack up and go home! We had become spoiled by our absolutely amazing experience. The good thing is knowing that one day we will come back again as we are certain this was just the first of many stays for us at this exceptional Hollywood Hills Hideaway!