1407 E Clarendon Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85014

1407 East Clarendon Avenue may quite possibly be the CUTEST lil Bungalow I've seen. Ever. Measuring in at just 690 square feet, it's surprisingly comfortable and lives large with a roomy master and walk-in closet, open and airy kitchen and a BIG yard that's just BEGGING for a barbecue. If you're anything like me, your love affair with 1407 E. Clarendon Ave. will start from the street. You'll notice the trees, the shrubbery, vines and the flowers first. You'll pull into a driveway of decomposed granite and open the car door. The birds might be the first thing you'll hear, followed possibly by a mower in the distance or kids laughing down the street. Neighbors along the street really seem to love their homes. And why wouldn't they? These deep irrigated lots create an oasis in the downtown area. Big trees. Big enough to support the swinging bench that you'll see in the front yard as you find your way under the trellis where pebbles turn to brick and the porch is straight ahead. I stood outside and finally sat down on one of the chairs, just looking out over the front yard and admiring the love that this 1920's Bungalow has received over the years. Most recently, Shannon and Mike envisioned using their newly purchased home as a downtown spot to relax in after long days at their offices downtown. They spent their weekends shopping for antiques, freshening up the decor and finding the "perfect" this and that. They planted trees and flowers and cherished their Central Phoenix Doll house. Shannon says "We meet here for lunch almost every day. It's so close to everything and we have loved this spot SO much!" I opened the front door. If you've ever watched any of the HGTV shows about living in small spaces, the popularity had to have started in a space just like this. From the built-in window seat tucked under the front door to the tufted ottoman that pairs perfectly with the green-velvet loveseat, every inch of this space has been thoughtfully staged not to sell, but to enjoy. And enjoying it was exactly what I was there to do. Starbucks in one hand, iPad in the other, I cozied up into the loveseat, set my coffee down on the tray in front of me and began writing on what I liked about the house so far. And there was quite a bit to write, because honestly, there's quite a bit to like. It's not any one thing that jumped out at me - rather it was the entire experience. The hardwood floors, pocket doors, big-n-beefy white mop-boards, beautifully patterned ceilings and classic Bungalow architecture that reminds me of a craftsman. This house is solid, and at almost 100 years old, there's a strong future here. This isn't one of the "flips" so popular today, with sparkly new furnishings and shiny new appliances that try to mask the fact that the house is just dull. 1407 is collected, doted upon, cherished and appreciated. And that is evident everywhere I looked. The Backyard and Patio are gorgeous. Shannon recalls "We always thought it was fun deciding which "sweet spot" to have our evening happy hour. If we were feeling especially social, we would head out to the front porch. We sipped our beverages, waving and saying hello to the friendly stream of neighbors, walking dogs, biking and walking or jogging by. Feeling a little less social, we could choose to hang out at the deck area in the backyard. The lawn, grape vines and mature shade trees are so pretty, and it's the perfect spot for long conversations while we waited for the stars to start twinkling. We drifted from spot to spot and enjoyed every bit of it." "It was also our home base while we experienced all that downtown Phoenix has to offer. A quick Uber was easy to get to all the hot spots, while daytime adventures were launched from the bungalow on our bicycles."