Michael’s home is welcoming and very bohemian with lots of trinkets/furnishings, inside and out, with many finished/unfinished nooks and crannies. I loved the greenery, and the airplanes flying above were especially endearing. Patios offered a nice reprieve, and the staff was very pleasant. The location was ideal for the sights we wanted to see in Balboa Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, and Little Italy. Parking on the street was helpful, though limited. There are three spots behind/beside the house on Hawthorn for guests, but we didn’t need them.
There are a few things to note if you’re planning a trip to this home. If you’re a “white glove” kind of traveler, consider an alternate location. This bohemian home is a work-in-progress and isn’t completely spic and span. The necessities, such as sheets and bathrooms, are clean enough to use, but shelves and corners are dusty, housekeeping tools/electronics are left out, and natural debris/forgotten litter piles up outside in the seating areas.
The blue room bed is a full-sized bed, so plan to be cozy. The four-poster bed frame (pictured) is no longer in the room, and the mattress now sits on an oversized platform on the floor. Bring an extension cord as some outlets don’t work. (We were a little concerned that the electrical wasn’t up to code.) The attached powder room is super tight, and you won’t be able to stand between the toilet and the sink. (Not sure that this space was up to code, either.) If you like new and thicker towels/washcloths/bath mats, you’ll need to bring your own. (Some towels are provided, but they’re thin and faded.) You’ll also need to bring your own toiletries, as well as shower shoes/flip flops to avoid standing on a yellowed no-slip mat in the bear claw tub (in the upstairs community bathroom). There are some leftover toiletries from previous guests, but they didn't appear to be very sanitary. Hand towels were hard to find, so we used a roll of paper towels from the supply closet. The blue room has a new AC unit in the closet, but it would have been great if it was set up as the weather was especially warm and the room endures the afternoon sun. The ceiling and floor fans were helpful, though.
We were grateful for access to the refrigerator in the kitchen, but it was not as clean as we would have hoped. The coffee set up was thoughtful, and we appreciated the environment-friendly filters and oatmeal packets. If you like decaf coffee or tea, you’ll need to bring your own.