Catherine's place was a perfect home away from home during our 3 month stay in LA this summer. Catherine and her assistant did a good job looking after us, responding quickly and attentively to our questions and requests.
The Location: the house is in a walkable part of Mar Vista. It’s a stone's throw from Venice Blvd, where there is a great yoga studio (Light on Lotus). The Sunday Farmers Market is a 5 min walk away and is one of the best in LA. We made a habit of going there every weekend. The beach is a <10min car ride away, and it’s easy to park on side streets off Washington to go for a sunset walk on the beach. Most of the time we were there (summer months) the temperature was in the 70s with a nice breeze, and you could often smell the ocean. Much more temperate than other parts of LA!
The House: we had more than enough space as a couple, even with a guest staying in the second bedroom and one of us working from home in the office. The two bedrooms are in separate parts of the house, so there is nice separation. The kitchen was well stocked with pots, pans and cooking implements. Things do seem to have come from different places, so pots & lids don't always match, and the house could use a bit more glassware. We mentioned this to Catherine, and she plans to address the issue. When the weather got hotter, we appreciated that the house had central AC. Finally, the Tempur-Pedic mattresses in both bedrooms were a dream to sleep on. The master bed was a California King - massive and very comfortable.
The Garden: one of the best features of the house is the beautiful back garden. There is a large dining table which was wonderful for hosting dinner guests. And there are also multiple outdoor seating areas for reading and enjoy the lovely landscaping. We were able to pick lemons and passion fruit from the trees in the yard.
All in all, we highly recommend staying at Catherine's place!