Welcome to my home away from home. Enjoy it and treat it with love. My gallery has provided artwork for your enjoyment. Paintings are original. Purchase information is available. Just ask.
Feel free to use the utensils and plates. Please wash them thoroughly for the next guest.
There is music in the cottage including vinyl records. If they are new to you, handle them with care, enjoy playing them and return them to their original sleeves.
The Blue Star Mansion is close to absolutely everything that makes Saugatuck/Douglas and Western Michigan a great vacation destination.
Enjoy your stay! When you leave, lock the cottage and place the key in the key box.
We loved the cottage! Perfect for a relaxing week away, close to Douglas beach for sunsets and we loved exploring Saugatuck and Douglas, as well as a day in South Haven. Lots to do from hiking to shopping to beachgoing all within 10 mins. The cottage was comfortable with a full kitchen and TV, a firepit and great stargazing, and we loved the wildlife: rabbits, deer, and TONS of butterflies! We will absolutely be back!
We had a fantastic stay! The home was incredibly unique, with beautiful artwork and thoughtful touches throughout. The kitchen was fully stocked, and the beach supplies were a huge bonus. It was also a great place for our dog â super comfortable and welcoming for pets. Great location and close to many beaches in the area (our favorite was Pier Cove). You can tell the host really cares about creating a great experience. Weâd definitely stay here again!
The cottage is convenient location. The lighting in the cottage was terrible. One light fixture could hold 3 lights and had only one light bulb in it. Never could figure out how to turn on the fixture above the dining table. Same in the kitchen. The over head light, couldnât figure that out either. Bathroom okay. Never really used the kitchen and the microwave was on top of the refrigerator which I couldnât reach. Keurig coffee maker didnât work. Window air conditioner which was fine in the living space but the bedroom was warm even though a fan was provided but didnât do the job. Bed was ok. Dryer busted. The entire property could use a good cleaning. And they did nothing in the back yard to make it inviting. If they were to paint the cottage white, it would a huge improvement. Wonât be back.
We had a very good stay. The cottage suited a couple well and Don is a good host and communicator. The place has some quirks, which we generally liked. But it would definitely benefit from A/C or fans in the bedroom and a little more kitchen equipment. There's also a municipal building project across the street that may change the experience when it's completed.
There were some pros and cons about this cottage. PROS- Don is a very attentive and available host. He responds quickly to messages and stays in the property directly next door making it easy for him to pop in if needed. Don made sure to provide a rollaway bed for our family of 4. The property is within walking distance to several coffee shops, ice cream shop, grocery store and downtown Douglas and a short drive to Douglas Beach/downtown Saugatuck. The refrigerator in the property looked new, bathroom was mostly clean and outfitted with necessities. The location offered nice views of wildlife. CONS- while we knew the property was small, it was quite tight for our family of 4 (2 adults, 2 teens) for example only one person could stand and move in the kitchen at once. When you use the foldout couch and extra bed there is no room left to maneuver in the living space making this property more appropriate for fewer people. The home in general needs a deep cleaning as there is a lot of dust and cobwebs everywhere. The window air conditioner keeps the living room cool but the bedroom was uncomfortably hot despite the extra floor fan. The electrical set up is confusing as there are wires running everywhere, many switches that seem to not work and outlets that do not work. The dryer stopped working after 3 loads and the quickset lock on the door took several tries to lock. We left the property a night early due to the above concerns and most likely wouldnât book here again.
The home was dog-friendly and conveniently located to Douglas and Sagatuck via car. The host was available and responded quickly to requests.We enjoyed our time!
First of all the picture showing the outside on the cottage is nothing like it shows. The grass was sky high with weeds all over it. The back yard was the same. It did have a grill as stated however we were afraid with the grass and weeds so high it might catch fire since it was a charcoal grill. There was a wooden bench on the back porch that looked weather beaten and unsafe to sit on including the possibility of getting wooden splinters in your legs or back side.The owner left a note saying there was issues with the stove and dryer. The owner stated in his note that he's spent 3 days cleaning after the prior visitors left, the inside wasn't clean, it had Cobb webs, smelled musty and I question the safety of the electrical ceiling fan, it appeared to not be wired properly. We couldn't stay in a place in that state. I sent a text to the owner and he's not respond that it clearly didn't meet our standards or as described. We had to find a hotel for the evening and find another VRBO for the next 2 days. We're very disappointed and we travel several states and now we're out all that money plus the hotel and VRBO fees.
Don is very helpful in giving info about the area. The cottage has fun qualities. The walk to the lake is peaceful. It is a bit longer to go all the way to the public beach if you are swimming. There are great activities close by. Lots of wildlife to see! Good place to stay!
Don is fantastic! He gave us a lot of suggestions on things to do. We initially had trouble with the TV and he quickly responded with help. Farmerâs market in Holland was great. We had our bikes and rode all over the place. Decent brewery close by that had pretty good food. My only suggestion to Don would be a little better cleaning,otherwise, awesome place.
Cottage in good location but somewhat disappointing given the price point
The bed was really comfortable and the dining and activities suggestions were great. The cottage was somewhat dusty with cobwebs above the bed. The lighting is lacking and there were windows in the bedroom without curtains. There isn't much counter space in the bathroom or kitchen. Location was pretty good. The owner was very nice and responsive to messages.
We stayed 10 nights in this rental. The rental is very close to Saugatuck and to Lake Michigan. Don was super helpful about restaurants and other places to visit in the area. The decor is very eclectic and unique! The only thing I would suggest is a deep cleaning.
This was our first time in Michigan for vacation and Don was wonderful and helpful! We were treated to a ride in a classic Rambler where Don showed us the lay-of-the-land. His restaurant advice was perfect! The cottage was charming and well equipped. We usually cook in 3 nights and the kitchen had a gas stove which usually never happens in a summer rental. Nice Weber charcoal grill on the deck as well. This is really a great location as we were close to everything! As a bonus - it was great to be able to walk to The Dunes!
Couldnât ask for a better host. When we arrived at the cottage we found everything to be in order and as seen or mentioned in VRBOâs site. There was a welcome basket of assorted fruit, cheese and crackers as well as being stocked with the basic essentials for everyday use. Don was both attentive as well as being respectful of our privacy during our stay. We had anticipated a k-cup dispenser as shown and hadnât brought any regular coffee grounds. Ironically, he had just changed it over per a previous request, but when he heard of our predicament, he replied to our text letting us know he had dropped off the the other coffee maker and left it on the front porch. The cottage also had a new washer and dryer, (not coin operated), however there seemed to be a problem with the breaker and the electric dryer. He graciously offered, came by, picked up our wet laundry, used his own dryer and brought the clothes back a few hours later. The location is within walking distance of Douglas Beach, 1 mile and another 1.5 mile walk down the shore to Oval Beach. This saved us the $10.00 fee for parking at Oval as well as not fighting for the limited parking at Douglas Beach especially over the 4th of July week. We definitely plan on coming back to this area and hope to be staying here again! Thank you Don.
Great location - close to Douglas and Saugatuck. Cottage is cozy with attention to detail - interesting books, magazines, records. Easy to feel at home. Owner was very helpful in identifying local places to visit.
We stayed for several weeks, and found the property to have all we needed for such extended time. Kitchen equipped with everything, washer and drier, reliable internet. Up to 4 adults can sleep comfortably. Oval Beach is very good. Quiet, good for seniors. Don the host is very attentive and responsive.
This little house was perfect for a last-minute working vacation. The location is great - so close to Lake Michigan and downtown Saugutuck/Douglas. The amazing Isabelâs eatery and market right across the street. It was important to me to be able to bring our aging dog with us, and Don welcomed him with open arms. We also really appreciated Donâs recommendations and quick responses to our questions. The house was very comfortable and had everything we needed!