My new home away from home whenever I come to visit my three sons in Los Angeles!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! It is an eclectic heaven. From the moment we passed the first security gate with 24/7 camera surveillance, we felt safe in this magical little hub of 1920, bungalows once gently tucked between two major studios. As we were leaving, the freshly painted one next door was going on the market, apparently another had recently sold for $1 million, so rest assured this bungalow is in a place that is being revitalized.
The fragrant scent of the wall of sweet jasmine is the first thing to greet you as you go through the very private wooden gate which leads to a charming entrance full of exotic blooming plants. Welcome to Shangri-La, with a small two seater rocking bench where you can enjoy a glass of wine, or your morning coffee as you feed the neighborhood squirrel a handful or two of peanuts (John Provides the peanuts in a bowl in the dining room.)
Once you enter the living room, you will appreciate the lovely mirrors, large screen television, leather couch, with plate glass windows and charming views into the lush gardens.
John as thought of so many special extra details, they are too many to name and quite frankly as a former 4 time Airbnb Super host myself, I think it is important to let future guests discover some of these thoughtful surprises all on your own.
Let me just say that John has thought of nearly everything and the kitchen was not only well stocked with basics, but I was impressed with things like olive oil, a huge selection of Keurig coffees, creamers, spices, butter, soup stock etc.
If you want to make cocktails the bar tools, ice bucket and bright red stone cutting board will leave you feeling like a pro. The lighted china cabinet was full of every kind of bar glass you could imagine. There were so many things I wasn't expecting in a 1920's bungalow. Who doesn’t appreciate a dishwasher, and a washer and dryer , also soaps and softeners are provided.
The bed was super comfy and the sheets, towels and linens were all high quality! It will only get better as I know John is replacing the couch, and the bed...not even necessary, but just goes to show you the high level experience John is trying to achieve for his guests.
His collection of rare masks, carpets, and his photographs are displayed throughout the house both inside and outside, The kitchen was spacious and we cooked a couple of delicious meals for my three sons and really enjoyed playing a few board games.
Unfortunately our timing found us in a bit of a chilly spell and we ended up not sitting around the adorable and extremely safe and private back patio area, complete with a fire-pit table, a bbq, and a nice sofa corner area.
I could just go on and on, it was so centrally located between my three sons, within walking distance of shopping, restaurants and major landmarks if you are here for sightseeing.
The neighbor Rollio and his wife keep an eye on the place so I really felt like this was a safe and secure place not only for my possessions, but for my self and my family members.
Also I really appreciated the generous supply of high quality toilet paper, paper towels, extra blankets, and a library with world class novels, and trinkets he has collected from around the world on his own travels. What a lovely magical little spot that is so unique and refreshing compared to so many basic and boring spots. This is truly a one of a kind find and I am pinching myself that I found this precious little bungalow...to be clear it really felt much more spacious than what one might expect for a 1920's bungalow. I also appreciated the history, and photographs of this sweet charmer both in the manual and on the walls.
I was definitely not ready to go home and I can't wait to come back again. Please remember to be thoughtful quiet guests as this is tucked into a very quiet neighborhood and is definitely not a place for a party or loud people. It is very romantic and would be great for a couple. I stayed with my elder mother and we never had an issue with finding parking close by (also uncommon in the LA area) Wifi works great so if you need to stay longer, this is the kind of place I
Wishing you and yours as wonderful of a stay as we had. Good luck!
Kat