Lighting
Just say the word — the house is listening
The lights are on smart bulbs. The wall switches still work, but the nicest way to set a mood is simply to ask. Speak clearly toward the living room and start with “Ok Google”.
Heat & air conditioning
You probably won't need to touch a thing
San Francisco has some of the kindest weather anywhere — rarely above 75°F, rarely below 45°F — and the house is set up to look after itself. Most guests never adjust anything. If you do want to, here is what does what.
If you are chilly
- The Nest thermostat next to the TV runs the heating and is already set to keep the house comfortable, so please leave it as it is.
- For a quick boost, each room has a space heater. In the bedroom, the remote is held by a magnet on top of the heater; in the living room, use the buttons on the unit itself.
- Evenings in winter: draw the curtains — the windows are a little old and can be drafty.
If you are warm
- Open a bay window. The breeze does the job nine days out of ten.
- For the tenth day, the Windmill air conditioners are yours: press the panel on top of the unit, or simply ask — “Ok Google, turn on the bedroom AC” or “Ok Google, turn on the living room AC”. Close the windows in that room while it runs, and say “turn off” when you are done.
Sleeping
One bedroom, one very deep sofa
The house has one bedroom, with a queen-size bed. Fresh linens and towels are set out for you before you arrive.
The living-room sofa is extra deep — deep enough that sleeping on it is roughly the equivalent of a twin XL bed, so a third guest, or anyone banished for snoring, has a real place to sleep rather than a compromise.
An iron and ironing board are in the bedroom closet. On cold nights, the bedroom space heater and its magnetic remote are described above.
The kitchen
Fully stocked, and entirely yours
Use anything you find. The pantry, the fridge, the spices, the good olive oil, the pots and the knives — none of it is off limits. We would much rather you cook a proper dinner than hunt for a shop. A few notes:
The range & oven
It is a gas range. Turn the knob to light; you will hear the igniter click before the flame catches. Have a look inside the oven before you preheat it — we sometimes store a pan or two in there.
Mixer, Instant Pot, food processor, blender
The KitchenAid stand mixer, Instant Pot, food processor and blender live in the two bottom cabinets nearest the laundry-room door. Help yourself.
If you finish something
No need to replace it — just mention it in a text so we can restock for the next guest.
Trash, recycling & compost
San Francisco sorts into three streams. The big bins are in the garage; see House Notes → Trash & recycling for what goes where, and a one-minute video.
Coffee
Two machines: the easy one and the serious one
Coffee is taken seriously in this house, so there are two ways to make it.
- The easy one — Nespresso. Drop in a pod, press the button, done. The pods are in the holder mounted under the upper kitchen cabinets, just above the counter.
- The serious one — the espresso machine. It makes a beautiful cup, but it takes a little learning. Harry recorded a short walkthrough below. Extra beans are in the freezer.
Prefer to go out? Four Barrel is six minutes away →
The dishwasher
Simple to run — with three things that must never go in
- Add a tablet Tablets are in the plastic tub on the right-hand side of the cabinet to the left of the dishwasher.
- Press On/Off then select Regular Wash.
- Close the door and it begins on its own.
Laundry
Yours to use, as often as you like
The washer and dryer are in the laundry room just off the kitchen. Detergent is on the bottom shelf to the left of the machines. Use them whenever you like — a normal cycle is fine for nearly everything.
The room has a door to the back deck; if you step out, check that a cat has not slipped past you.
The bathroom
Recently remodeled — a shelf of your own, and a little ritual
The bathroom was recently remodeled. We have cleared a shelf in the tall wooden cabinet for your things, so you can unpack properly rather than live out of a toiletry bag.
Try the eucalyptus shower spray — Yang makes it. A mist or two on the shower wall before the water runs turns the bathroom into a small spa.
- Hair dryer — bottom drawer of the vanity.
- First-aid kit (plasters, antiseptic and the like) — also in the bottom drawer of the vanity.
- Painkillers — bottom medicine cabinet. Help yourself.
Television
Grey remote, and whatever you like
The grey remote turns the TV on. Open any of the streaming apps, or cast from your phone — it is all yours for the stay.
Where to find things
The quick index, for when you would rather not hunt
| Garage clicker | Entry bench by the front door |
|---|---|
| Fire extinguisher | Under the kitchen sink |
| Dishwasher tablets | Plastic tub, right side of the cabinet left of the dishwasher |
| Laundry detergent | Bottom shelf, left of the washer & dryer |
| Nespresso pods | Holder under the upper kitchen cabinets |
| Espresso beans (extra) | Freezer |
| Mixer, Instant Pot, processor, blender | Two bottom cabinets nearest the laundry-room door |
| Your bathroom shelf | Tall wooden cabinet |
| Hair dryer | Bottom drawer of the bathroom vanity |
| First-aid kit | Bottom drawer of the bathroom vanity |
| Painkillers | Bottom medicine cabinet in the bathroom |
| Iron & ironing board | Bedroom closet |
| Wi-Fi router | Living room, to the left of the fireplace |
| Cat feeder & fountain | Kitchen counter — please leave as is |
| Litter-Robot | Hallway closet — keep the door open |
| Thermostat | Next to the TV — please leave it be |
| Space-heater remote | Magnet on top of the bedroom heater |
| Trash / recycling / compost bins | Garage, on the right |
| Breaker panel & water shut-off | Garage |
Can't find something? Text us — we'd rather you ask than go without.