Secret Garden Cottage in LA: Natural Stone Heated Pool/Spa, al fresco dining

Ever daydream of unearthing a magical key to a secret garden? Welcome to your daydream. Come unlock the door to your secret garden in LA. Located in Sherman Oaks, an historic San Fernando Valley neighborhood in the Santa Monica Mountains, this oasis is tucked away from the sensory overload of urban Los Angeles, yet still convenient to the city and to Hollywood Hills. Reminiscent of an English countryside cottage, French farmhouse… or maybe even a villa in Tuscany; this private, tranquil, one-story, 5bd/3ba bright and airy Cape Cod style cottage has a botanical, bohemian vibe with mid-century modern decor. The cottage has been featured on TLC and VH1. A gardener’s paradise complete with a cozy rose garden sitting area, natural stone grotto-style pool & spa surrounded by enchanting ivy-covered stone walls. Dine al fresco, poolside under a pergola woven with pink jasmine, passion flowers, clematis and plumeria vines. This one-story home is shaded by a grove of mature fir trees. The backyard is beautifully landscaped with natural stone foot paths that weave between free-form garden beds full of roses, camellias, philodendrons, and graceful white birch trees, beside an aquamarine heated pool & jacuzzi. The large, lush, gently sloping front yard is bordered by a white picket fence. From your driveway parking spot, unlatch a gate in the white picket fence and pass through a rose arbor to enter a front, brick, courtyard garden. The huge kitchen features hardwood floors, white quartz countertops, and endearing french farmhouse-style white cupboards with retro, iron-forged black hinges and hardware. The kitchen has appliances such as a double convection oven, dishwasher and gas stove as well as coffee maker, toaster oven, microwave, spice rack, etc. Large windows and a built-in glass china cabinet add charm and character. The kitchen opens into a dining room with a large modern French-farmhouse style table with seating for eight below a chandelier. A wall of windows at the back of the dining room provides a peaceful view of the rose gardens, turquoise swimming pool, and magical ivy-covered garden walls. The living room is spacious and inviting with its lofty, exposed beam ceiling and wall of windows filling the room with sunlight. A wide, periwinkle-velvet, reversible, modular sofa and coffee table are nicely arranged around a large fireplace(only decorative bc of fire hazard laws) and smart TV. (TV is equipped with Netflix, Roku, and 400mbps internet.) Living room has a laid back vibe; with potted tropical plants, colorful splashes of decor, and garden views. There’s plenty of space for guests to gather for movies, conversation or a nightcap. There’s a den/lounge area with bohemian-style low benches with cushions the color of autumn sunlight. Plenty of throw pillows. Cozy simple space for gathering with friends. This den opens out to the pool and garden area. The bedrooms are tranquil, white rooms with soft, luxurious bedding. The master has a queen bed and ensuite master bath with a glass shower stall and granite vanity. The additional four bedrooms share a main full bathroom with a double-sink vanity and tub/shower combo. Extra floor mattresses can be added to several of the larger bedrooms. The home has a laundry room with washer and dryer. This simple, charming, sunny and spacious secret garden cottage, entwined in magical ivy, is a paradise for entertaining small groups. Lush and secluded yet close to everything. Sleeps 16. Pool heating/Jacuzzi is extra $100/night. If you want the pool heated before your arrival we can send someone on our team to do so in the morning of your arrival for $100. Pool can take anywhere from 5-10+ hours to get to desired temperature depending on outside temp. Jacuzzi in about 45 mins. Note that you cannot heat both at the same time. Please keep in mind: our pool is surrounded by beautiful nature, which can sometimes lead to leaves and twigs ending up in the water. On windy days, there may be more leaves than usual, but we do have a twice a week pool cleaning service to keep it in tip-top shape. We do keep a pool net there just in case you need to use it. OTHER THINGS TO NOTE: To abide by local legal requirements, you may be asked to complete a secure verification portal by providing a copy of your official government-issued photo ID, confirming your contact information and sharing the purpose of your stay. The information is collected for screening and verification only and is not stored or used for any other purposes. By making a reservation, you acknowledge that you may be required to provide a copy of a valid government-issued ID prior to check-in. You understand that your check-in instructions might be withheld until you have successfully completed verification steps in our guest portal. For security and to prevent unauthorized parties, please be aware there are two cameras on the property: - Ring Doorbell Camera at the front door entrance - Backyard facing pool ----------- We're thrilled to have you considering our property for your next stay! When making your reservation, we'd love to know a bit more about your group. If you wouldn't mind, please provide us with the following information when you book or message us: 1. How many guests will be staying with us and their approximate age range? Will there be any visitors stopping by during your stay? 2. The purpose of your visit – is this a relaxing vacation, a busy business trip, or something else entirely? 3. Confirmation that you've had a chance to read through our house rules. You can find these in the "House Rules" section at the bottom of the listing. ------------- House Rules: Welcome to our home! We want you to have an amazing time, so we've put together some friendly tips to ensure everyone has a great stay: 1. **No smoking or parties, please!** We have a NoiseAware and Ring doorbell to help us keep things quiet and peaceful for all. 2. **Respect our neighbors.** Please keep things quiet after 10 pm, especially any music or outdoor gatherings. No swimming for groups or kids after 10 pm either. 3. **Let us know who's coming!** Please tell us the exact number of guests staying at the house and if anyone plans to visit during your stay. 4. **No fires, please!** The fireplace is just for decoration, and we're in a fire hazard zone, so no fires anywhere on the property, including smoking. 5. **Parties and events are strictly prohibited.** 6. **Keep things tidy!** Please clean up after yourself to help keep our home neat and tidy. 7. **Pool and garden care:** We have a gardener (Tuesdays) and pool service (Tuesdays) every week. You can request for additional cleanings for a fee (covered by the guest) if needed. Please note that sometimes leaves and twigs might fall into the pool, especially between service days. If that happens, feel free to use the pool net to scoop them out. Thanks for helping keep things sparkling! 8. **Furry friends welcome!** We love pets, and they're welcome to join you for an extra fee of $250 per pet. Just let us know beforehand so we can approve it. 9. **Check-in and checkout times:** We're happy to offer early check-in or late checkout if we can, but it depends on availability. There might be an extra fee of $50 per hour. **A friendly reminder:** While we want you to have a fantastic time, we can't be responsible for any accidents or injuries that happen during your stay. So, please be careful and have fun! We're here for you 24/7 if you have any questions or need anything at all. Enjoy your stay! 😊 --------- FAQ - Why does the price change? We use a dynamic pricing software that changes the rates from time to time - Can you tell me more about this Noiseaware system? Noiseaware is a gadget that alerts us when the noise level has reached it's threshhold. This device doesn't record video nor audio, it only notifies of the noise level inside and outside the property. - Do you have serving dishes and utensils for large groups of people? We do have enough utensils that can serve the 16 guests max. - Do you offer 1-night stays? No, our minimum is 3 nights. - What does the extra mattresses looks like? We have single floor mattresses. - Can we request for a towel change? We do not provide hotel amenities. We do supply one regular towel and one pool towel for each guest during the entire stay, we also have washing and drying machines that you're welcome to use. - Can you explain the heating of the pool rates? The price is $100 per day, so you just need to multiply the number of nights you're staying for this rate to get a price. If you would like us to heat the pool in advance of your arrival, just add $100 to this rate. - Do you offer discounts on the heating pool rates? Unfortunately, we're not able to. Our rates are lower than the ones charged by most pool houses of the same size, many charge between $100-125/day, so this is the best price we can offer. - How do I operate the pool / Jacuzzi? Pool and spa video instructions will be sent right after payment for the heating. It’s very easy, just follow the video instructions exactly. - Is there a smoking room? / Is smoking allowed on the property? No smoking is allowed anywhere inside and outside the house, please don't smoke in the backyard/pool area, it's not allowed there either. - How many cars can we park in the garage or parking area? about 5-6 cars can park in the driveway. And easy free street parking. - Is there a fee associated with early check-in/late check-out? >Yes, for early check-in, it’s $50 per additional hour. If the house is ready, a 3 pm check-in with host approval is possible