West Chester, Pennsylvania
Bala Farm Cottage now has it's own website. Bala Farm Cottage is a wonderfully cozy little cottage located less than 3 miles from the center of West Chester, at the top of a hill in a quiet neighborhood. It has charming study downstairs with a bay window looking out towards majestic trees, and an entry hall that ends with a wet bar, refrigerator, microwave and coffee machine. A lovely curved staircase leads to the upstairs bedroom with queen bed and a spacious bathroom. You'll love your stay in West Chester at Bala Farm Cottage!
The space
Bala Farm Cottage, located 2 miles from the center of West Chester, was built around 1850 to serve as a "library" (1800's version of a man cave, we think) at a time when the main Bala Farm house (built in 1759) was being used as a boarding school for boys. It's undoubtedly been employed in a variety of functions since then, and when we bought the property we thought it would make a perfect guest cottage.
We've made a few changes to give the cottage some of the comforts that help make a very enjoyable stay. The wet bar is located at the end of a quaint entry hall, and has a small refrigerator and microwave, in addition to a K-cup coffee machine with complimentary pods provided, an electric kettle with tea. There is also a sliced bread toaster provided, but please be aware that there are no cooking appliances, utensils or abilities beyond these.
The study includes a love seat with pillows and additional blankets for staying cozy in winter months, across from a gas fireplace that warms the room nicely. There is a small table with two chairs that can be used both for dining or as a workspace. For those looking to spend quite a bit of time working, there is a desk against the wall that provides more of a formal workspace. There are also built-in cabinets in the study, which serve as a sort of panty, holding wine glasses, plates & utensils (we've switched to paper & plastic since COVID began), salt & pepper, napkins and bottle openers. To round out the seating, there are a couple of padded accent chairs that provide additional options.
The curved staircase leads up to a cozy bedroom with a comfortable queen bed and a spacious bathroom. There are both privacy curtains and wood shutters, so you can either fill it with natural light, or keep things dark for a longer slumber. There is no closet in the bedroom, but there is a suitcase stand and a garment rack for hanging clothes. The bathroom includes a shower and small vanity with mirror, as well as closeted shelves, with some basic amenities such as shampoo & conditioner and body wash.
There is a large stone fire pit just steps from the cottage that guests are welcome to use, with adirondack chairs and picnic table nearby, that you may find perfect for enjoying an evening glass of wine or cold beer outdoors. All of the trees on the property mean that there is plenty of wood nearby for enjoying fires if the weather allows (we keep one stack next to the fire pit).
Please note that the house and cottage are within a small development. However, we are on top of a hill at the end of a cul-de-sac and surrounded by trees, so there is a private feel and you hardly notice when you are on the property and in the cottage, but you will notice when you drive into the neighborhood.
We look forward to welcoming you for your stay at Bala Farm Cottage!
Guest access:
Guests will have the cottage to themselves, can come and go as they please, and are welcome to enjoy the grounds. If anything is needed that is not in the cottage, just ask!
Interaction with guests:
We're happy to interact with guests as much or as little as they prefer! Since we live on the grounds, we'll usually be available to answer questions, provide recommendations, or tell stories.
Incredibly comfortable and historic; very well located to Brandywine Valley historic sites; Great dining options in West Chester; wonderful hostess. We loved it!
Great stay and experience!
My wife and I stayed for a weekend away. We didn’t spend much time at the cottage, but when we were there it felt like home away from home. Plenty of access to the surrounding communities which are full of trails and fun places to visit.
What a wonderful, charming cottage with very thoughtful hosts. I asked in advance if the refrigerator had a freezer compartment that I could use for ice (to care for an injured knee). Mina not only responded immediately (yes) but offered to stock the freezer with small bags of ice for me. The cottage was also stocked with snacks, games, and a binder with restaurant recommendations (and some wonderful info about the cottage's history). I can't wait to stay here again!
So appropriate to stay in this sweet historic cottage while touring behind the scenes at Winterthur! Lovely
The wonderful condition of this cottage is a testament to the time and care Mina and Chad have put into the place. Their thoughtfulness shone through in every room and was apparent along every step of the rental process. Looking forward to the opportunity to stay here again.
What a special place! Bala Farms cottage is the perfect alternative to a boring hotel room. Thank you Mina & Chad for offering this historic yet modern little retreat.
Enjoyed our stay in this pretty historic building. It was comfortable, clean, and their adorable dog greeted us outside when we arrived. It was a very nice home base for our long weekend spent exploring Local places, like Winterthur, Brandywine Creek State Park, Brandywine River Museum and this fantastic Baldwin’s Book Barn we found close by, an old barn filled with 4 floors of used books!
A perfect location near attractions and our friends. Ideal for a couple. Well equipped. Very friendly and responsive hosts. Highly recommended.
So enjoyed our stay at the cottage. Unfortunately, it was a quick trip. Would have loved to had more time to explore the area. Hosts were very easy to communicate with and cottage was awesome. Thanks you for your hospitality. Hope to return..
We loved the peacefulness of this small old cottage, though small certainly is an apt descriptor. The location is excellent, and it's as quiet at night as anywhere we've ever stayed. The kitchenette is utilitarian: it's not much more than a small sink, coffeemaker on a side table, a microwave, and a small fridge; so not sufficient for self-catering. Serviceable enough for a quick bagel and a coffee. The major drawback was a mattress that was far too soft and I fear overused. This made getting a good night's sleep difficult for us both. Some improvement to the garden for a chance to sit outside and read or eat might be a consideration for the future, if the owners of the adjacent house wanted to further invest.
We enjoyed our stay here. The cottage has a very historic feel to it. A perfect place to stay if you are touring the historic sites of the Brandywine Valley.
My spouse and I stayed here and the only downside was that we wished we had more time to stay! Check-in couldn't have been simpler, and the fireplace was on and the inside was warm and cozy to welcome us. The interior of the cottage was even more lovely than the photos: beautiful woodwork and other historic architectural details, while still having an updated and comfortable bed and bathroom. We enjoyed some quiet downtime (even did one of the puzzles provided!) and followed some great food recommendations from the guidebook. We'd love to come stay again!
Exactly as described. Everything was perfect!
This is such a great place to stay. Owners were easy to get in to use with. Check in process was simple. Unit has amazing character and rich in American history. Endless things to do in the area. Definitely would stay here again.
Adorable historic space and the hosts did such a great job documenting food options in West Chester! It ended up being a surprisingly foodie trip for us with their suggestions!
Perfect respite for Grandparents to stay for Thanksgiving weekend
I rented this property for my parents who had not been away since before Covid. They could not have been happier about the home! It is located in a beautiful setting and near to great restaurants, wineries, and attractions.
The cottage is clean, cozy, and absolutely charming. Mina was a gracious host and the neighborhood is quiet and centrally located. Parking and check-in was a breeze. There are plenty of restaurants and attractions nearby. I very much appreciated the notebook full of local information left by the hosts. Thank you, Mina and Chad! I had a lovely stay and hope to return the next time I'm in the area.
The cottage is a charming early 19th century building … it’s a little quirky but was perfect for our needs. The hosts are wonderful, the neighborhood high end, but mostly it was a great place to stay and see Longwood, Winterthur, and the Brandywine River Museum. It was a lovely weekend ?
Bala Farms Cottage hit all the marks. A beautifully restored 1700s cottage with preserved historical details but updated amenities such as modern bath and overall lighting usually not found in properties of this age ( We know- we ourselves own a mid 1800's home in New England). The cottage was comfortable, well appointed and served as a wonderful home for us while we attended the activities of a local family wedding. In addition, the proximity to hiking, biking and dining activities was excellent. The wifi services extended to the picnic table and fire-pit in the yard allowing me to work under the shade of the hundred year old gorgeous trees. The owners were helpful in checking in and assisting us through the weekend. This is a unique property (read about the underground railroad use of the main house!) and a lovely home away from home.
It was just the right size for me - small enough to be cozy, big enough for a comfortable home away from home. Lovely furnishings and well- maintained historic property. Mina was wonderful and had so much knowledge of the area. I would stay here again!
Comfortable and cozy cottage with plenty to do nearby in West Chester. The property is quiet and Mina and Chad are gracious hosts.
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Total
Includes taxes and fees