I am so happy to have stayed with Gabrielle and Dave at their beautiful home in Phinney Ridge this summer. I really do think this is the ideal Airbnb experience, or close to it – the type you always look for but can rarely find these days, since the platform has become more professionalized. My big headline for you is that this listing has it all: (1) A thoughtfully designed, high-quality space. (2) Welcoming, inclusive hosts. (3) And a great location in a real ‘locals’ neighborhood. If you’re on the fence, I really can’t encourage you enough to just go for it.
That said, here’s a little more detail in case it’s helpful to you:
THE SPACE - Gabrielle and Dave – who are both carpenters and work in the construction industry – have done an outstanding job renovating their downstairs mother-in-law unit into an Airbnb. They told me this has been their passion project over the last few years, and it really shows. The finishes are brand new, and the design choices are so thoughtful. The kitchen and bathroom have all the basics you will need for a shorter or longer stay, plus above-and-beyond extras like a small-scale professional range/oven with cooking and baking supplies, dimmer switches, and several coffee brewing options (e.g. Chemex).
THE HOSTS - Gabrielle and Dave are welcoming and inclusive people, and I’d feel confident saying a wide range of people would feel comfortable staying in their home. They made a lot of space for me to offer feedback and ask questions, both in person and via the Airbnb app. They are both around the house a fair amount, so you should expect to see or hear them occasionally either upstairs or in the backyard, where your entrance is, especially when the weather is nice. That said, the Airbnb space itself – especially its bedroom and bathroom – is all quite private.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD - Phinney Ridge is a real ‘locals’ neighborhood with lots of sweet, well-maintained craftsman houses that all have excellent gardens. The area is very quiet, so you should generally plan to be quiet, too. There is a lot to do within walking distance, but it is an actual ridge, so most things are either up or down 3-4 moderate-to-steep hillside blocks. I had my car with me and it was useful, but not absolutely necessary. My husband and I loved walking up to Greenwood Avenue, which runs along the top of Phinney Ridge, for breakfast at Herkimer Coffee or lunch at Red Mill Burgers. I also ran and took tennis lessons – taught by someone Gabrielle and Dave recommended – over at Green Lake Park during my stay, which was great.