The setting is lovely - a view of the mountains from the side of the house, and Mary's gardens are filled with lavendar, rosemary and other plants. However, from the photos, you get the impression that you will have access to a deck to gaze on the mountain view. You have a patio with table and chairs (under the deck) but no access to the deck or the direct view of the mountains that you see in the photos. The beds are comfortable and Mary added a nice touch of bringing flowers into the rooms. The house is very close to a supermarket, a Rite Aid, as well as The Blue Ridge Parkway and its amazing beauty and wonderful hikes.
Know before you come that this is a basement apartment with a separate entrance in the house. So you will hear upstairs noises at various hours, so bring ear plugs. And a flashlight as there is no outdoor light if you come back after dark.
I would also suggest doing your research ahead of time and picking up various tourist/sightseeing pamphlets in town, as well as coffee and necessities, as, other than olive oil and some seasonings, these were not provided. The kitchen was stocked with a coffee maker, dishwasher, microwave and toaster. I'd suggest that you write questions to Mary ahead of time, since she did not reply promptly to my texts. I appreciated her recommendation for a wonderful gluten free restaurant in town (Posana) From the reviews, I had anticipated that Mary would be a gracious and helpful host, but we may have caught her on a bad week.
However, all in all, it was a comfortable and convenient apartment in a beautiful setting and was only a 12-15 minute drive to downtown Asheville.