Guesthouse in Northampton

IMPORTANT: Please read the full description about the eco-friendly policy and click the "CONTACT HOST" button, rather than making a reservation. I will respond very quickly to your request. Thank you for your consideration! A unique studio, loft-like, surrounded by beautiful gardens, a short walk to downtown and Smith College; perfect for visiting the five colleges, attending weddings, graduations, workshops, writing and research; close to hiking and bicycle trails. The space NOTE: When you contact me the first time, please read our eco-friendly policy below and let me know what laundry detergent you normally use. This helps to determine if you are a good fit and is not related to using the laundry facilities. We provide eco-friendly detergent for your stay! I would be happy to further discount a longer-term reservation during February – March. Please contact me for more information. I do not always accept requests for reservations for only three nights far in advance. I sometimes wait until the calendar starts to fill up to add some shorter reservations for only 3 nights. Thank you for your understanding! The studio is not wheelchair accessible. The stone path is quite uneven and there are a few stairs. Parties or events not allowed. WELCOME Welcome to a slice of European hospitality in one of the hippest towns in America! This is a place where artists and writers can find inspiration or scholars can research. Here friends and family can come for weddings, graduations and other milestones and enjoy a beautiful setting to compliment those celebrations. You won't find the studio comparable to any other space available, it's very unique and the price is modest, for what you will experience! Imagine a large yoga studio all to yourself and lots of room to dance. Dream and play, have  your own private retreat. Large windows looking out into beautiful gardens. A 1250 ft.² studio, loft-like open space and separate building behind our historic Queen Ann Victorian house from 1885. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens and winding pathways. A short walk to downtown Northampton and Smith College campus. Ideal for parents, family members and alumnae visiting the five colleges here in the Pioneer Valley. Close to hiking and bicycle trails. Also ideal if you are coming to the Valley to do a workshop or training,  for a few  weeks or months to work or study, or look for a longer term rental. A 7 min. walk takes you to town and about 40 restaurants and many galleries and performance venues. The neighborhood Is all around wonderful with stellar community participation and commitment, and has a number of writers, filmmakers, and artists. The gardens are permaculture-based with many native plants and trees from blueberries to bamboo, Yucca, dogwoods, sweet ferns, herb garden and perennials. Behind the neighborhood and beyond you can walk to an Audubon sanctuary. For many years the studio was donated for concerts, poetry readings, yoga classes and two Shakespeare companies rehearsed here. There is a queen size Tuft and Needle mattress on the main bed and on the second full-size bed is a futon which has a foam core which makes it more like a normal mattress. The sofa makes into a single bed. WE ARE ECO-FRIENDLY This is an eco-friendly fragrance free space, particularly suited for people who generally use natural products. If you do use natural products and no essential oils, you may be a perfect fit! Please let us know what laundry detergent you normally use when you inquire! This helps to determine whether we need to implement a  special protocol to accommodate you in order to maintain a chemical free space for all of our guests. OUR ECO-FRIENDLY CHALLENGE The issue is not about doing laundry during your stay and we are happy to provide you with an eco-friendly detergent. The host is sensitive/allergic to commercial laundry products and fabric softeners and is dedicated to maintaining an eco-friendly space for others with the same needs or an eco-friendly lifestyle. All bedding is line dried to keep it as fragrance-free as possible and this is quite labor intensive. Nevertheless, people who are booking in advance, often commit to changing over to an eco-friendly detergent, and by the time of the reservation, it works out fine. If you shop at Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's, co-ops, natural foods stores, you are likely to be aware of eco-friendly detergents. Thank you so much for your consideration and with that in mind, we would love to host you and offer a very unique experience! Please feel welcome to ask me any questions around this policy. Washer and dryer The washer and dryer are located in the back pantry of the main house, not in the studio. About the TV There is a Smart TV in which you are Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu are available. We do not offer cable TV. If you have any further questions or requests about it, please let us know. Thanks! We look forward to hearing from you! Blog post from my daughter: GROWING UP IN AN URBAN OASIS It’s a rare and wondrous thing to grow up in a house where you are a quick walk from the center of town and at the same time watch bears and rabbits pass through your yard. The blueberry bushes, water garden, lush flower beds, and fruit trees make the gardens that surround the main house and studio an informal sanctuary for animal visitors. As a child I loved climbing the apple tree like the squirrels and watching the frogs gather on the lily pads. The old apple tree fell over a decade ago, but with half of its trunk still firmly rooted it continued to produce blossoms and fruit, and attracted more animals with its bounty more accessible low to the ground. There is something especially magical about seeing a skunk sneak through the underbrush or a wild turkey dart across the grass in a place that is far from remote or wild. I grew up in a house with spanish cookbooks and Barcelona style decor and design in a town teeming with restaurants and writers, music and multicultural events. The house itself is a classic Queen Anne Victorian with stained glass windows, turreted roof, and quartered oak floors. It has always been a home for the meeting of cultures—New England architecture and European food, furniture and art books. In the studio space I watched a Shakespeare company rehearse, listened to a local reggae group perform one night, and a poetry reading another. Home was both cosmopolitan, and a place where I could pick blueberries and write quietly by the edge of the water garden. Having traveled and lived in other places now, I realize even more what a unique and beautiful thing it is to be located in the heart of a town so full of exciting events and artists, in a house that feels international and at the same time is itself a kind of calm oasis. The tall trees separate the house and garden from the road, and make the yard and water garden feel like a world of its own. Guest access You will have access to the studio, gardens and driveway for parking. Other things to note Moderate cancellation policy – please note that I am able to alter the dates of the reservation depending on availability, but only you can cancel your reservation up until five days prior to the reservation. During the reservation I cannot alter the dates, except according to availability if you would like to stay longer, but not shorter. Please be responsible for your own change of plans. Thank you!