Summer basically ended yesterday, and yet the drugstores are already full of Halloween decor and questionable costumes. We would be saddened by this unreasonably quick passing of time, but the appearance of spooky stuff in stores also signifies for us that it’s time to book our next vacations (which makes us happy!). So, we decided to spend our lunch break (ahem) perusing home-share site Onefinestay for housing options, both local and abroad. Here are some of our favorite finds at every price point that will hopefully provide travel inspiration, whether you’re planning a romantic escape, a girl-squad getaway or a solo adventure.
Location: Shoreditch, London
About: "With such large windows and all its woody features, this characterful apartment transports you to the deck of a boat idling down the canal. As you are becalmed by the waterside position, be taken on a journey by all the crafts and knick-knacks your hosts have collected from around the world. Pick up a book from the mezzanine bookshelf, or sink into a bath. An adventure from top deck to bottom, this is a treat of a house in Shoreditch, the playground for artistic minds with a sideways take on the world sailing by."
Rue de Charonne III
Location: Bastille, Paris
About: "Rue de Charonne III is full of intriguing things. The front door opens just to the right of the sitting room–an atmospheric space with parquet floors, beamed ceilings and an ornamental fireplace. As well as a sitting area (with two red-velvet sofas), this room has an antique dining table and a desk. And they’re all surrounded by rows of books (some elaborately bound) and artworks. Just beside the collection of pressed flowers, a doorway takes you through to this home’s kitchen. It’s compact but characterful, with a few more contemporary pieces."
Via de San Martino Ai Monti
Location: Monti-San Lorenzo, Rome
About: "Across the road from the medieval Capocci Tower, Via di San Martino Ai Monti, too, has aged gracefully. Straight ahead from the entrance hall is the blue-accented kitchen, and on the right you’ll find the sitting room. Two contemporary sofas face each other across a period-tiled floor, and beyond tall French windows is a Juliet balcony with a wrought-iron balustrade. You’ll find the dining room next door–it has a table for six and an eye-catching feature wall."
Ossington Street
Location: Notting Hill, London
About: "Ossington Street brims with Scandinavian style. The crowning glory of this home is undoubtedly the brand-new kitchen, with its glossy white units and four Eames chairs standing upon a pristine slate floor. Open the doors out into the neat garden or head through to the jazzy sitting room, with its cherry red chairs, low slung sofa and zig-zag rug."
Creston Drive
Location: Hollywood, California
About: "Creston Drive looks like a classic. The sitting room, a space decorated with bursts of citrus colours, is to the left of the entrance. Here you’ll find a collection of stylish mid-century furniture surrounded by artful photography. Straight ahead, there’s the dining table, which seats six in retro mustard chairs. The kitchen is off to the right, with a breakfast bar that seats three. The back door leads to the garden, where there’s a barbecue and an outdoor seating area."
Rue des Halles
Location: Les Marais, Paris
About: "In between the Louvre and the Centre Pompidou, Rue des Halles is central and scenic. Three floors up, the entrance leads to a bathroom with clean lines and a grey palette, and next door on the left you’ll find the master bedroom. A brown feature wall complements a wooden parquet floor, and there’s a Japanese wall-hanging and a pair of Anglepoise lamps above the low-framed queen-size bed."
Bogart Street
Location: West Village, New York
About: "On the second floor in a historic West Village townhouse, Bogart Street is a one-bedroom apartment with a casual air. You enter into the sitting room–it’s a big room with tall ceilings and two sash windows. The walls are decorated with geometric prints and there’s an original, black marble fireplace–it’s ornamental. A round wooden table provides a laid-back dining space, and there’s a sofabed for extra sleeping space. Through the doorway is the master bedroom, with a near-identical marble fireplace and Japanese-inspired furnishings."
Location: Marylebone, London
About: "A short walk from Oxford Street, there’s entertainment on both sides of York Street’s front door. To the left, the dining room has pendant lights and a shabby-chic table for eight, and the kitchen, next door, is eye-catchingly understated. Head straight on for the decked garden, or downstairs and right for the third bedroom–which has an ensuite and a queen-size bed. Also on the right, there are comfy chairs in the cinema room, and colourful yoga mats in the spa, next door."
Buff and Hensman House
Location: Hollywood Hills, CA
About: "If legendary architects Buff and Hensman planted the seed of this home, your host supplied the tender loving care. Despite its well-executed beginning, years of careless renovation had resulted in a tangle of inconvenient beams and misplaced skylights, and it was the current host who spent two years restoring it to its former architectural glory—and then some. We predict, upon passing through its tall gates, you might let out a long, sharp gasp. But from this surprisingly peaceful and secluded location, can you be sure it made a sound?"
Avenue Emile Deschanel
Location: Eiffel Tower, Paris
About: "Ever wondered what it would be like to reign over the world’s most noble kingdoms from the comfort of a regal palace? Mere moments from the Eiffel Tower, Avenue Emile Deschanel is a crown jewel in the École Militaire neighbourhood. Inside this modern-day castle, feast your eyes on the modernist artworks, be dazzled by the glitter of glass surfaces and metallic accessories, and recline on one of the majestic sofas. And if you don’t wish indolence to govern your stay, the fully equipped training room is also completely at your disposal."
Rue de Varenne III
Location: Saint-Germain-des-Pres
About: "From the elaborate antiques to the gilded walls and ceilings, everything inside Rue de Varenne III makes a statement. The front door opens opposite the dining room, which has a long, polished table. It adjoins a sitting room–lavishly decorated, with graceful sofas and side tables and several oil paintings. Then a second sitting room lies to the right of the hallway. Although smaller, it’s just as grand, with striking turquoise-and-gold bookshelves lined with old volumes. A doorway here takes you to a passage that leads to a toilet room, a bathroom and the slightly subtler (but still splendid) master bedroom. Beneath that there’s the kitchen, where a classic table sits opposite a sleek breakfast bar, and a red-and-gold sitting room that adjoins a steam room. And on the first floor, you’ll find a toilet room and the other two bedrooms–both elegantly decorated, and one with an ensuite."
