A trip to Los Angeles was looming and with friends staying in a small nook of Santa Monica, I scoured Airbnb for something fairly nearby and within budget.
The Artist Studio Loft immediately appealed with its quirky decor and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
Located around a 20-minute drive from LAX Airport, a short stroll to Venice Beach and on the doorstep of a pretty cool neighbourhood, the apartment proved to be perfectly located.
After working our way through the outside door we found ourselves in an Alice and Wonderland-style garden, with pieces of art scattered around, peeping out from the bushes and hanging from the walls.
At first I managed to start unpacking in the wrong apartment – I thought it looked nothing like the Airbnb photos – but eventually I made it to the Artist Loft, which is located on the ground floor off the back garden.
Thanks to its owner, Dary, who works as an artist, this little self-contained apartment is brimming with character.
From a Roy Lichtenstein-inspired coffee table popping with primary colours to a chequerboard patterned ceiling fan, it took a few minutes for me to take everything in.
The double bed in the studio is lofted, meaning bedtime is a little bit of an adventure as you have to climb a wooden staircase before resting your weary head.
Under the bed there is a comfy couch to chill out on or dump your bags on and there is a small breakfast table if you plan to rustle up DIY treats.
The kitchen is well stocked with cooking equipment, with a coffee maker quickly catching my eye.
In the refrigerator I found bottled water, milk for coffee and a bowl of apples, which were a welcome pick-me-up after a morning of travel.
In the bathroom there were products that were left to use and fresh shower towels.
If you do decided to check in to Dary’s Artist Studio Loft be sure to head to Superba, which is literally around the corner.
I can’t recommend the barn-like restaurant enough, with clean interiors, delicious food, reasonable prices and stellar service.
We ended up dining there for dinner and breakfast. If you are heading there at a peak hour make sure you book ahead as one morning we got there, there was a slight line but we were willing to wait in the sun for a bit.
Overall, Dary’s Artist Studio Loft makes for a great basecamp, with walking distance to shops, restaurants, bars and the beach.
Next time I’m in the area I will definitely look the place up again. However, I might pack some earplugs as the morning can be a little noisy given the historic abode features little soundproofing from the apartment upstairs.
If the studio is booked out, be sure to check out Dary’s other offerings as listed on Airbnb.
The Artist Studio Loft, which can sleep four, is priced at £137 per night with cleaning services and taxes included
