And, though all are seriously luxurious both inside and out, many are very family-friendly. We are thrilled that the lovely folk behind OnefineStay have kindly selected their personal family-friendly favourites in Los Angeles, New York and Paris, (plus one in each city for those of you craving a few days away without your gorgeous brood). Herewith, their picks……
LOS ANGELES
The homey open-plan kitchen is framed around a slab-top island and surrounded by comfortable, scooped wooden stools. With wide glass doors opening out to the picnic-ready patio just beyond the kitchen, you might prefer to eat al fresco in the gorgeous California sunshine. There’s a guest house and play room to discover outside, and inside the boy’s bunk bed is lined with treasures. Located in the gorgeous Santa Monica area of Los Angeles, you’re moments from the beach, too.
At Lindamere Drive you’re in the heart of the iconic Bel Air neighbourhood. The poolside garden has magnificent views of Bel Air’s surrounding hillside terrain and the sun loungers and shady nooks are perfect for little ones. There’s a pizza oven and Argentinian grill for patio dining, while glass doors lead inside to the kitchen, which has a breakfast bar and farmhouse-style dining table. Past the dining space, there are two sleek sitting areas next to each other, both with quick access to the outdoor trampoline (always a smash hit with kids) and there are plenty of bedrooms so room for large families, too.
And if you’re in LA without your kids…..
A secluded home with shaded outdoor areas, this is only a few steps away from the shops and restaurants on hip and happening Sunset Boulevard. From the front sitting room (which will appeal to art lovers, for sure), there are intricate French doors, which lead to a quiet side patio. The kitchen is past the staircase on the left, and the dining room is to the right. There is a lovely garden, which has a covered deck, a barbecue and a heated pool. Upstairs, you’ll come first to the master bedroom, with a super king-size bed and window seat. The gorgeous ensuite has a roll top bath with a view of the back garden. Down the hallway is the third bedroom (stocked with children’s toys if you do visit, en famille).
For more ideas of where to stay in LA with your kids, click here.
NEW YORK
Gates Avenue Townhouse, Clinton Hill
Five floors make up this family home in the trendy Brooklyn borough of Clinton Hill. Entering at street level, an open-plan living space reaches back to the kitchen, with an arched window beside the dining area for eight. Up one flight you’ll find a ‘princess’ room, a smart sofa bedroom and a bunk bedroom, so there is ample children’s space. On the next level, adults have a floor to themselves and there’s a last, lofted bedroom above that. The basement makes this a real pull for families. There’s a pint-sized billiard table in the room with a red-chequered floor and leads out to the garden, where you can shoot hoops or catch rays, weather permitting – a rarity in New York.
Vanderbilt Avenue Townhouse, Clinton Hill
Located in the same gorgeous Brooklyn area of Clinton Hill resides the Vanderbilt Avenue Tonwhouse. With its unique mix of historic grandeur and artistic energy, this house fronts a sunny garden just beyond. The artistic and creative interior mirrors the bohemian haunts to explore in the surrounding neighbourhood and this gorgeous townhouse has plenty of room for families to unwind in at the end of a long day of New York exploration.
And if you’re in New York without your kids…..
7th Avenue Townhouse, Park Slope
Again, in Brooklyn, you’ll find this 7th Avenue Townhouse in the charming area of Park Slope. Many young families call peaceful Park Slope home, and with quaint storefronts and restored brownstones – 7th Avenue Townhouse among them – it’s easy to see why. The hosts of this home are regular travellers and their finds from abroad can be found scattered inside this gorgeous idyll. The mixture of tranquil blues, creamy whites and dark-carved woods make for a warm and cosy home that still showcase the property’s original details. And if you do venture beyond the walls of this gorgeous space, you’ll find Prospect Park is close enough to be your own private garden.
For more ideas of where to stay in New York with your kids, click here.
PARIS
Rue des Trois Freres, Montmatre
Located in the happening 18th arrondissement of Montmatre, the Rue des Trois Freres is in an area that has long been called home by artists and galleries. This property is no exception to that rule and the spacious interior of this home is crafted to aesthetic perfection. Each room is a canvas for modern art fixtures and designer wallpaper, from the abstract geometrics of the upstairs master bedroom to the pop art palms of the salon below. If you’re there with children it is ideal, too. The second single bedroom comes complete with a crib, a single bed, lots of children’s toys and it’s en suite, too.
Also in the gorgeous artistic quarter of Montmatre is this family-friendly property on Rue d’Amsterdam. This apartment belongs to a family with two girls and a baby, and it was once the quarters of ten maids. Today, it is a bright, light family home. In the open-plan living room – beneath the vaulted ceiling and steel cross-beams – white walls and polished floors wrap you in a gown of light and space. Grown-ups will love the sophisticated furnishings, bold artwork and the views over the city, while boys and girls will be entranced by the child-sized details of their very own bedrooms.
And if you’re in Paris without your kids…..
Passage Saint-Antoine, Bastille
You can’t find yourself in an area of Paris more steeped in history than Bastille and this gorgeous property is fabulous if you’re there for a quiet (or party-filled) stay without the little ones. Bold, brilliant and beautiful, Passage Saint-Antoine is clean and crisp, yet avant-garde in spirit. Chances are you won’t be up at dawn for the market on Boulevard Richard-Lenoir if you’re there without a baby, but you never know. Either way, we suggest you stroll down to the river and the Île Saint-Louis before a long and languorous lunch at Chez Paul. This house literally sparkles and it’s the perfect launchpad from which to explore Paris or simply relax and totally unwind in some seriously sumptuous surroundings.
For more ideas of where to stay in Paris with your kids, click here.