Charming Handmade Retreat — 15 mins to Chapel Hill
This quirky, multi-level, ecological house is ideal for enjoying a getaway in the great outdoors. -5 wooded acres -covered terraces for al fresco dining -books and games galore -giant picture windows -wood burning stove -fire ring (with firewood provided) -gas range in fully stocked kitchen -laundry on-site -smart TV with Hulu, Netflix, and other apps -15 minutes from Chapel Hill, UNC Memorial Hospital, Saxapahaw and Pittsboro
Our photographer described this place as "Cozy and super charming. Lots of windows and great art make it feel warm and inviting." There are more windows in this house than in most houses three times the size. Handmade feel with many artsy touches like original mosaics, wood and slate floors. A wood stove for experienced fire tenders on cold days and evenings. This is a one of a kind place that is unique and hard to find. Our guests often remark it's the most unique Airbnb they've ever stayed at, and often return many times with friends and family to make shared memories and celebrate special occasions.
NOTE: It has a very outdoorsy feel. You're likely to see squirrels, birds, maybe even a fox or raccoon. Summertimes are usually full of bugs — and they might find themselves inside your home. Cobwebs can appear literally overnight. For those weary of the great outdoors or nature's creatures, this place is not for you. We do not fumigate and choose to use natural pest management strategies whenever possible. The home is chemical and fragrance-free for easier breathing and better sleep.
The owners built the home by hand using recycled and repurposed materials. Enjoy the mosaics made from recycled tiles, the amazing re-homed picture windows and stained glass, and notice that each part of the home was built with love and appreciation for the materials used. Rustic and eclectic, this eco-retreat is truly a work of art that stands in collaboration with nature.
KITCHEN: The kitchen is well stocked with pots, pans, spices, cooking oils, salt and pepper. There is a gas stove with 4 burners for those who like to cook. We also have an oven, microwave, and toaster oven. Full fridge and freezer — we have ice cube trays but no ice maker. French press for coffee, blender, and magic bullet, too! Organic coffee, half and half, and a selection of teas are also supplied for your enjoyment.
BATHROOM: The upstairs bathroom has a clawfoot tub and also rainfall showerhead. We recently added shampoo, conditioner, and body wash so that you don't have to bring your own.
BEDROOMS: The two bedrooms are located upstairs. Note that you must pass through one bedroom to get to the other. Both have their own doors for privacy. We also have a twin day bed and a full futon downstairs for additional sleeping. (Please be sure to properly indicate the number of people in your reservation so that our housekeepers can be sure to leave you with an appropriate number of linens and towels!) Because this an eco-retreat with sustainability and the environment top of mind, linens are cotton and washed with natural, fragrance free laundry detergent.
OUTDOOR SPACES: You've got a privtae outdoor patio upstairs off the bedrooms -- as well as an outdoor back covered patio complete with fan and patio lights! Seating for 4 at the outdoor table on the back patio.
FIRE RING: Skilled fire tenders are welcome to use the fire ring and even help themselves to our firewood. Please be very careful if you decide to start a fire.
Guests will have the entire right-hand "house side" of the property including private covered outside decks, one on the second floor, and one out back. There is a second very small "en suite" Airbnb unit on the left-hand "Suite" side of the house. You may hear each other as you share a wall — and may see each other in the front shared parking lot. Otherwise each space is private with no shared spaces.
If you'd like to book both places at the same time for a 3BR/2BA stay, click on Erin's profile to find the Storybook Retreat and book that instead. (Art, Beauty, Nature is the studio if you only need a small space for 2 people.) Our calendars are up-to-date, so what you see reflects true availability.
Available by text to answer questions or summon help from close-by manager or relative in case of emergency.
Attractions: Franklin Street - 9.6 mi Kenan Stadium - 10.4 mi The Barn at Valhalla - 7.5 mi The Carriage House - 115 mi The Barn Chapel Hill - 6.5 mi Lavender Oaks Farm - 7.8 mi Cat’s Cradle - 10 mi Saxaphaw Ballroom - 10.8 mi Restaurants / Cafe / Bar : Saxaphaw General Store Cafe (Saxapahaw) - 11.7 mi The Mod (Pittsboro) - 12.8 mi Food Market/ Grocery/ Pharmacies : Lowes Food´s – 8.5 mi Harris Teeter – 9.6 mi Weaver Street Market – 11.3 mi Saxapahaw General Store - 12.8 mi Aidan’s Trading Post - 1.9 mi Walgreens -16.0 mi CVS - 8.4 mi Hospitals: UNC Hillsborough Campus - 18.2 mi UNC - 13.0 mi UNC Children’s Hospital - 11.9 mi Duke Regional Hospital - 27.5 mi North Carolina Speciality Hospital - 27.9 mi Lenox Baker Children´s Hospital - 27.6 mi The NC Cancer Hospital - 27.6 mi Duke Children´s Hospital and Health Center - 22.8 mi Airports : Burlington Alamance Regional Airport - 24.5 mi Raleigh - Durham International - 28.7mi Siler City Municipal - 23.2 mi Gas Station: Mobil – 8.8 mi Exxon - 9.6 mi
GETTING AROUND You will need a car although Uber and Lyft have provided rides in the past. Not sure about the current status. If you don't like driving country roads this is not the place for you, but it really is only 12 minutes from Carrboro.
THINGS TO NOTE Caution to older and physically challenged people, including kids: There are stairs and many levels in this house. Not a good place for those wanting a single-level place. The only bathroom is upstairs unless you book Storybook Retreat instead (then you'll have one bedroom and bathroom downstairs and one bathroom and two bedrooms upstairs).
HEATING & COOLING Cooling comes from 2 mini splits in the home (one downstairs & one upstairs). There are also overhead fans for circulating air. Heating comes from 2 gas heaters on the main floor, 2 mini splits (one downstairs & one upstairs), portable space heaters should you want to use them, and the wood-burning fireplace for those comfortable building fires.
PET FEE: Well-behaved pets are welcome with a $50 fee (per pet) per stay. Please inquire about our pet policy.
CANCELLATIONS The cancellation policy applies to all bookings. An additional $150 cancellation fee will be charged to cover credit card processing and admin fees on all cancellations.
RENTER'S AGREEMENT A signed renter's agreement is required for all reservations, as well as a picture of a government-issued photo ID and a picture of your credit card used to book showing only the last 4 digits and your name. This is to prevent credit card fraud and is meant to protect you as the renter and us as hosts.
DEPOSIT We require a $300 deposit for each reservation, which will be processed 3 days before your arrival. As long as there is no unexpected damage to the home, deposits are automatically refunded in full in 7 days.
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Pets allowed: dogs less than 9 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Property # 3113564vb
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 first aid kit
About the area
Chapel Hill
Located in Chapel Hill, this holiday home is in a rural area. The area's natural beauty can be seen at University Lake and Keith Arboretum, while Cooper Mays Pottery and Haw River Ballroom are cultural highlights. Great Meadow Park and Carrboro Century Center are also worth visiting. Make sure you don't miss outdoor adventures like cycling, mountain biking and hiking/biking trails.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) - 44 min drive
Restaurants
Fiesta Grill - 9 min drive
The Kraken - 9 min drive
Frosty's - 3 min drive
Tacos De Birria - 12 min drive
Camp Kendra - 23 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Charming Handmade Retreat — 15 mins to Chapel Hill pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet.
How much does it cost to stay at Charming Handmade Retreat — 15 mins to Chapel Hill?
As of 13 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Charming Handmade Retreat — 15 mins to Chapel Hill on 18 May 2026 start from AU$344, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Charming Handmade Retreat — 15 mins to Chapel Hill?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Charming Handmade Retreat — 15 mins to Chapel Hill?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Charming Handmade Retreat — 15 mins to Chapel Hill?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Charming Handmade Retreat — 15 mins to Chapel Hill located?
Situated in a rural location, this holiday home is within 9 miles (15 km) of Grovepark, Quailview Recreation Area and Great Meadow Park. Constellation Park and Boulder Park are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
If you are like us and enjoy staying at places that are fun, funky, original, clean and comfortable you will love it. In the woods with tons of windows, I liked it more after each hour we spent here. Great communication from owner. Would stay again.
Woodley W.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Oct 2024
Thank you for a wonderful review, Woodley! We would love to host you again. 😊
The property was nice and clean. Easy check in process. Thankful my dogs could stay with us. Was unaware there was a studio attached that is also rented out, but the people and their dog staying were nice.
Verified traveller
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 17 May 2023
We try to be clear in our listing that there are two units here! Guests can also rent the whole house if they would prefer to have the whole 5 acres to themselves.
Spent an overnight at this hidden homemade gem of a house for an annual girl's night getaway. This unique property nestled in the woods provided a cozy, unique housing experience for us to land after a day tubing. Beautiful surroundings and yet close enough to explore Pittsboro for a bit to eat.
Erin was so accessible and answered my questions promptly.
Would come back again!
Jody
Jody P.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Aug 2023
Thank you for choosing to stay with us Jody. We were so happy to host you and so excited you had a beautiful experience. We love it too! Come back and see us!
We had a fantastic stay! Erin was super communicative and we really appreciated that she turned the lights on for us as we arrived in the dark!
The house was charming and comfortable and had everything we needed. The beds were comfortable and there were several pillow options to choose from. The kitchen was fully stocked with cookware. There was a great DVD collection as well as a library full of books.
The house would not be suitable for anyone with mobility issues, as there are lots of level changes/steps and the one washroom is upstairs. None of these were issues for us, just something to be aware of.
We would definitely stay here again. Thank you!
Julie S.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 12 May 2024
I'm so honored to read your detailed review, Julie! It truly made our day! I'd love to see you back :)
An eclectic and memorable handmade home tucked in the woods for some quiet reflection. Great windows span each room and a cozy wood burning stove warms the heart. Bedrooms are upstairs and lots of separate spots including a center room and large kitchen to read books, play games and share a conversation. An outside deck upstairs and porch with table in the back. A lovely time watching fall set in!
This property was beyond comfortable and we spent most all our time outside on the covered patio eating our meals, playing cards and enjoying our friendship with each other as we had not been together with for a long time with all the Covid 19 pandemic issues. We did not have any problems with bugs and it had rained off and on. The view from inside was like you were outside and we kept saying it was a slice of heaven there. Thank you for the awesome property and we hope to return some day in the near future.
The home is located on a wooded setting.
There are two rentals in the same home: a main house and a smaller attached studio.
We did hear the other guests through the attached walls. The property was clean. The kitchen was stocked but some of the cookware/utensils need an upgrade. Also, the linens are due for the same upgrade. Overall, the stay was what I expected.
If you are looking for some charm in the woods this would be the place to stay. It is very quaint. Not large ,but enough room to have our family over for dinner. It would be lovely when you can spend some time outside but I might be concerned about insects. My only complaint was I wish there was some heat in the bathroom, it was cold. A few extra dinner/salad and serving plates would have made dinner for my company easier. They have nice filtered water available, cloth napkins and they fact that they are fragrance free is a real bonus. While I didn't actually cook, I brought everything with me, there is a gas cook top, a nice wood burning oven and lots of glassed in rooms provided peaceful views. The hosts were easy to communicate with and it is close to many places you would visit in the area. I would stay again.
Laura R.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2021
Verified
4/10 Poor
Leanne C.
3 Nov 2021
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, listing accuracy
Didn’t even stay
We were unhappy with the massive spiders that lived in the house, this property was not as advertised and the owners stopped responding when we contacted them about it
Leanne C.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Nov 2021
Leanne left to stay in a hotel without giving us a chance to remedy her issues. While we did not see any spiders in the home, it is certainly possible as this home is in the country, which we state in our listing description. Our listing is definitely best for those comfortable with nature. Wishing Leanne all the best.
Peaceful place back in the woods. As the place states, there are bugs at times. But as soon as we put out food on the table, little bugs came out of no where and started flying around the food. We constantly were swatting things away. Loved the back porch with the lights at night. Cute handmade home.