I stayed at Anne’s when I relocated 2500 miles across country without much of a support system here. Anne’s place had all of the basic necessities to live comfortably and most of all, safely. The neighborhood is extremely nice and feels suburban even though it’s about a 7 minute drive to all of the Ballard shopping and restaurants. The bed was very comfortable, there was a desk/workspace if you ever work from home, and the kitchen is quite large. Although there isn’t a dishwasher, the sink has two sides to set aside the clean ones that are drying. Anne launders all the linens each weekend. This means fresh sheets, duvet, and towels. There is Lunar Laundromat nearby for your personal laundry needs as well. The unit is kind of like a converted basement studio apartment, but because there is a private entrance and a lot of windows, it feels homey. There’s also a plethora of good reads, a TV, a clothes closet, easy street parking, and two cute cat neighbors that will visit if you want them to.
A few things to note that are important:
1. If you ever have a “life happens” kind of stain on any of the linens, do not try to address this yourself. Just let Anne know and she will take care of it. She’s an experienced host and knows how to take care of the types of fabrics and brands that she has. Trust me- you’ll cause a much bigger problem for yourself if you try to handle it yourself and then potentially damage a duvet that will be expensive to replace.
2. With the airflow of the house, you can smell what’s going on upstairs (like with cooking) and vice versa. This isn’t a problem unless you are sensitive to smells OR if you are someone who is used to having a candle, incense, or plug in air fresheners, as those smells downstairs in the unit will waft upstairs (where Anne lives). Artificial scents like candles, plug ins, or incense in the unit are a definite No No. I don’t smoke, but I would imagine if you do, this would need to be outside the unit and probably away from the house in general, as she has kids.
3. The house is on a hill which requires a flight of stone steps. If you’re not physically able to go up and down steps, this is probably not the right place for you.
4. You can’t adjust the thermostat, but in general the unit is pretty temperate. There’s a space heater available, but do make sure you don’t leave this on when you are sleeping or away from the unit, as it could be a fire hazard. Anne has a lot of spare blankets available if you need or want more to keep you toasty at night.
Overall, my stay was good and I would recommend it. Anne makes sure to have everything clean, air filters out the unit between guests, and is always interested in feedback if you ever have any suggestions or concerns. I’m appreciative of have a safe temporary home base and know you’ll be in good hands if you rent it out too. Enjoy!