Charming, quintessentially urban space that keeps its authentic Chicago flavor, thanks to the original wood everywhere plus vintage built-in storage to the ceiling. It's peaceful; the building’s courtyard design means no one directly faces the street. You can definitely hear the neighbors: a musician directly above practices at home (mostly during the day and on weekend evenings). Passersby on the back stairs are easily audible from the bed---the size and layout of the space means they’re only a few yards from you then. Nevertheless, said bed was very comfy and welcoming!
The apartment lives large for its size; much thought has been put into maximizing its livability. I also loved that there was a decent ergonomic work desk! Still, not much storage space in the bath; fortunately, the facing walk-in closet provides extra space for your things.
The safe, homey, and walkable location makes all these little quirks worthwhile. You’ll really feel like a native here.
Sara and her husband were fantastic hosts, accommodating me with a clean, fresh space despite having only a couple hours of notice when my prior plans suddenly went awry. They were professional, providing in-person check-in and informative responses to anything, plus a great guest-reference book with sound tips on the area. They further shone when I missed my departure flight, going out of their way (on their anniversary weekend!) to help me get to a spare key (in a nearby neighborhood) so I could spend my extra hours in their space instead. Extraordinary.