Chic Poolside Hideaway Near Duke & UNC
Entire guesthouse in Durham, North Carolina
- 4 guests
- 1 bedroom
- 2 beds
- 1 bath
Hosted by Jane
- Superhost
- 7 years hosting
Listing highlights
Top 5% of homes
This home is highly ranked based on ratings, reviews, and reliability.
In Durham's Hope Valley Historic District
A short drive to Downtown Durham, Duke University, and Chapel Hill, with the American Tobacco Trail about a quarter mile away
Private pool in a magazine-worthy garden
A private saltwater pool with in-water seating, surrounded by a lush garden reserved for guests only
A place guests keep coming back to
Guests call it one of their favorite stays ever, with many returning for repeat visits
Tucked away in the back of our 1927 property sits The Sidekick, a thoughtfully restored carriage house surrounded by peaceful woods & grand homes.
Part cowboy clubhouse, part restful retreat, The Sidekick is a conveniently-located getaway for couples, solo travelers, or small groups.
Take a dip in the saline pool, lounge in the mature garden, or just rest your sleepy head on luxurious linens in your sweet lil' loft bedroom.
The space
Our Amenities:
**BACKYARD AND POOL**
- Pristine saline pool with in-water bench seating and Bluetooth-controlled underwater speaker. Listen to your favorite music underwater!
- Gas grill (shared with main house)
- Large, private seating areas overlooking a magazine spread-worthy garden
- Outdoor shower with privacy enclosure (open mid-Apr to mid-Nov)
- Lawn games (croquet, horseshoes, corn hole, etc.)
- Electric vehicle (EV) charging station and dedicated parking spot
- October through April, we set out a wood-burning SoloStove fire pit and a on the patio. We also stock the space with blankets for added fireside coziness.
**DOWNSTAIRS OPEN CONCEPT/FLEX SPACE**
- 55" smart TV with Netflix, Amazon Prime & Hulu
- Nintendo Classic game system chock full of retro games (Super Mario Brothers, anyone?)
- West Elm pull out sofa bed with queen size gel mattress
- Modern kitchen with gourmet-quality cookware and cooking tools
- Bluetooth speaker to play your favorite music
- Antique cupboard stocked full of board games, card games, vintage magazines, books, and fun stuff to leaf through
- Eat up bar/kitchen island
- Everything you need for morning coffee and tea. We source our coffee and tea from local roasters and tea shops.
- Blender and shatterproof glassware for poolside cocktail-creating
**UPSTAIRS LOFT**
Guests often ask us for all the details on this bed so they can recreate it at home. The queen size iron bed features crisp white percale cotton sheets on a supportive mattress, topped with a fluffy down duvet, and plenty of soft pillows.
Also upstairs is a large, handmade writing desk, surrounded by power outlets and served by super-fast wi-fi, with a gorgeous, leafy view out the window.
**SPARKLING FULL BATHROOM (DOWNSTAIRS)**
- Complimentary toiletries (shampoo, conditioner and body wash)
- Plenty of fluffy bath towels in all sizes
- Turkish towels for the pool
- Two plush robes for lounging
- Well stocked vanity (in case you forget something critical)
- Small travel hairdryer
Guest access
We know privacy is important. You will have private access to the entire guesthouse and the pool, back garden and seating areas will be reserved for your use only during your stay. You may see us around the yard and pool periodically for maintenance purposes. We will make every attempt to do these chores while you're not using the yard. The yard and pool close to guest activity at 10p.
Other things to note
- The upstairs loft is open to the downstairs living space and there is no bedroom door at the top of the stairs.
- Pool use is for registered guests only. We may opt to allow additional day-use guests (friends or family over to use the pool, etc.), but charge an additional $20 per person (up to eight guests total), per day for the privilege. Please arrange this in advance with us.
- Weather depending, pool is generally open and warm enough for swimming May-Oct. We have a pool heater and can warm the pool at your request during transitional fall and spring months. The intent with heater use is to just give the water a little warm boost in the shoulder seasons to extend the season a bit. We can heat it up to 10 degrees warmer than what nature provides (capped at 85 degrees). An additional fee of $20 per day will be applied when pool heat is requested. Sorry, but we do not heat the pool during the cold/winter months (generally early November - end of April).
- There is no in-unit washer/dryer. Laundry can be arranged onsite (your hosts can take it in for an extra $20 fee per load), and a laundromat/dry cleaner is located in the nearest shopping center, 2 miles away. We do not offer any other housekeeping services during your stay, unless requested - for an additional fee.
- We do have one friendly dog and you may see her romping through the yard at some point during your visit. If you have a fear of or allergy to dogs, we can ensure she is kept inside our home during your stay. She is not allowed in The Sidekick. You may also see Jane tending to the garden. Don't worry, she's friendly too.
- Please be sure to read through and understand all house rules and the listing description before making a booking.
Part cowboy clubhouse, part restful retreat, The Sidekick is a conveniently-located getaway for couples, solo travelers, or small groups.
Take a dip in the saline pool, lounge in the mature garden, or just rest your sleepy head on luxurious linens in your sweet lil' loft bedroom.
The space
Our Amenities:
**BACKYARD AND POOL**
- Pristine saline pool with in-water bench seating and Bluetooth-controlled underwater speaker. Listen to your favorite music underwater!
- Gas grill (shared with main house)
- Large, private seating areas overlooking a magazine spread-worthy garden
- Outdoor shower with privacy enclosure (open mid-Apr to mid-Nov)
- Lawn games (croquet, horseshoes, corn hole, etc.)
- Electric vehicle (EV) charging station and dedicated parking spot
- October through April, we set out a wood-burning SoloStove fire pit and a on the patio. We also stock the space with blankets for added fireside coziness.
**DOWNSTAIRS OPEN CONCEPT/FLEX SPACE**
- 55" smart TV with Netflix, Amazon Prime & Hulu
- Nintendo Classic game system chock full of retro games (Super Mario Brothers, anyone?)
- West Elm pull out sofa bed with queen size gel mattress
- Modern kitchen with gourmet-quality cookware and cooking tools
- Bluetooth speaker to play your favorite music
- Antique cupboard stocked full of board games, card games, vintage magazines, books, and fun stuff to leaf through
- Eat up bar/kitchen island
- Everything you need for morning coffee and tea. We source our coffee and tea from local roasters and tea shops.
- Blender and shatterproof glassware for poolside cocktail-creating
**UPSTAIRS LOFT**
Guests often ask us for all the details on this bed so they can recreate it at home. The queen size iron bed features crisp white percale cotton sheets on a supportive mattress, topped with a fluffy down duvet, and plenty of soft pillows.
Also upstairs is a large, handmade writing desk, surrounded by power outlets and served by super-fast wi-fi, with a gorgeous, leafy view out the window.
**SPARKLING FULL BATHROOM (DOWNSTAIRS)**
- Complimentary toiletries (shampoo, conditioner and body wash)
- Plenty of fluffy bath towels in all sizes
- Turkish towels for the pool
- Two plush robes for lounging
- Well stocked vanity (in case you forget something critical)
- Small travel hairdryer
Guest access
We know privacy is important. You will have private access to the entire guesthouse and the pool, back garden and seating areas will be reserved for your use only during your stay. You may see us around the yard and pool periodically for maintenance purposes. We will make every attempt to do these chores while you're not using the yard. The yard and pool close to guest activity at 10p.
Other things to note
- The upstairs loft is open to the downstairs living space and there is no bedroom door at the top of the stairs.
- Pool use is for registered guests only. We may opt to allow additional day-use guests (friends or family over to use the pool, etc.), but charge an additional $20 per person (up to eight guests total), per day for the privilege. Please arrange this in advance with us.
- Weather depending, pool is generally open and warm enough for swimming May-Oct. We have a pool heater and can warm the pool at your request during transitional fall and spring months. The intent with heater use is to just give the water a little warm boost in the shoulder seasons to extend the season a bit. We can heat it up to 10 degrees warmer than what nature provides (capped at 85 degrees). An additional fee of $20 per day will be applied when pool heat is requested. Sorry, but we do not heat the pool during the cold/winter months (generally early November - end of April).
- There is no in-unit washer/dryer. Laundry can be arranged onsite (your hosts can take it in for an extra $20 fee per load), and a laundromat/dry cleaner is located in the nearest shopping center, 2 miles away. We do not offer any other housekeeping services during your stay, unless requested - for an additional fee.
- We do have one friendly dog and you may see her romping through the yard at some point during your visit. If you have a fear of or allergy to dogs, we can ensure she is kept inside our home during your stay. She is not allowed in The Sidekick. You may also see Jane tending to the garden. Don't worry, she's friendly too.
- Please be sure to read through and understand all house rules and the listing description before making a booking.
Where you’ll sleep
What this place offers
Courtyard view
Kitchen
Wifi
Dedicated workspace
Free parking on premises
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Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 205 reviews.
Guest favorite
This home is in the top 5% of eligible listings based on ratings, reviews, and reliability
Overall rating
- 5 stars, 100% of reviews
- 4 stars, 0% of reviews
- 3 stars, 0% of reviews
- 2 stars, 0% of reviews
- 1 stars, 0% of reviews
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for cleanliness
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for accuracy
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for location
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for value
Guest reviews mention
Where you’ll be
Durham, North Carolina, United States
This listing's location is verified and the exact location will be provided after booking.
Neighborhood highlights
The Sidekick is situated in the wooded rear corner of our half-acre lot, surrounded by mature woods and grand old homes.
We're located in Durham's Hope Valley Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
Hope Valley is a quiet neighborhood known for its architecturally and historically significant homes, its peaceful, natural surroundings, and its convenient location to the chief points of interest throughout the Triangle.
If you are looking for a chic, clean, calm and convenient spot, this is the place for you.
We're located in Durham's Hope Valley Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
Hope Valley is a quiet neighborhood known for its architecturally and historically significant homes, its peaceful, natural surroundings, and its convenient location to the chief points of interest throughout the Triangle.
If you are looking for a chic, clean, calm and convenient spot, this is the place for you.
Meet your host
Speaks English
Lives in Durham, North Carolina
Justin & Jane restored two unique spaces in the NC Triangle area: The Sidekick in Durham, and The Hotsy-Totsy in rural Pittsboro. We create comforting spaces that combine elements of old and new.
In true “mom and pop” fashion, we manage every detail of our homes’ care, not relying on management teams to do the job for us. We think this is the best recipe for guest satisfaction, and you can see that level of commitment reflected in our reviews.
Jane is a Superhost
Host details
Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
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