I booked Florence and Alain's loft for a weekend getaway for my girlfriend and I. I had not shown her the reservation because I did want to surprise her. While she very pleasantly surprised, I would have to say I was almost just as positively surprised, even though I knew very well about the reservation I was getting into.

Quality of the Host:
Florence and Alain were very attentive to inquiries before and after I confirmed my reservation in a way that made me feel like they cared about how much I enjoyed my stay at their loft. During our conversations, they not only provided the necessary instructions for the loft, but also seasoned their communication with the history of their property. In addition to the physical copy of the manual that was left in the house for the amenities and technical aspects of the loft, Florence and Alain also provided me an electronic copy of the manual. I found this to be very handy because I could quickly search for things as I encountered them in the loft. In a brief phone conversation with Alain, I found that he was very polite, friendly, and primarily concerned with the quality of my stay.

The Feel:
The handcrafted loft was nothing short of unique. The skylights and strategic windows provided ample natural lighting until sundown while providing the utmost privacy. The lighting in the house was just as impressive after sundown. Day or night you could practically shoot a film there. The layout and choice of decorations/furnishings actively shaped my taste in what I want out of the next place I live. I did have two friends visit to play games and have a couple of drinks, and again they were just as impressed as we were. While we did want to try as much Pasadena cuisine during our stay as possible, our guilty pleasure quickly became ordering quality takeout and eating at the loft because it was so hard to leave!

Amenities:
The California King was extremely comfortable. The heating/cooling aggressively adapted to the temperature it was set to. However it was rarely used because the loft is so well insulated. The kitchen was fully stocked. The bath/shower quickly heated and provided comfortable pressure. There was also a washer/dryer available. Parking for the loft was in front of the loft, but safely behind a gate, off the street.

The Property:
The loft is naturally hidden from the street by a multitude of trees. You can essentially have every window open in the house and feel confident that you have the utmost privacy. There was a park literally across the street and plenty of fun things to do within a 5 minute drive from the loft.

When we left the loft, we definitely had the "I wish we could stay just one more day feeling."

Merci Florence and Alain!