Cutting to the chase, if we could give this vacation rental a sixth star, we would be pleased to do so.
* The home is extremely spacious and is well appointed. The bedrooms, each with their own baths, are comfortable and private. While Shannon has some additions in mind regarding decorating, what is already in place rates top marks. Our daughter, quite opinionated as she is, wished that she could transport the place as-is for her to live in. We agree. The photos, nice as they depict this place, really don't do it justice.
*The location is perfect for a Healdsburg/wine country focus. Just a pleasant three-block walk thru a very safe area takes you to the plaza. There is minimal traffic noise and virtually none at night. The only real "noise" was the rather pleasant ringing of church bells two blocks away. The house is only two short blocks from the round-about which makes it most convenient to get right out into the vineyards and wineries.
* The Owners could not be any nicer nor more responsive. We did encounter an unexpected problem in that the oven fan failed, making the oven inoperable. This happened a while before Christmas and was going to impact plans for a traditional Christmas feast. While we were expecting to have to adjust our plans to make do with the Weber grill, Shannon moved heaven and earth to get a replacement part shipped in and installed in time. Because the fan availability was somewhat uncertain, she also managed to have an entire replacement range headed to Healdsburg. Hence, she managed to make double sure that all turned out well for us. From our first contact, the owners have been a pleasure to deal with and have gone above and beyond all reasonable expectations---easily justifying a sixth star on that aspect alone.
* Being their first guests, Shannon asked that we give them some feedback as to what might need to be added to enhance the experience. We put our minds to it, but could only come up with a few minor ideas, mostly small additions to outfitting the kitchen. We will look forward to staying here again in the future and look forward to seeing how this place blossoms under Shannon's continued care. This vacation rental is a real find and is a most welcome addition to the area.
And no, we are not related to the owners. We really did have that wonderful an experience. Enjoy your stay.