LISTING SUMMARY:
The ideal home base for outdoor exploration, right in Keene, center of the High Peaks. With unrivalled proximity to the mountains, dining & shops are steps away. Thoughtfully designed, the property's rustic Adirondack exterior has been blended with contemporary interiors. Skylights bathe the space in natural light. Experience an authentic woodfired sauna, a restored cast iron clawfoot tub, and embrace the harsh ADK winters with a vintage woodstove. Resting after exploration is effortless here.
SPACE SUMMARY:
A fully furnished 2 bedroom / 1 bathroom private apartment perfectly setup whether for a brief escape or an extended stay. This space comes with private parking and entrance. Part of a duplex, the space is located behind/adjacent to our other apartment (Listing: Xplorer I).
Xplorer II enjoys a unique living space. Each detail, has been carefully considered for comfort and experience, from the bathroom, featuring an artfully refurbished 1890s cast iron clawfoot tub & rain shower, to the numerous skylights flooding the space with natural light and warmth. Custom furnishings, crafted locally, accent the space and support our talented local artisans. Outside the house is our designer wood-fired dry and steam sauna, a shared feature with our two other guest rentals, reserved for private use by one guest group at a time (details below).
Ideal for couples, small families / groups, or solo travelers, this 700sf space easily accommodates 1-4 guests, and we welcome up to 5 guests for larger groups who don't mind closer quarters.
Note: For those seeking a smaller space, we invite you to see our listing "Xplorer I", a one-bedroom apartment located just below Xplorer II; for those seeking a larger space, the option to combine these two apartments into one is available, creating a spacious 3BR, 2BA house (see our listing "Xplore House" for details).
BEDROOMS & EXTRA SLEEPING AREAS:
Xplorer II has two bedrooms, furnished with king-sized beds. High vaulted ceilings, skylights and unique windows in the bedrooms bring in an abundance of natural light, making the spaces feel open and airy. Both bedrooms feature desk space and blackout shades while the first bedroom connects to a walkout deck.
Extra Sleep Accommodations: The master bedroom features a daybed style couch with a twin mattress, serving both as our lounge area and an extra sleeping space, if needed. Extra linens are stored in the guest stock closet for easy access. In total, the space features three beds: two kings and one twin.
BATHROOM: Enjoy a candle-lit bath or rain shower in a unique setting. Fully restored by a local artisan to its original beauty, an 1890s vintage cast iron clawfoot tub rests on a bed of stone. A custom fabricated rain shower, locally sourced Adirondack pine, and natural stone complete the interior.
LIVING AREA: Instead of a traditional separate living room, the main lounge area sits upstairs within our oversized master bedroom; here you'll find a daybed style couch with a coffee table and TV, right in front of a large set of windows.
There is a 2nd small lounge area with a custom made two person Adirondack loveseat situated in front of the woodstove in the kitchen / dining area on the lower level.
For entertainment, we have a TV equipped with a Chromecast device, allowing you to stream your preferred video service. High-speed, fiber optic Wi-Fi ensures you can take video calls or stream movies easily.
KITCHEN / DINING: Designed with rustic & modern elements, the fully furnished kitchen / dining area offers everything you need for an enjoyable cooking experience, whether staying for a few days or a few months.
WORKSPACE: An efficient workspace in the master bedroom comes complete with a 27" computer monitor screen, allowing for comfortable remote work. The second bedroom has a table and reading chair for quiet reading or writing sessions. Fiber optic high-speed Wi-Fi ensures connectivity for working, streaming, and video calls.
SAUNA: The sauna is a shared amenity with our two other guest rentals, with a signup sheet on the sauna allowing guests to reserve private 2-hour sessions, so it can be enjoyed exclusively by one guest group at a time (full usage details, rules, and safety guidelines are provided in our House Guide before check-in). Custom-built and designed using local Adirondack wood, the sauna cabin was built with Finnish design principles and features shou sugi ban siding, a traditional Japanese method of charring wood. The wood-burning sauna stove can be enjoyed dry or with steam by ladling water over the heated sauna stones. The sauna cabin has a small covered outdoor porch with seats, allowing you to rest and cool off between sauna cycles.
EXTERIOR SPACE: Just off the kitchen is the lower-level porch with a gas grill outside completing the cooking experience. An upper-level deck for lounging is accessible from both the lower porch and the upstairs bedroom.
GROUNDS & SURROUNDINGS: The space is located right in the heart of town. We have private parking with enough room to comfortably fit two vehicles.
Being right in town, the lot is small, and we don't have a typical "backyard", but with the beautiful mountains all around us, who needs one? At Xplorer II, the Adirondack wilderness is your backyard.
We're just off the main strip in town, which means local dining and shopping options are just a short walk away - You can walk to 46 Restaurant, Cedar Run Market, East Branch Organics, as well as our awesome neighbor Dartbrook South for artfully curated Adirondack goods & products. There’s even a public EV charger just a 2-minute walk from the house. Enjoy the convenience of town living just steps away.
NEIGHBORHOOD: The space is located in Keene, NY. Known as the 'Home of the High Peaks', Keene is a small, quiet, picturesque town, coveted for its central proximity amidst the mountains and major trailheads. To name just a few, trailheads including the ADK Loj/Heart Lake, The Garden, and the AuSable Club are just a short drive away, making it an excellent base for experiencing nature and outdoor exploration. Come winter, the slopes at Whiteface Ski Resort are a just a 17 min drive away. In addition to natural attractions, Keene and Keene Valley have several restaurants, unique shops, and town amenities. For those seeking more vibrancy, Lake Placid and its nightlife, shopping and dining options are just a short drive away (18min).
THINGS TO NOTE & SPECIAL FEATURES
THINGS TO NOTE:
1. DRIVEWAY/PARKING: The driveway/parking at Xplorer II is slightly narrow, just something to be mindful of if you have a commercial sized vehicle. We can fit two mid to large vehicles.
2. SOUND: Our property is conveniently situated just off the main strip in Keene, which means you might occasionally hear some noise. However, we provide a HEPA Air Purifier with a strong fan in the unit that can be used for white noise if desired. Further, the space is part of a duplex; we've taken measures to minimize sound transmission between the units by installing sound-damping insulation. However, given the nature of duplex living, we respectfully request all our guests help maintain a peaceful environment, particularly during nighttime hours. Mindfulness in this regard will ensure that all guests enjoy a quiet and restful stay.
3. EXTERIOR SECURITY CAMERAS: For the safety and security of our guests, this property is equipped with exterior security cameras. These are located on the sides of the house/garage facing towards the driveway and monitor exterior entrances and outdoor areas only. Footage is used for security purposes only.
4. CLEANLINESS: We take great pride in maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness. We conduct a comprehensive multi-hour cleaning and aerate the house utilizing a HEPA air purifier between each stay (HEPA even helps filter viruses like Covid-19 and Flu).
SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. CAST IRON CLAWFOOT TUB: The space features a real vintage clawfoot tub (dated from the 1890s) with a custom fabricated rain shower. We had a local artisan completely refurbish this tub into a truly special feature.
2. WOODSTOVE: The space is equipped with a genuine vintage woodstove, note however the stove is not available for use during the hot summer months from July 1st to August 31st due to its extremely high heat output.
3. SAUNA: The space features a designer woodfired traditional Finnish dry & steam sauna to totally recharge while embracing our harsh Adirondack weather. The sauna is a shared feature with our two other guest rentals, reserved for private use by one guest group at a time.
4. HEATING & COOLING: modern all-electric heating and air conditioning for comfort in any season.
5. NATURAL LIGHT: The space is flooded with natural light. Large windows and 6 new skylights bathe the entire upper floor in sunlight throughout the day and allow views of the stars at night (complete with Skylight blackout shades at night if desired).
6. ECO-FRIENDLY PRACTICES: We are committed to the environment, which is why all our cleaning products, soaps, and detergents are, as best we can find, eco-friendly, plant-derived, and non-toxic. All waste bags are biodegradable. Our down blankets are all "Responsible Down Certified"
7. LOCALLY SOURCED MATERIAL & LOCAL CRAFTSMEN: Many pieces you will see throughout the property came locally sourced from the Adirondacks. We worked with local craftsmen on custom design, fabrication and woodwork. From the floating shelves in the kitchen to the futon in the living room - wherever we could find, most materials were procured locally.
8. HIGH-SPEED INTERNET: The space is equipped with fiber optic high-speed Wi-Fi.
9. LOCALLY SOURCED MATERIALS AND LOCAL CRAFTSMEN: Many pieces you will see throughout the property came locally sourced from the Adirondacks. We worked with local craftsmen on custom design, fabrication and woodwork.
