Charming oasis in the middle of bustling Hollywood!
This bungalow was perfect for my three friends and I for a work getaway. As writers, we were looking for a place in LA that would provide enough room for us to work (tables, comfortable seating and reliable Wifi a must), as well as comfort for our evenings of wine and relaxation, and Peter's place fit the bill perfectly. Plus, it was within walking distance to a grocery store (a Ralphs--which is certainly not Whole Foods, but it got the job done), several great restaurants, and even a few tourist sites (though, admittedly, we did not venture to any as we were there to work).
The bungalow is set inside an enclosed yard with a high fence and plenty of lush greenery. The front porch is perfect for morning yoga, a cup of coffee, and a quiet work spot with a view of birds and green space. The neighborhood is residential, so there's definitely pedestrian noise, but it's nothing too distracting during the day. (The neighbor was doing construction of some kind, but my guess is that was not typical.) The gate and yard feel very secure, too. The backyard has a detached garage that has a bed and half bath, as well as laundry. There is a nice garden that guests are invited to eat from (nothing ripe while we were there!), an outdoor shower, seating and a grill, and--the best part--a new hot tub that is a welcome relief after a long day! We enjoyed our evenings relaxing in the hot tub. (There is an evening noise curfew that we strictly observed as the neighbors are close and we wanted to be respectful.)
The kitchen is fully stocked with spices, pots, pans, dishes, utensils, oils, and every appliance you could want. (Espresso, tea kettle, toaster, coffee grinder, milk frother...) The fridge had a lot of food leftover from other guests that we were able to use, too, so definitely do an inventory before you head to a grocery store.
There are two "real" bedrooms with closing doors. One is the primary bedroom, located in the front of the house with an en suite bathroom. The second is off the kitchen and has bunk beds. The third "bedroom" is really a converted library in the middle of the house with a curtain for privacy. There's a full bath off this room. We found the beds adequately comfortable with quality linens (and lots of extras, if needed), as well as a range of pillows from firm to soft.
The whole house felt very clean, and also very personal. This isn't an investment property with standard, trendy furniture and a sanitized, lifeless feel. It's someone's home, and there are charming reminders of that throughout (including toys as decoration, a child's art on the walls and fridge, and even a bowl with a lizard skin and dried grasshopper on the bookshelf--clearly a well loved and precocious child lives here!) We found the space absolutely delightful, filled with love and humor, and perfectly comfortable and homey.
My one caution for potential guests has nothing to do with the house itself, but with the surrounding neighborhoods and city aspects of this home. This isn't a residential neighborhood in Beverly Hills or Glendale--it's Hollywood, and there is a big difference. It's busy and on some blocks there is a lot of litter; there is a substantial presence of homeless encampments within a few blocks (I personally witnessed a man selling drugs only a few blocks from the house), and on our first night, someone was digging through the neighbor's trash around 3 am. Because the house itself is old, the windows are thin and offer no noise protection. You will hear multiple, LOUD helicopters each night, sirens from several streets away, and--as I did--potentially some nighttime activity on the other side of the (close) fence that may make guests nervous. There is also no covering on the bathroom windows. In theory, nobody can see in because there is a fence and greenery immediately outside the windows, but some in my party were a little uncomfortable with this given the noises we heard from the surrounding area late at night.
That said, as a group of four adult women, we felt safe within the house and yard, and we always walked in pairs whenever we did venture out and never encountered any trouble. The reality is, this home is located in the heart of Hollywood, and that comes with certain negatives that are outside of the homeowner's control. I can say with confidence that everything INSIDE the homeowner's control is wonderfully managed, including great communication. The property is truly a gem, the yard feels very secure, and the home offers wonderful amenities. We loved our stay!