Find peaceful privacy and casual charm at The Hotsy-Totsy, a Civil War-era farmhouse on seven secluded acres near the Haw River.
You'll feel worlds away at this historical woodland farmstead, while being a quick country drive to the towns of Carrboro, Saxapahaw, and Pittsboro.
This is an ideal setting for girls’ weekends, romantic getaways, small family gatherings, or just a sweet place to hang your hat if you're visiting the area.
The space
The expression “Hotsy-Totsy” is just an old-timey way to say “everything is right in the world.” That’s exactly how you’ll feel out here.
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Listing Highlights:
* Historical Civil War-era farmhouse restored in 2022 and decorated with charming antiques and vintage ephemera
* Seven private, wooded acres to hike and explore
* Unique outdoor bathtubs featuring hot and cold side-by-side clawfoot tubs - LIMITED WINTERTIME AVAILABILITY, see House Rules for details.
* Charming, light-filled kitchen equipped with modern appliances and gourmet quality cookware and tools
* Eat-in dining area with large farm table for communal meals
* 3.5 bedrooms, each decorated with delightful antiques, bits of period attire, and equipped with thoughtful comforts like high-end bedding, custom chain-stitched robes, power strips and extra phone chargers
* 1.5 sparkling, new bathrooms installed during the 2022 renovation
* Fire pit with Adirondack chairs for six, stocked with plenty of wood
* Up to 2 dogs welcome, with no additional pet fee
* Plenty of parking for your whole crew
* Easy access to downtown Pittsboro, Saxapahaw, the Haw River, Lake Jordan, Carrboro/Chapel Hill, Graham/Burlington/Mebane, Durham, and Raleigh
Let’s take a look around:
★★ Living Room ★★
The comfy living room is perfect for gathering with your group of up to seven. Post up and make plans for the day, or tickle the ivories of the antique piano. Set up the mobile projector and stream a movie from your own device, or get cozy on the sofa with a book or game from the library.
★★ The Spacious Kitchen / Dining Area ★★
Enjoy the shared experience of cooking and dining with friends in the sunny kitchen. It comes fully equipped with all the appliances, cookware, and basic pantry items you'll need, right down to the Vitamix blender and Opal pebble ice maker. With a double cast iron farm sink, plenty of counter space, a butcher block island and long, antique farm table, you have options for where you prep and dine.
★★ 3.5 Bedrooms ★★
Across the 3.5 bedrooms, you will find 2 queen-sized beds and 3 twin-sized beds, each fitted with high-quality bedding and mattresses, and topped with antique quilts, just right for a peaceful and comfortable sleep throughout your stay.
There is a unique, "secret," semi-private loft library above the kitchen (accessible through the twin bedroom) that is a fun place for flexible sleeping for an extra solo guest. We often argue over who is going to get this bed. It's our favorite. Just know that while we call it a bedroom in our listing, it's actually open to the kitchen below, hence the ".5" designation.
We also offer a spotless pack-and-play (with sheets and a child-size quilt) for any of our tiny visitors.
★★ 1.5 Sparkling Bathrooms ★★
Brand new bathrooms (one full, one half) have just been installed in the home, which never saw a modern bathroom prior to the restoration in 2022. Your hosts provide a starter kit of toiletries, which includes shampoo, conditioner, soap, shower gel, q-tips, a hair dryer, plus some emergency toiletries, should you forget something critical. Fluffy white towels and makeup removal face cloths are plentiful as well.
★★ Outside Space ★★
The outdoor space offers a variety of options for dining or relaxing. At the front of the house, you can sit on the rocking chairs and chat over morning coffee or evening cocktails. In the fully-fenced backyard, take a nap in the shady hammock, play a round of horseshoes, or just gaze out at the pollinator garden we're growing. Gather around the custom-made picnic table for 12, or wrap up in a Mexican blanket and camp out by the fire pit for s'mores or a singalong. A supply of wood for the fire will be provided for you, and there's also a gas grill available for barbecuing.
Perhaps the quirkiest and most memorable thing you could do out here is take an outdoor bath in our side-by-side clawfoot tubs, plumbed with hot and cold water and set on a covered platform. Our guests rave about this experience, and have told us time and again that having a soak out here more than makes up for the fact that there's just one full bathroom inside the house. (LIMITED WINTERTIME TUB AVAILABILITY, see House Rules for details.)
★★ Honky Tonk Bar/Laundry ★★
Remember how we said there was no bathroom prior to the restoration in 2022? Technically, there was. It was this detached privy and bath house in the backyard, which we have turned into a tiny, rowdy, little pub. Set 'em up and play some cards, have some laughs, spin some old country records and have a fun time in this unique little spot.
★★ Parking ★★
The driveway accommodates several vehicles, plenty of space for all your crew. Please note that street parking and parking inside the fenced yard is not permitted.
★★ Dogs Welcome! ★★
A vacation isn’t the same without your pets, is it? With that in mind, you're welcome to bring up to 2 dogs with you during your stay, provided that they are well-behaved, on flea medication, not left alone uncrated, and that you pick up after them with the provided poop bags. We provide a bed, food/water bowls, treats, a lighted collar, and a fenced in yard for them. While we do not collect an additional pet fee, you will be held responsible for any damage caused by your pets to the home or garden. Due to allergies, we cannot allow cats. Please see our House Rules for details on bringing your dog(s).
★★ What's Nearby?★★
While we think it's fun to just hang out here all weekend, there's a whole lot to do in the area. You'll find water sports aplenty along the Haw River and nearby Lake Jordan. If you're a cyclist, we're just off the Bynum Loop trail. Hikers can explore our seven acres, or the Haw River trail system in nearby Saxapahaw.
Take a 10-15 minute drive to nearby towns, including:
★★ Saxapahaw★★
Local shopping, sightseeing, and live music-seeing in the tiny, riverside town of Saxapahaw. Don't miss the restored mill that houses the Haw River Ballroom, one of the best places in the area to hear live music. Every Saturday, all summer long, the town hosts a weekly "Saturdays in Saxapahaw" event, a popular event for buying local crafts, having a beer, listening to live music, and people-watching.
★★ Pittsboro★★
Spend an afternoon perusing the shops and restaurants that dot Pittsboro's charming main drag, or plan an outing to The Plant, a former flower farm turned agricultural wonderland. Pick up some local farm-to-fork spirits, foods, goods, and wander around the gardens.
★★ Carrboro/Chapel Hill★★
You may choose to stay here specifically for business or fun in our nearest "big city." Fear not, despite feeling worlds away, we're just a 16 minute drive from downtown Carrboro, and just 10 minutes beyond that to downtown Chapel Hill.
★★ Treasure Hunters Unite!★★
All of the Hotsy-Totsy's eclectic furnishings (save for a few things like mattresses/linens/pillows) were sourced from the fabulous secondhand/vintage/antique shops around the area. If treasure-hunting is your thing, Jane can provide her list of favorite local shops with like-minded hunters.
★☆ Book your stay at The Hotsy-Totsy to experience a relaxing, unique, and unforgettable trip with your loved ones! ☆★
Guest access
Every guest will receive a unique key code to access the home. For the safety of our guests, this code is changed after each stay.
You'll have exclusive use of the house and outdoor areas of the seven acre property during your booking. If you need any assistance or have any questions during your stay, your hosts are nearby, and available to help through the Airbnb app.
There are only two spaces on our seven acre property that are off limits to guests. First is the old barn at the center of our land (it's not ready for primetime - a project for another day!), and the other is the small closet in the bar.
Other things to note
We require all guests to fully read through and agree to our House Rules prior to accepting a booking. This is a unique, rural property with quirky features, and we want to ensure you completely understand the pros and cons of the space. We'd hate for you to show up and be disappointed.
We have two cameras which overlook the exterior doors of the house for everyone's safety. There are no cameras or recording devices located on the interior of the house.
This is our family's vacation property, and we make an effort to ensure it feels like an honest-to-goodness, comfortable home away from home. While you will not find our personal effects here, extra amenities that will benefit you include a well-stocked pantry/spice rack, condiments in the fridge, elevated cookware and appliances, plenty of cleaning/paper supplies, useful housewares, etc.
Please feel free to ask any questions at any point in the booking process. We promise to get back to you quickly. As longtime Superhosts of just a couple of local properties (all places we actually live in and visit often), we take a lot of pride in the experience we offer our guests. Our reviews speak for themselves.
Thanks so much for your interest in The Hotsy-Totsy. We surely appreciate your patronage.
(photos by Lissa Gotwals Photography)
