Book with confidence; this is a nice place.
J'Aime was very communicative and helpful from the very start. Despite her traveling on our check-in day, she was in touch if anything was needed. However, nothing was needed! We were able to let ourselves in with ease---everything was ready for us to settle right down. In this case, I was traveling with my family and we all felt right at home immediately. Any of the usual worries about a basement apartment were completely minimized: the entrance is through double glass doors from a great patio and garden; there are openable windows at opposite ends of the flat (not only along one wall like a hobbit hole); when Portland is particularly Portlandy the apartment might struggle for natural light but J'Aime has numerous tasteful light fixtures that brighten the experience, especially in the kitchen. I asked my wife and my two pre-teen children for their favorite parts of the stay and no one could decide between the awesome kitchen and huge bathroom. The kids did not complain at all about sleeping on the pull-out bed. The apartment may be a stretch for two couples---or even for a family that likes its space---but the different seating creatively worked around the flat allowed for sufficient variety, even with the bed left out. The kitchen has both a two-person breakfast bar and a table for three although we ate almost every meal on the patio---even in the rain, the umbrella and awning kept us dry and still felt quite open.
We entertained a friend for dinner and found the kitchen to be completely equipped for baking and cooking---a quality gas range and a dishwasher that got a workout several times. In addition to dinner, J'Aime reminded us each evening to set out the complimentary frozen croissants for thawing and rising; my kids we grateful each following morning.
The neighborhood is amazing. We walked it several times. The houses are all historic and well cared for. Truly, meals on the patio and strolls around the neighborhood are nearly a vacation unto itself. I had business at Reed, which is an easy walk. A natural grocery and a supermarket are also an easy 15 minutes away on foot through the same beautiful neighborhood. We drove ourselves in and parking was trivially easy. Getting out to the highway is also simple.
Truly, no complaints. A wonderful stay that I would do again.