We had a splendid time at the house. We spent the entire week wishing that it was ours to keep forever. It was definitely perfect for us, but would not be for everyone. Here's the deal:
If you are the kind of person who, when they go on vacation, wants to stay in a Crate and Barrel-esque house with all new furnishings, festooned with beachy platitudes printed on manufactured distressed wood, and a kitchen with all matching plates and silverware, this house might not be for you. But if you are the kind of person who likes to stay in a deeply-loved home, that has likely been in the same family for generations, this might be the place for you. This is an old house, which pretty much embodies Joni Mitchell's "Circle Game" song. It's clear that it's seen babies, toddlers, and teens grow into dads and retirees and grandmothers. It retains eclectic, knick-knacks like the rainbow rug-weaving that a 7th grader may have made in the 80's, and the mid-century casserole dish that has surely served up many baked dinners. Floors slant, here and there and chairs display the comfy seat marks of thousands of hours of reading. Yes, some wallpaper is peeling. But, wow! What wallpaper! Each room is painstakingly papered with vintage, wonderful, whimsical prints and patterns. In one bathroom, the old wallpaper (circa 1950?), featuring some sail boats, is preserved in a frame around which the "new" wallpaper (circa 1985?) is hung! We were a group of ten. There were *just* enough beds for all of us, and the sleeping configurations were cozy and had to be rather creative. The beds are all in need of replacement. They are tired beds, dipping and sloping this way and that. Nice, new, *larger* beds would make this place one million percent perfect. But there were plenty of pillows and linens and blankets and fans and dressers and bathrooms. So. many. bathrooms! By far the best feature of the house is the huge three season porch with endless views of the endless sea. We spent pretty much all of our time, and ate all our meals, on the porch or the rocks below. In conclusion, if, when you are on vacation, you want to feel like you are in a contemporary, sleek, soulless house, don't rent this one. But, if you enjoy historic homes, filled with character and realness---a house that could easily contain a wardrobe, filled with fur coats that, perhaps on a rainy day, a 7 year old might hide in and discover that it's actually a portal to Narnia--this might be the place for you.