Notes from the host
Folk Farmhouse on 7 Private Acres Near Chapel Hill
Find peaceful privacy and casual charm at The Hotsy-Totsy, a Civil War-era farmhouse on seven private acres near the Haw River.
You'll feel worlds away at this historical woodland farmstead, while being just 10-15 mins from the towns of Carrboro/Chapel Hill, Saxapahaw, and Pittsboro.
Here, Early American style merges with today's modern comforts, making this restored homespun hideaway the ideal place for you and yours to relax and reset.
“Hotsy-Totsy” is just an old-timey way to say “everything is right in the world.” That’s exactly how you’ll feel out here.
Listing Highlights:
* Historical Civil War-era farmhouse restored in 2022 and decorated with charming antiques and vintage ephemera
* Seven private, wooded acres to hike and explore
* Unique outdoor bathtubs featuring hot and cold side-by-side clawfoot tubs
* Charming, light-filled kitchen equipped with modern appliances and gourmet quality cookware and tools
* Eat-in dining area with large farm table for communal meals
* 3.5 bedrooms, each decorated with delightful antiques, bits of period attire, and equipped with thoughtful comforts like high-end bedding, custom chain-stitched robes, power strips and extra phone chargers
* 1.5 sparkling, new bathrooms installed during the 2022 renovation
* Fire pit with Adirondack chairs for six, stocked with plenty of wood
* Up to 2 dogs welcome, with no additional pet fee
* Plenty of parking for your whole crew
* Easy access to downtown Pittsboro, Saxapahaw, the Haw River, Lake Jordan, Carrboro/Chapel Hill, Graham/Burlington/Mebane, Durham, and Raleigh
This is an ideal setting for girls weekends, romantic getaways, small family gatherings, or just a sweet place to hang your hat if you're visiting the area.
Experience the serenity of rural Pittsboro and the bucolic flavor of our many nearby small towns.
Pull into your private driveway and park right outside the front door for easy access. Simpler times beckon you from the gracious front porch. Easily enter the home with the key-free system and start exploring the seven acres that you'll call home for the duration of your stay.
Let’s take a look around:
★★ Foyer ★★
Upon entering the home off the front porch, you will be greeted by a cozy and inviting foyer area. Take a moment to rest and relax after your journey or kick off your shoes while exploring the rest of the house.
★★ Living Room ★★
The comfy living room is perfect for gathering with your group of up to seven. Post up and make plans for the day, or practice Chopsticks on the antique piano. Set up the mobile projector and stream a movie off your own device, or get cozy on the sofa with a book or game from the library.
★★ The Spacious Kitchen / Dining Area ★★
Enjoy the shared experience of cooking and dining with friends in the sunny kitchen. It comes fully equipped with all the appliances, cookware, and basic pantry items you'll need, right down to the Vitamix blender and Opal pebble ice maker. With a double cast iron farm sink, plenty of counter space, a butcher block island and long, antique farm table, you have options for where you prep and dine.
★★ 3.5 Bedrooms ★★
Across the 3.5 bedrooms, you will find 2 queen-sized beds and 3 twin-sized beds, each fitted with high-quality bedding and mattresses, and topped with antique quilts, just right for a peaceful and comfortable sleep throughout your stay.
There is a unique, "secret," semi-private loft library above the kitchen that is a fun place for flexible sleeping for an extra solo guest. We often argue over who is going to get this bed. It's our favorite. Just know that while we call it a bedroom in our listing, it's actually open to the kitchen below, hence the ".5" designation.
We also offer a spotless pack-and-play (with sheets and a child-size quilt) for any of our tiny visitors.
★★ 1.5 Sparkling Bathrooms ★★
Brand new bathrooms (one full, one half) have just been installed in the home, which never saw a modern bathroom prior to the restoration in 2022. Your hosts provide a starter kit of toiletries, which includes shampoo, conditioner, soap, shower gel, q-tips, a hair dryer, plus some emergency toiletries, should you forget something critical. Fluffy white towels and makeup removal face cloths are plentiful as well.
★★ Outside Space ★★
The outdoor space offers a variety of options for dining, playing, or relaxing while enjoying the bucolic countryside . At the front of the house, you can sit on the porch swing and rocking chairs and chat over morning coffee or evening cocktails. In the fully-fenced backyard, take a nap in the shady hammock, play a round of horseshoes, or just gaze out at the pollinator garden we're growing. Gather around the custom-made picnic table for 12, or wrap up in a Mexican blanket and camp out by the fire pit for s'mores or a singalong. A supply of wood for the fire will be provided for you, and there's also a gas grill available for barbecuing.
Perhaps the quirkiest and most memorable thing you could do out here is take an outdoor bath in our side-by-side clawfoot tubs, plumbed with hot and cold water and set on a covered platform. Our guests rave about this experience, and have told us time and again that having a soak out here more than makes up for the fact that there's just one full bathroom inside the house.
★★ Honky Tonk Bar/Laundry ★★
Remember how we said there was no bathroom prior to the restoration in 2022? Well, technically, there was. It was this detached privy and bath house in the backyard, which we have turned into a tiny, rowdy, little pub. Set 'em up and play some cards, have some laughs, spin some old country records and have a fun time in this unique little spot.
★★ Parking ★★
The driveway accommodates several vehicles, plenty of space for all your crew. Please note that street parking and parking inside the fenced yard is not permitted.
★★ Dogs Welcome! ★★
A vacation isn’t the same without your pets, is it? With that in mind, you're welcome to bring up to 2 dogs with you during your stay, provided that they are well-behaved and that you pick up after them with the provided poop bags. We provide a bed, food/water bowls, treats, a lighted collar, and a fenced in yard for them. While we do not collect an additional pet fee, you will be held responsible for any damage caused by your pets to the home or garden. Due to allergies, we cannot allow cats.
★★ What's Nearby?★★
While we think it's fun to just hang out here all weekend, there's a whole lot to do in the area. You'll find water sports aplenty along the Haw River and nearby Lake Jordan. If you're a cyclist, we're just off the Bynum Loop trail. Hikers can explore our seven acres, or the Haw River trail system in nearby Saxapahaw.
Take a 10-15 minute drive to nearby towns, including:
★★ Saxapahaw★★
Local shopping, sightseeing, and live music-seeing in the tiny, riverside town of Saxapahaw. Don't miss the restored mill that houses the Haw River Ballroom, one of the best places in the area to hear live music. Every Saturday, all summer long, the town hosts a weekly "Saturdays in Saxapahaw" event, a popular event for buying local crafts, having a beer, listening to live music, and people-watching.
★★ Pittsboro★★
Spend an afternoon perusing the shops and restaurants that dot Pittsboro's charming main drag, or plan an outing to The Plant, a former flower farm turned agricultural wonderland. Pick up some local farm-to-fork spirits, foods, goods, and wander around the gardens.
★★ Carrboro/Chapel Hill★★
You may choose to stay here specifically for business or fun in our nearest "big city." Fear not, despite feeling worlds away, we're just a 13 minute drive from downtown Carrboro, and a just few minutes more to Chapel Hill.
★★ Treasure Hunters Unite!★★
All of the Hotsy-Totsy's eclectic furnishings (save for a few things like mattresses and bed linens/pillows) were sourced from the fabulous secondhand/vintage/antique shops around the area. If treasure-hunting is your thing, Jane can provide her list of favorite local shops with like-minded hunters.
★☆ Book your stay at The Hotsy-Totsy to experience a relaxing, unique, and unforgettable trip with your traveling companions ☆★