Peaceful Retreat – The Charlie

A tranquil spot just mere disco steps from WeHo – West Hollywood – The Charlie was once the workaday pied-à-terre and extended guest house of Charles Chaplin. Today, hidden away in a residential block off Melrose Avenue, screened by flowering oleanders and wrought-iron gates, the 13 rooms feel more like a tiny village, with their mock-Tudor façades, shingle roofs, cascading ivy, leaded windows and floral window boxes, connected by a winding gravel path through lush and wild gardens. All rooms have kitchens and strong natural light; some have exposed ceiling beams and Twenties-style checkerboard bath tiles. And while the interiors are tastefully bland, most rooms have private terraces and all have access to the gardens, barbecue deck and stone fireplace with wraparound seating. The Clark, an upper-level two-bed with a pair of bathrooms, has a master bedroom with French windows opening on to a private sun deck, while tucked away at the back is the Marilyn, a cosy two-storey, two-bedroom free­standing cottage with its own well-shielded terrace. The property’s sole studio, the Steve, has a stained-glass window overlooking a breakfast nook and garden. Complimentary parking adds considerable value.