Notes from the host
Retro Retreat Near Heart of Downtown
Step back in time at the Retro Retreat—a stylish 2BR home blending vintage design with modern comfort. Enjoy a sunlit 4-season porch, fire pit, Smart TV, fast Wi-Fi, and a full kitchen with a retro fridge. Just minutes from downtown Raleigh, it’s perfect for couples, small groups, and long-weekend getaways. Relax in the fenced yard, play records, or sip coffee on the deck. Now booking for Fall and Winter!
KEY FEATURES:
☀ 2 cozy bedrooms; 1 king, 2 queens + 1 air mattress bed in living room
☀ 1 full bathroom; original cast iron bathtub + new shower tower system
☀ Full kitchen; butcher block countertops
☀ Retro yet modern lounge; Victrola record player + large flat-screen Smart TV
☀ Full glass 4-season porch; beautiful natural light
☀ Large fenced backyard; oversized bean bag chairs + fire pit
☀ High-speed fiber internet
☀ Central location; easy access to downtown Raleigh
☀ Retro but not antique; We believe home restoration should be usable, not a museum project, so we have included some 21st-century upgrades where it counts while maintaining the original character of this 70+ year-old house.
Here Are A Few Kind Words From Our Past Guests:
“Super spot for easy access to everything. Very clean and super responsive host. Would definitely recommend.” - Patty
“Wonderful, beautiful, and super clean home. This house is so cute and served us well!” - Emily
“This is a wonderful spot with easy access to so much of the area and yet was a lovely oasis just to spend time in itself.” - Kate
“Lauren’s Retro Retreat is the cutest little place to stay! It was perfectly clean, super comfy beds and very cozy. It feels like a step back in time, with so many nice retro touches to the home. It was close to downtown but in a cute and quiet neighborhood. We would definitely recommend staying here!” - Shauna
☆☆ BEDROOMS ☆☆
The two cozy bedrooms have comfy beds outfitted with fresh linens and 12-inch Memory Foam hybrid plush quilted foam cover mattresses. The rooms also have closets with pocket doors, large windows that provide tons of natural light, and heavy curtains to block out the brightness when you want to sleep in. All linens (including top quilts and duvet covers) are washed thoroughly after each visit. Pillows and mattresses are encased with waterproof and bed bug-proof protectors.
The first bedroom features a king-sized bed, and the second bedroom has two queens. If you have extra guests, the air mattress can be placed in the living room are comfortable sleeping options (sleeps two total) as well as the futon in the four seasons room.
☆☆ BATHROOM ☆☆
The full bathroom features the original, restored cast iron tub with a shower that has been upgraded to a full shower tower system featuring a rainfall and waterfall shower head along with body-level jets that give you a spa-like experience.
Take your time - the hot water will not run out because of our tankless, on-demand hot water system. The large, frosted window in the shower gives you both natural light and privacy. Open the mini vent in the spring and summer and hear the birds chirping happily to get an almost outdoor shower experience while maintaining your privacy.
☆☆ KITCHEN & LOUNGE ☆☆
We designed this open concept area so nobody is `stuck in the kitchen` while others gather around the flat-screen Smart TV or play a game at the kitchen table. Never miss out on the conversation in the living room, whether you are grabbing another cold one from the retro fridge, or cooking up a four-course meal on the large, central peninsula and oven. Put an album on the vinyl player, or hook up your own music via Bluetooth as you enjoy each other`s company.
☆☆ FOUR SEASON PORCH ☆☆
With a passthrough window from the kitchen and a large array of windows facing the backyard, you can relax out here and sip your morning coffee or devour that book you have been yearning to finally read/finish.
☆☆ OUTSIDE SPACE ☆☆
The large backyard area is the perfect place to retreat from city life. In the daytime, you might even hear a rooster crow! In the evenings, be sure to enjoy the fire pit lined with large stones or lounge on the giant bean bag chairs on the deck. We even rolled out the red carpet to prevent splinters!
★☆ Book Today & Let Us Take Care Of You In Raleigh! ☆★
You will have private access to the entire property, except the outdoor storage shed. Keyless entry and contactless check-in are available with the Smart Lock on the front door.
Landscapers and mosquito sprayers may access the exterior of the home to do their job, but will not need to enter the home.
Free parking in the private driveway is available for up to five vehicles.
We like to give our guests space, but we are easily accessible through the app and try to respond quickly.
The Restored Retro Retreat is only about 5 minutes from the very center of downtown.
This area is rapidly changing from older homes (and older residents) to new homes and younger families. You will see lots of homes under construction, with some really creative architecture.
Since it is so close to downtown Raleigh, you can get quick and easy access to some of the best places to visit in town. It is also very close to the Raleigh beltline and I-40, so it is actually pretty quick to get to most everywhere in the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary)
Getting around by car is extremely easy. Some of our guests take an Uber/Lyft from the airport. There are also one-man E-scooters that may be available to rent (Search for `Lime` `Spin` or `Bolt` electric scooters online for more info) if you want to try something different.
5 Min Drive to Downtown Raleigh
8 Min Drive to Glenwood South (Restaurants, Bars)
8 Min Drive to Red Hat Amphitheater
13 Min Drive to Coastal Credit Union Music Park (Walnut Creek)
7 Min Drive to North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Travel times to places nearby:
- Downtown Raleigh - 5 min drive
- City Center/ NC Capitol - 7 min drive
- Red Hat Amphitheater - 8 min drive
- North Hills Shopping Center- 10 min drive
- Red Hat Tower - 8 min
- Raleigh Convention Center - 8 min drive
- Historic Oakwood - 5 min drive
- Oakwood Pizza Box - 5 min drive
- The Optimist Coffee Shop - 4 min drive (23 min walk)
- Brookside Bodega. - 3 min drive (21 min walk)
- Videri Chocolate Factory - 10 min drive
- Sitti - 8 min drive
- Poole`s - 10 min drive
- Raleigh Beer Garden - 9 min drive
- NC State University - 11 min drive
- Dorothea Dix Park - 10 min drive
- PNC Arena (Hurricanes Hockey, NCSU Basketball) - 17 min drive
- Carter Finley Stadium (NCSU Football) - 18 min drive
- Meredith College - 12 min drive
- Coastal Credit Union Music Park (also called Walnut Creek Amphitheater) - 13 min drive
- Marbles Kids Museum - 7 min drive
- J.C. Ralston Arboretum - 16 min drive
- NC Museum of Art (with walking trail) - 13 min drive
- RDU International Airport - 28 min drive (2-5 min more during rush hour, typically)
- RTP - 29 min drive (more during rush hour)
This “American small house” architecture (also called “Minimal Traditional”) was designed for GIs returning from WW2 in the late 1940s. It was the original `Tiny home,` typically around 750 sqft. It is also typically among the first to be demolished as areas undergo rehabilitation in favor of much larger custom homes to make maximum use of the comparatively large lots.
This style of architecture makes maximum use of every single square foot and uses lots of natural light so that you rarely need to even turn on the lights during the day. It was a precursor to the larger “Ranch” style homes. These homes, especially those that have not undergone extensive modifications, are becoming a bit of a `dying breed` in rapidly growing cities like Raleigh. We hope you enjoy our attempt to preserve this little fragment of American history!
- No parties allowed. - No smoking or vaping in the house or anywhere on the property. - No unauthorized guests, even if they do not spend the night. -No parking in the yard. - Please remove your shoes at the door - This home can sleep 6 comfortably, but if you want to include additional guests please ask, and we will strive to accommodate! - You are allowing laundry service to go in the front yard of the property to put linens in the gray bin next to the driveway. - Unauthorized late checkout fee is $50/hr - Unauthorized late checkout over 2 hours late will be assessed that days base rate without discounts, and that will not award you possession of the property for that day. - Unauthorized additional guest fee is $50 per unauthorized guest even if they don`t spend the night. - Fee for (unauthorized) events/parties is $300 plus damages - Fee for (unauthorized) pets $350 plus extra cleaning and damages.
- While we make every effort to prevent bugs (including monthly pest control), this home is located in the southeast of the US and is surrounded by trees, so it is not possible to guarantee that you will not see any bugs. This is particularly true if doors are left open at night. Therefore we cannot offer refunds because of bugs.
Pet Rules: - 1 pet (Dog only) allowed with pet fee. Cats and other animals are not permitted. - Please use the pet blankets if your pet sits on the furniture. - Dogs must be housebroken, clean, and nails clipped. - Guests assume full responsibility for any and all damage to the property (interior and exterior). - Pets must remain in crate or outside while guest is not in the house. - Guests must pick up after their pet uses the bathroom (outside). - We are in no way liable for anything that happens to your pet for any reason.
- The person who books the property is required to pass guest verification (Per City of Raleigh regulations) within 12 hours of booking and prior to check in or booking may be canceled without refund.
