I had a great time staying at Michele's place in Altadena. Michele is very sweet, super responsive, and was quick to attend to any questions or requests that came up. The space is a room that is part of the larger house, but has it's own entrance, bathroom, etc... It is beautifully decorated with art and books and has such a cozy feeling. I stayed here by myself for 2 weeks and it was the perfect size for just me. I loved the modern look of the large bathroom with the stone shower and soaking tub; there is plenty of hot water and great water pressure. Really fast wifi connection for all my devices; I worked while I was here and had daily video calls without any issues.
I was able to cook all my meals using the kitchenette set-up (microwave/toaster oven) and bbq in the courtyard. Michele even purchased a hotplate for my stay, but it unfortunately got delayed (so thoughtful of her though). She also left some bread, butter, coffee, and jelly for me in the kitchenette prior to my arrival. There are lots of windows in the room, which is great to cool down or warm up the space when needed. This is especially handy since the thermostat controls are not in the room, but in the main house. Michele is able to adjust the temp sometimes, but I found it easier to use the windows, especially since I run warm. The windows provided a great cross breeze in the fall/winter. Not sure how it would be in hotter temps/seasons though.
The courtyard is really lush and pretty, with tangerine tress right outside your window that grow delicious fruit for you to enjoy. There is a main street that runs in front of the house, but the beautiful courtyard completely hides the house from the view of the street. Plenty of parking as well. The house is right down the street from grocery stores and great restaurants in Altadena. It is also super close to Downtown Pasadena (only about 10 mins). I also enjoyed going to Highland Park a few times which was only about 15 mins. Overall, a great location and stay. Thank you Michele for your hospitality! I will definitely stay again and recommend to others!