Start outside, because you will. Double doors open from the living room onto a private patio that belongs only to your group: comfortable seating, planters, and a propane fire pit that gives real heat on a cool Chicago night.
Back inside, the living room is the heart of the place. A deep sofa faces a ceiling projector screen for movie nights, and it pulls out to a queen bed when you need it. Wood slat walls, palms, a wall of greenery and woven lamps give the room its garden feel, and the neon sign says it for us: this is our happy place.
The full kitchen is stocked for real cooking: fridge, stove, oven, dishwasher, microwave, blender, pots, pans, spices and coffee. Eat at the island that sits three or the dining table for four.
Down the hall:
• Bedroom 1: queen bed, TV and natural light
• Bedroom 2: queen bed and TV. Its window sits under a deck, so the room stays dim, which is good for sleeping in
• Living room: queen sofa bed, with extra pillows and blankets in the unit
That is how the home sleeps 6. There are two bathrooms, both full, and each has a shower and a bathtub, so nobody waits.
For a work trip or a longer stay, you’ll find three workspaces, WiFi, air conditioning, and an in-unit washer and dryer with detergent provided. Board games and a Pack ‘n Play are here for families.
One honest note from me: this is a garden-level home in a lived-in building. You may hear footsteps from the unit upstairs, and there are about four steps down at the entry. If you’re very sensitive to sound, this may not be your match. We do provide earplugs for your comfort.
Best fit for:
• Families: a family-friendly setup with two queen bedrooms, two full baths with tubs for bath time, a Pack ‘n Play and board games. Mornings at Humboldt Park, movie night on the projector.
• Friends in town for a game or a show: up to six of you, the United Center about 2 miles away, and a fire pit to come back to afterward.
• Work trip travelers: three workspaces, WiFi, a full kitchen and in-unit laundry make a week here easy, and the patio is a good place to end the day.
• Guests traveling with a pet: your dog or cat stays too, no approval needed, in a neighborhood made for long walks.