Home in Oakland

This is a HUGE, sunny room –almost as big as a suite – with tall gabled ceilings, lots of light, and beautiful surrounding greenery in a charming, historic William Morris arts and crafts style home that was designed by noted Bay Area architect John Hudson Thomas in 1927 for deans at nearby Mills College. This is a spacious sanctuary in a semi-urban setting with lots of trees. It comes with a fridge, microwave, electric kettle, and lots of in room amenities so you can self cater. So much charm. The space This is a room fit for a prince or a princess! The ultra spacious room is designed with soaring ceilings and generous windows from light on three sides. This room is for one person only. You enter from the second floor hallway, passing through a Hobbit style peaked door to go into the room. The room itself is L shaped and measures 12 x 12 in the main part with an additional area that measures 8 x 8. Each window looks out at trees and greenery. The shared bath - with shower - is next to the room. The room is spectacular - charming, bright and airy, and quite lovely. This house (and room) are a doll's house version of the famed architect's own house which is in Kensington (California). Your bed is furnished with high quality linens, cotton quilts and comforters and a down comforter (real down). The room also comes equipped with food and drink amenities including a compact refrigerator (with tiny freezer), electric kettle, toaster, and microwave so you can make toast or coffee/tea or heat up takeout, soups or microwave meals. Also included is proper storage for your food (plastic box or frig). There are also MANY takeout and delivery options, delivered via Uber and Door Dash, and there is a Thai restaurant four blocks away. It is easy to get groceries delivered from Safeway and other supermarkets via Instacart. Or you can order from Whole Foods and Amazon will deliver the items. Another option is the all organic Good Eggs app which delivers. The shared bathroom is a few steps away from the room - and features charming gabled ceilings, shower curtain and white vintage tile. Free shampoo - DocBronner's - is provided. You. may keep your toiletries in the shared basked for personal items in the bathroom (not in the shower). The room is a welcoming place to stay. Guest access Access is limited to the front hall, stairs, and bathroom. Kitchen and dining room access are private areas that guests may not enter. Guests may not enter or view our other private areas. IN ROOM AMENITIES While we do not share our main kitchen, we do provide a lot of in room amenities - including microwave, toaster, electric kettle, dishes and silverware plus coffee and tea, creamers, and honey. You'll also find bedside chocolates to provide a homey touch! OUTDOORS Guests are invited to share the outdoor table area, as long as they enjoy and partner in the peace and quiet treasured by those of us who live here and our neighbors. The greenery on the grounds creates a relaxing and woodsy environment. BATHROOM Due to Airbnb's Covid cleaning requirements, we need to ask guests to help keep our bathroom super clean. That means "leave no trace." Although we clean daily, we also need guests to help, too. We will explain when you arrive how to do that. It's obvious stuff that only takes 1-2 minutes to do. CLEANING PRODUCTS We use bleach spray and all purpose cleaner. We also use soap powder. SCENTED PRODUCTS We discourage the use of scented products, but we realize that many guests travel with them, so we understand. But if you can apply perfumes, etc. off the premises, we will appreciate it. The scented products tend to be toxic. (See the book Count Down for more info or the EWG website for more details). Also, since your host is a wine writer, scented products interfere with work! During your stay Guests can text me with any questions. Other things to note FOOD AND GROCERY OPTIONS --WITHOUT A CAR - OPTIONS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE For those without cars, there is a local Thai restaurant within walking distance (3 blocks). There is also the Laurel District on the north side of Mills College. (We are on the south side of Mills College, about a 20 minute walk from the north side). On the north side of the campus, there are many options. ee Laurel District Association website. DELIVERY OPTIONS There are also PLENTY of delivery options. Instacart, etc. More local eateries beyond the Laurel Sparky's Burgers (run by a local Asian family), Shake Shack, Ethiopian food, Cambodian food - you name it, Oakland's got it. Door Dash et al serve the area. LAUNDRY We do not offer laundry services. There is a laundromat three blocks away on MacArthur. NO PETS SORRY We are unable to host pets or emotional support animals as residents of this shared house have allergies. IN ROOM AMENITIES We provide an electric kettle, a toaster, a microwave and a large compact frig in each room. Also: coffee and tea utensils including drip coffee filter holder, filters and teapot. You'll also get a plate, bowls, silverware and napkins. Food must be stored securely in the frig or in a plastic box provided. Do not leave food out in the open. It can encourage mice so be sure to be smart about food storage. A recent guest incurred our wrath for violating this policy. BATHROOM We have rules for using the bathroom which include cleaning up after you shower and a basic "Leave No Trace" requirement. CLEANING SUPPLIES We offer and use bleach sprays in the bathroom for all to use. As bleach is toxic, we try to use it only on tub and tiled walls. AIR FLOW For air flow, we try to keep the bathroom door and windows open (as much as weather permits) to keep air flow at maximum levels. Ventilation is important. ENTRY WAY We have limited solar path lighting, so you need to use your cell phone after dark to light your way from the street to the house. The path is on a downward slope and has stairs at certain sections.