Entire home

Warm Luxury in walkable downtown Durham (2.5 mi. from Five Pts. Plaza)

Photo gallery for Warm Luxury in walkable downtown Durham (2.5 mi. from Five Pts. Plaza)

A modern bedroom with a black dresser, a large window, and a sliding glass door leading to a balcony with outdoor seating.
A modern living room with a grey sofa, a blue armchair, and a round coffee table. There is a dining area in the background with a kitchen visible.
A modern kitchen with a wooden countertop, a built-in sink, and a window with curtains. There is a dining area with a table and chairs, and a hanging plant.
A narrow hallway with white brick walls and a black door at the end.
A bedroom with a bed, bedside table, lamp, and a view of a room with a window and curtains.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Family fun awaits
    Top-rated for families.
  • Private garden
    A rare find — relax in the peaceful, private garden space.
  • At the centre of it all
    Stay in a top rated central location, steps from the best attractions, dining, and entertainment.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Duke University
3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Balcony or patio
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet
  • Onsite parking available
  • Dryer

Explore the area

View in a map
Durham, NC
  • Place, Northgate Mall
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Place, Duke University
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Place, Sarah P. Duke Gardens
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Airport, Raleigh, NC (RDU-Raleigh - Durham Intl.)
    ‪22 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Lower Level Queen

1 Queen Bed

Main Floor Queen

1 Queen Bed

Twin

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Hall Half-Bath

Toilet

Lower Level Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Shared Bath

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Warm Luxury in walkable downtown Durham (2.5 mi. from Five Pts. Plaza)

Welcome to Carolina Cottage, nestled in one of Durham's premier post WWII neighborhoods, and extensively renovated by celebrated Designer + Builder Alicia Hylton-Daniel. Your experience will be enhanced by the thoughtfully curated spaces for relaxing, renewing and re-connecting. The home is spacious, with common areas to be shared, inside and out, as well as quiet spaces to read, nap, scroll and stream. You'll enjoy a full chef's kitchen and dining room, along with a sunny porch and shaded patio, just off the lower level bedroom suite.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Remove personal items and take out the rubbish
Lock the doors
Check-out is at 11:00am. Please let me know when you’ve checked out. Please leave any dirty towels in the bathtub/shower, take out the trash, and remember to lock the doors.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2731842vb
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with UK consumer law, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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
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

Durham

Located in Durham, this cottage is in the city centre. Travellers who have shopping on the agenda can visit Streets at Southpoint Mall and Brier Creek Commons. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's going on at Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice, or consider a night out at Dean Smith Center. Jet skiing and kayaking offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain biking and horse riding nearby.
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Map
Durham, NC

What's nearby

  • Northgate Mall - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Duke University - 19 min walk - 1.7 km
  • Sarah P. Duke Gardens - 3 min drive - 2.0 km
  • Durham Performing Arts Center - 6 min drive - 5.0 km
  • North Carolina Central University - 7 min drive - 6.6 km

Getting around

  • Durham Station - 5 min drive
  • Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) - 22 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Costco Food Court - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪LRB Provisions - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Texas Roadhouse - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Warm Luxury in walkable downtown Durham (2.5 mi. from Five Pts. Plaza) pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Warm Luxury in walkable downtown Durham (2.5 mi. from Five Pts. Plaza)?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Warm Luxury in walkable downtown Durham (2.5 mi. from Five Pts. Plaza)?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Warm Luxury in walkable downtown Durham (2.5 mi. from Five Pts. Plaza)?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Warm Luxury in walkable downtown Durham (2.5 mi. from Five Pts. Plaza) located?

Located in the heart of Durham, this cottage is within 1 mi (2 km) of Northgate Mall and Duke University. Sarah P. Duke Gardens and Durham VA Medical Center are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

9.6

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. 23 out of 25 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 25 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 25 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 25 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 25 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
First time in Durham to help relocate my daughter from California and I picked an absolute gem for my homebase! Wonderful property in wonderful location. Highly recommend!
Stayed 11 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Plenty of room, beautiful decor and amazing outdoor space! This beautiful home was centrally located to all the attractions in Durham. The hosts thought through every single detail for their guests. Beautiful home, wonderful hosts!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Well appointed space near everything.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is in a neighborhood surrounded by single family homes. We will not stay here again.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautifully renovated home! Interesting to read about the history of the property. Exceptional attention to detail throughout. Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house was in perfect condition, very clean, with lots of attractive art and healthy plants. The remodel and furnishings are very attractive and well designed. The housekeeping and supplies were excellent. The location was reasonably convenient and very quiet.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Durham stay!!

Great location and perfect size home for all 6 of us!! Loved the home!!!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Care and thought has been put into every design element and everything was impeccably clean and there was ample space to be together or alone. The house is near a lot of good neighborhood spots.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

This house is a gem!

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this beautiful house. It's decorated so nicely with many attractive and functional details. Everything we needed was there and it was squeaky clean. One of the nicest properties I've rented through VRBO.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Home and Location!

We had a great time at the Carolina Cottage! The home is so well maintained and super clean- we loved the design and style of the home, the central location and the history of the home provided by the owner! Such a great space to spend time with friends and family while visiting Durham- we look forward to future visits!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very nice place. Clean and has everything you need. Roger is very nice and quick to respond.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Adorable cottage in great neighborhood

We loved our stay at the adorable Carolina Cottage. Beautiful neighborhood and great location. The house was well supplied with everything we needed. We were in town to visit Duke University and it was a short car ride away.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Family fun

Wonderful house for a family with children. Plenty of space and wonderful kitchen. Bedroom down stairs great for grandparents. Three full baths add to overall convenience of the property!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfection

This place is impeccable. The decor is out of this world and it is very clean and comfortable. A beautiful and short walk to all the hot spots in Durham. A wonderful rental experience!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Family Trip

This was a very relaxing and great stay! Myself and my three siblings traveled to NC for our grandfathers memorial and family events. It was super helpful having a nice quiet place to stay and reconnect with my siblings. The house was clean, bright, and centrally located to whole foods, coffee, and more! 10/10 :)
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

A perfect home in Durham

This charming Durham home was perfect for our recent visit to Elon and Duke with friends. The attention to detail in the remodel and decor made us feel so warm and welcome. We enjoyed reading about the history of the home and neighborhood as well. Would highly recommend.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful, well designed home!

We had the opportunity to stay in this home and we loved it. The finishes, decor, and overall vibe was very chic! Honestly, I felt like it was a wasted opportunity to not have stayed home more often to enjoy the property more but maybe next time!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Family get together

My family and my parents stayed at Carolina cottage for our Durham weekend for the Duke v NC State football game. The house was very nice for the 6 of us. It was so convenient to not only the campus, but some of our favorite restaurants- Vin Rouge, JuJus and Elmo’s! We will be sure to book again for our next trip to Duke.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Best Vrbo in Durham!

We had the best weekend at Carolina Cottage! We met up with my parents and our son that attends Duke. The house was beautiful- gorgeously decorated and so clean! The neighborhood is adorable and we felt very safe. Communication with the host was always seamless and prompt. Cannot say enough positive things about this property!! We have stayed at several Vrbo’s in Durham while our son has been at Duke and this is the best one by a mile. Can’t wait to come back soon.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Overnight for family gathering

Beautiful property very clean was so clean and so many rules was uncomfortable. I had very respectful smokers that had to go to the road to smoke to be respectful of the property. Which we rent and totally respect that as well. Need a rail or a post by step for safety. We totally understand and respect cleanliness etc but felt that we were not trusted as adults to be respectful. Very beautiful home and we appreciate all the work that went into everything.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Extremely clean and organized
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is a beautiful home in a lovely neighborhood. Honestly one of the nicest properties we’ve ever stayed in. Stunning decor, beautiful bathrooms and kitchen. Very close to downtown and Duke, with several restaurants and stores within walking distance.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Enjoyable stay

Beautiful home and very comfortable. Nicely decorated. Neighborhood was quiet. Owners were easy to communicate with. Definitely would stay here again.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Beautiful property and great neighborhood

The home was beautiful, very clean, great layout and walking distance to a neat trail.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Pretty and Peaceful

We really enjoyed our stay at Carolina Cottage. The house was very clean, nicely decorated and in "like new" condition. It was outfitted with everything we needed for our five night stay. The house is located on a pretty street in a very quiet neighborhood, and is conveniently near the Duke campus where we enjoyed touring the gardens, art museum and Lemur Center. Our daughter lives nearby, so we hope to stay here again in the future.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022

About the host

Hosted by Roger Daniel

Host profile image
Roger Daniel is the founding partner along with his wife, celebrated interior designer Alicia Hylton-Daniel, of Hylton Daniel design+construction. Together they bring design+construction, grounded in culture, art history, architectural engineering, and interior designs that have transformed homes throughout Durham.

Why they chose this property

Alicia and Roger fell in love with this home in early 2020. They felt its undeniable charm but, even more deeply, wanted to restore its beauty to honor its history. This home had sheltered three generations of one family, beginning in 1940, and holds a special place in one of Durham's loveliest neighborhoods.

What makes this property unique

Situated in a gorgeous old Durham residential neighborhood, adjacent to the historic Watts Hospital, which became the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. This home has a sunny off-kitchen deck and a shaded covered patio, surrounded by long-leaf pines, hydrangeas, camellias, and gardenias.

Languages:

English

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