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Private Annex/Former Artist Studio

Photo gallery for Private Annex/Former Artist Studio

Exterior detail
Room
Property grounds
Interior
Room

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation
    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Lake Waramaug
2 bedroomsSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill
  • Balcony

Explore the area

View in a map
Washington, CT
  • Place, Lake Waramaug
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Mount Bushnell State Park
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Candlewood Lake
    ‪15 min drive‬
  • Airport, Danbury, CT (DXR-Danbury Municipal)
    ‪36 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Large Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Smaller Bedroom

1 Double Bed

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony

About this property

Private Annex/Former Artist Studio

Come and dream of your life as an artist! This beautiful retreat was once an artist's studio and Marc Chagall's respite from NY.
Newly renovated; bright, clean and well decorated. This suite is quiet and separate from the owners converted barn home.
Great hiking and biking and shopping nearby.
The leaves are turning - this is a fabulous base for your leaf peeping adventures or for parent weekends at the local boarding schools.
Access to Lake Waramaug with the owners beach pass. Bring your bikes, your kayak and your hiking shoes.
Wine bar and excellent restaurants nearby.

Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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Property grounds
Lake Waramaug Cottage
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  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
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10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (29 reviews)
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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Accompanied by parents at all times.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
Must be friendly dogs. We have dogs.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
NO smoking of any substance in the rooms.
No parties or events. Guests staying more than one week will pay a $125. cleaning fee for each additional cleaning - once weekly recommended.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 1771198vb
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

New Preston

Located in New Preston, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a lake. Institute for American Indian Studies Museum and Research Center and White Memorial Conservation Center are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Hopkins Vineyard and Sunset Meadow Vineyards. Hollister House Garden and Flanders Nature Center are also worth visiting.
View more Holiday homes in New PrestonOpens in a new window
Map
Washington, CT

What's nearby

  • Lake Waramaug - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Mount Bushnell State Park - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Candlewood Lake - 15 min drive - 19.3 km
  • Lime Rock Park - 41 min drive - 45.1 km
  • Lake Compounce - 50 min drive - 60.9 km

Getting around

  • Appalachian Trail - 37 min drive
  • Oxford, CT (OXC-Waterbury - Oxford) - 35 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪G.W. Tavern - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Dunkin' - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Marty's Cafe - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Tea Room - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪The 202 Tavern - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Private Annex/Former Artist Studio pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at Private Annex/Former Artist Studio?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Private Annex/Former Artist Studio?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Private Annex/Former Artist Studio?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Private Annex/Former Artist Studio located?

Situated on a lake, this holiday home is within a 5-minute walk of Mount Bushnell State Park and Lake Waramaug. Hopkins Vineyard is 2.2 mi (3.5 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 52 out of 56 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 56 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 56 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 56 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 56 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mary G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely hosts. Quickly responded to all inquiries. Property was as listed. Small but had all the conveniences of home, except an oven. The area was quiet, peaceful and relaxing. Great for a low-key weekend getaway with visits to nearby winery, state park, farmers market, and wonderful restaurants. Also,va good place for hikers to enjoy the area.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

david l.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had another wonderful stay at the Artist's annex!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Deborah K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great vacation

Great property great location wonderful day
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Pam S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a wonderful stay in the Annex. Melanie was excellent to deal with and everything was perfect. Clean, close to everything, comfortable, and had everything we needed. We will definitely be back.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

david l.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved our stay!

We had a wonderful 3 night stay in the Artist Annex! Everyrhing was jus
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alla R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely home

Lovely home and lovely hosts. Location is ideal to all this beautiful area has to offer.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Aug 2022
Thank you Alla, We enjoyed hosting you all; and we are thrilled that you took advantage of all the area has to offer! Best, Melanie
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Stephen K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Unfortunately our dog passed away. She would have loved the place, Would have been even better if we stay during warmer weather..
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming 2 bedroom

Everything was inviting, lovely, charming.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Raul

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Excellent choice for our leaf peeping girls trip. Tge property was just perfect for our needs. Melanie and Gary were very helpful and hospitable. We would love to come back!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Liz G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful

It has stairs to climb up to apartment. Everything was lovely.And the owners go out of their way to make you feel welcome.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Deborah C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Flirtation Stay

Lovely property. GREAT chocolate chip cookies. Easy from our main visiting location at the Frederick Gunn School.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Douglas E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quaint studio

We enjoyed our stay with Melanie and Gary. The space is nicely decorated and comfortable. The hosts were very responsive. The wine and biscotti welcome gifts were delightful.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heath W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing, cute cottage

Melanie, the owner, is wonderful. The cottage is private, clean, airy, with lots of natural light. The beds are very comfortable and the house comes with a kitchenette and outdoor gas grill. We will definitely return!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Shirley

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The owner greeted us the first night. Very pleasant and super friendly. The space is beautiful and the fact that it was once an artist's studio for me made it even more special. The nearby lake is gorgeous. We brought our dog and she was very relaxed and comfortable for the stay. I thoroughly enjoyed the property and our mini vacation!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dana G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cottage in the trees

Melanie's guest unit was perfect for my stay with my two children. Close to the lake, beautiful/quiet neighborhood. Everything we hoped for. We'll be back!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Aug 2024
We enjoyed hosting you and look forward to your return!
Verified

8/10 Good

jodi c.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

MDW Break in the woods

Melanie and Gary are lovely hosts! Their place is a special little gem in the woods near New Preston. And they have some friendly pups and delicious chocolate chip cookies! :)
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robin P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
I booked this room for my daughter and her family, and I live down the street. The rental is beautiful, clean, roomy and full of sunlight. There is a small kitchen and a grill on the porch - you can eat in the landscaped back yard. My son-in-law is a man of few words and raved about it. Melanie was very pleasant and accommodating.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Felicia P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming escape, wonderful hosts

Melanie and Gary were great from moment we reserved the annex for a last minute long weekend. The annex is a suite of 2BRs, kitchen and bath w/a lovely patio where u can grill. When I noticed that there wasn't a hairdryer as advertised, Melanie immediately ordered one to be delivered. Everything we needed was available. Location great for exploring Litchfield county.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Jun 2025
Felicia - You were terrific guests and we hope to have you visit again!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Samantha F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Restorative Retreat in the Berkshires!

We enjoyed our restorative stay at Chagall’s Retreat in New Preston. Melanie and Gary were amazing hosts: we were welcomed with delicious cookies and a bottle of wine! The studio was well appointed and we had a great time walking the boardwalk at White Memorial (excellent suggestion of Melanie’s): our French bulldog had a great time too! Thank uou
Stayed 10 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kyle K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Thank you Melanie!

Thank you so much Melanie.......the place was beautiful and perfect for us. We visited so many cool shops and restaurants, the lake, the Washington Green, etc. We even enjoyed the rain because we don't get to experience it much in Vegas. :) Again, thank you for making our stay memorable.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Jul 2024
Come back anytime! We enjoyed having you!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

George C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A perfect 5-star VRBO retreat

Loved our stay at Chagall's retreat. We were in town over Memorial Day weekend for a friend's birthday and luckily found Melanie's guesthouse nearby. Convenient location, walking distance to the lake, beautiful surroundings, extremely comfortable and very clean and quiet. Loved the adjacent patio surrounded by nature. Easy access and parking. The home-made cookies were an unexpected bonus. Melanie was welcoming and friendly, and had great recommendations for restaurants etc. 100% would stay again next time in the area!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Jane G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

a beautiful respite

We loved the cottage and the owners were very responsive to any of our questions. Only concern was that the skylights let in light and I'm sensitive to light so woke up earlier than I wanted to in the morning. On the other hand it was great to be up when the rest of the world was quiet. We got to see a bear!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Jun 2022
Jane - I'm so glad you enjoyed the place! One thing to note: the second bedroom has no skylights and is much darker... it is a smaller room but quite cozy! Best, Melanie
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Wilda R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

New Preston Charm + Warm Welcome =Christmas Unforgettable Stay

This charming 2-bedroom New Preston apartment was the perfect escape! Cozy rooms welcomed us with peace and comfort, melting away city stress. Host Melanie's warm smile and delicious homemade cookies added a personal touch that made our stay truly heartwarming. Reconnecting with nature was easy - breathtaking scenery, quiet streets, and a nearby lake offered peaceful beauty. This wasn't just a place to stay, it was an experience we'll treasure. Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ P.S. too bad I forgot Ask Melanie for the cookie recipe, were delicious!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lauren T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect place to relax and recharge!

The Artist Annex was just what I was looking for: a perfect little getaway to recharge my batteries for a few days. Melanie and Gary (as well as their adorable dogs) were gracious and accommodating hosts, and the space was bright and airy with a perfect deck for coffee in the a.m. and wine in the evening (chipmunk visitors aplenty)! The complimentary bottle of wine and delish chocolate chip cookies were a perfect touch! Great places nearby for hiking, and plenty of sights to explore. Definitely check out The Smithy Cafe at 9 Main, The Owl Wine Bar and White Horse Pub. All of the locals I met along the way were so friendly and New Preston itself was quaint and picturesque. Would come back in a heartbeat!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mark L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quaint and cozy, lovely property to relax and unwind

My GF and I stayed at the property for a week to get away from the hustle and bustle. The location was very nice and quiet and the artist studio was beautifully adorned to create an inspiring mood. I was able to write as well as prepare for some presentations and attend meetings while I tell worked. The kitchen was a little small but we ate our meals mostly outside, which had a very nice and large picnic table to dine. The smaller adjacent bedroom was nice to have for guests, but we found that it would have benefit d to have a comfortable sofa and sitting area to spread out and relax. Overall it was a great place and we would recommend it to anyone who wants to relax as we did.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Jun 2021
Mark, We continue to debate making the small bedroom into a living room...but people with children like this arrangement! Glad you enjoyed your stay. Come back anytime.

About the host

Hosted by Melanie Baublis

Host profile image
We just moved up here...One owner is here a lot and the other lives closer to the city during the week. We moved up this summer! The yard still needs a lot of landscaping but we have years to work on it!

Why they chose this property

We fell in love with this barn home instantly... actually I was on a work trip and my husband called and told me to bid on the house immediately... I reminded him I was out of the country... he prevailed and we came to terms before I even got back to the states.
The area is beautiful! We love it. The house has such history and is so beautiful. We are happy to share it.

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