This is indeed “a sweet, polished cottage!” It’s beautiful, inside and out. We loved the balcony for breakfast and afternoon tea and coffee. We used the multiple gathering spots outside, depending on where there was shade, throughout the day and evening. The yard is a wonderful mix of palm trees, cactus, flowering bushes, rock collections - even a lemon tree. Our kind host left us a lemon on our front step - so much juicier than those bought in a store! Our family gathered around the fire pit to eat takeout one evening. Lisa saw us there, and demonstrated how to light the fire, making our evening magical. Traffic noise is a reality, but it was never so intrusive as to interrupt our enjoyment or sleep.
Inside is sparkling clean and decorated beautifully. The floors are stunning, and do “create a sense of warmth and elegance”, but not wearing shoes at all was a little difficult. Perhaps soft soles only, might be possible? The shower worked well, and there are a luxurious number of towels.
This kitchen is just lovely (gorgeous quartz counters); all of the stainless steel appliances shone beautifully and worked brilliantly. Wish I had a sensory heating option on my microwave at home! Well equipped with pretty dishes, glassware, cutlery, pots, pans, cooking utensils, and kitchen towels.
We only needed to use the AC unit in the living room a couple of times (and in the bedrooms not at all) but it cooled the whole place off promptly.
This location is prime - and the lot so large that it’s very private. We rode the (very clean, quiet, easy) train downtown and it was amazingly quick. We also took a number of highly enjoyable walks up into the streets of Mt. Washington: amazing homes, flowers and vistas. Highland Park really does have “diverse coffee shops, eateries” and local businesses. We loved Burgerlords (vegetarian), Homestate (tacos - including breakfast tacos), Joy (Taiwanese/Chinese noodles and scrumptious teas), HiPPO (house-made pasta, crab fried rice to die for.) We also came away with an armful of Shorthand’s stationery goods: pens, cards, pencils, wrapping paper and ribbon. This store is worth visiting just for the glorious array of all goods by color, creating an astonishing in-store rainbow.
We are already planning our return to this lovely spot.