From the minute you enter, you realize this is not the Airbnb of someone whose primary concern is making money. This is the Airbnb of people who took joy in creating a wonderful living space, and want you to love and enjoy it, too. EVERYTHING is well-thought out, and presented with a combination of efficiency, humor, artistry, and joy. There is a sense of warmth and care in every detail.
You enter to an overflowing snack basket, coffee choices that rival any business in town, lush natural textures, seasonal touches, a hand-written note, and folded animal towels that welcome you like your favorite bed & breakfast (the one that knows you by name) or a relative who hasn’t seen you in years and wants you to know how happy they are to see you.
The space pulses with living things…daffodils, an impressive jade plant, orchids growing on the nightstand, bulbs rising in the bathroom, and a breathtaking burst of white amaryllis in blooming at the kitchen sink. The blown glass feeder on your private deck is visited by an Anna’s Hummingbird even in snow, showing that someone has made the effort to keep these tiny birds fed and happy enough to stay all year. Birders will also love that from the couch in the evenings, you can see the skies fill with hundreds of crows flying in from all sides, converging in on their famous city roosts in Seattle.
Considering starting an Airbnb? This is the one to study before you set up your place. There are unobtrusive but ever-so-helpful labels on everything, switches to cabinets, and sturdily laminated instructions for operating everything from the futon to the myriad of television options—no need to ever be confused or frustrated. Forgot something? They’ve got it here for you. The helpful hosts provide both a physical binder and a website filled with maps, sightseeing highlights, contacts, recommendations, and descriptive photos. The art and displays highlight the best history and icons of Seattle, from ferries and beer, to Sasquatch and Cobain. Right when you walk in, they have posted their phone number and easy scan codes for wi-fi and websites. Everything you need is presented neatly, clearly, and in the right place.
I could go on, but I will stop and leave more delightful things to discover for yourself. All I can say is, Airbnb needs to add more stars to its rating scale to allow a proper review of this space and these hosts. We had a beyond 5-star stay.