The Nifty Fifties 1950s cottage with a big yard, one mile from downtown Columbia

Room for six guests and four cars in a single-level 1950s cottage that still has its original wood paneling. You'll have two bedrooms plus a queen sofa bed, a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, a desk in a room with a door, a 65-inch Roku TV and fast Wi-Fi. Woodland Park is a 3-minute walk, and the courthouse square is a 2-minute drive.

We're Jason and Mindy. The house still has its original 1950s wood paneling and retro kitchen, and we've added the comfortable beds, fast Wi-Fi and full laundry that make a stay easy for families, work trips and longer visits.

WHAT GUESTS LOVE

One guest called it a living time capsule, and others say it feels like visiting their grandparents' house. They love how quiet the street is, how close it is to downtown, how clean everything is and how quickly we respond. Families especially love the big backyard, with plenty of room for kids to run.

THE HOUSE

The living room
Warm original wood paneling, a sofa that pulls out to a queen bed, two leather chairs, reading lamps and a 65-inch smart TV with Roku guest mode so you can sign in to your own streaming apps. Board games are on hand for evenings in.

The kitchen
A full kitchen with a retro red-and-white dinette that seats four. You'll find an electric stove and oven, a microwave, a refrigerator with freezer, a Keurig and a drip coffee maker, an electric kettle, a toaster, pots, pans, a baking sheet, cooking basics, dishes and wine glasses. There's no dishwasher.

The bedrooms
Bedroom one has a queen bed, a closet, a dresser and a desk with a chair, so you can work behind a closed door. Bedroom two has a double bed, a closet and a dresser. The living room sofa bed sleeps two more.

The bathroom
A tub with a shower, fresh towels, shampoo, conditioner, body soap and a hair dryer.

Laundry
A full-size washer and dryer in the house, free to use, which makes longer stays and trips with kids much easier.

Comfort
Central heat and air, ceiling fans, 300 Mbps Wi-Fi and an ethernet connection if you need a wired line for work.

Outside
A big backyard with a patio and outdoor seating, plenty of room for kids to run, and fireflies on summer evenings. The yard isn't fully fenced.

Single-level living
Everything is on one floor, with just a few steps at each entrance, so it's easy for grandparents and little ones alike.

GUEST ACCESS

The whole house and yard are yours. Check-in is self-service with a lockbox, so you can arrive any time between 3 and 10 p.m., and we'll send directions and your code before you arrive. If you'll be arriving after 10, that's fine. Just make sure you have your check-in instructions and code before you head our way.

The driveway fits four normal-sized cars. A stone wall at the entrance means large moving trucks, RVs, campers and trailers can't turn in, and street parking isn't allowed. The storage shed in the carport and the white detached building in the yard are for our use only.

YOUR HOSTS

We live in Franklin, so we're not on site, but we're only a message away. Send us a note any time and we'll answer quickly during waking hours. If something needs attention at the house, we'll take care of it. We're happy to share our favorite Columbia spots too, from coffee on the square to the best parks for kids, and our guidebook has our local favorites.

A FEW THINGS TO KNOW

Two Ring floodlight cameras record video and audio outside: one on the carport facing the road and one on the white storage building facing the backyard. Neither points toward the patio, so your time outside stays private. There are no cameras inside.

The backyard isn't fully fenced, so keep an eye on little ones outside. There's no dishwasher. Our lawn service comes weekly in mowing season, usually Tuesday or Wednesday, and pest control is exterior only. No service provider will enter the house during your stay.

No pets, no smoking or vaping and no parties. Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD

The house sits on a quiet street in one of Columbia's established neighborhoods, one mile from the historic courthouse square.

Woodland Park is a 3-minute walk from the front door. The Athenaeum is about an 11-minute walk, and the James K. Polk Home, the only surviving home of the 11th president other than the White House, is about 15.

Downtown Columbia is a 2-minute drive or a 20-minute walk. Around the square you'll find local restaurants, coffee shops, antique and vintage stores and live music. Bleu 32 Vintage Marketplace is 3 minutes away and fits right in with the house, and Bad Idea Brewing is just around the corner.

For families, the aMuse'um children's museum is 3 minutes away. Maury County Park is 8 minutes and Chickasaw Trace Park is 12, both good for trails and room to roam, and the Columbia Riverwalk runs along the Duck River near downtown.

Columbia calls itself Muletown, and Mule Day each spring is the biggest weekend of the year, so book early. Maury Regional Medical Center is about 4 minutes away for anyone visiting family or working nearby.

A DAY IN COLUMBIA

Start with coffee on the patio while the yard is still quiet, then walk about 15 minutes to the James K. Polk Home for a morning tour. Head to the square for lunch and an afternoon of antique and vintage shopping, or take the kids to the aMuse'um and burn off the rest of their energy at the Riverwalk. Come home, start something on the stove, and let everyone spill out into the backyard as the fireflies come out. It's the kind of slow, easy day this house was made for.

GETTING AROUND

A car is the easiest way to get around, and the driveway holds four. Woodland Park and the Polk Home are within walking distance, and the square is a 20-minute walk or a 2-minute drive. Uber and Lyft are available in Columbia, though waits can run longer than in Nashville. Franklin is about 35 minutes north and downtown Nashville about an hour.

QUESTIONS GUESTS ASK

How many people can stay?
Six: two in the queen, two in the double and two on the queen sofa bed in the living room.

Can we walk to the square?
Yes, if you enjoy a walk. It's about one mile, roughly 20 minutes on foot, or a 2-minute drive. Woodland Park is just 3 minutes away on foot.

Where do we park?
The driveway fits four normal-sized cars. Street parking isn't allowed, and large trucks, RVs and trailers can't get past the stone wall at the entrance.

Is it good for kids?
Very. Many of our guests are families. The yard is big, the house is all on one level, and the children's museum and Woodland Park are close. The yard isn't fully fenced, so keep an eye on little ones.

Is there a full kitchen?
Yes, with a stove, oven, microwave, full refrigerator, two coffee makers, pots, pans and cooking basics. There's no dishwasher.

Is there a washer and dryer?
Yes, full-size and free to use.

Can I work from here?
Yes. Bedroom one has a desk and chair behind a closed door, the Wi-Fi is fast, and there's an ethernet connection for a wired line.

Is the house really vintage?
Yes. It was built in the 1950s and still has its original wood paneling and a retro kitchen feel. The beds, Wi-Fi, TV, heating and air are all modern.

Are there stairs?
Just a few steps at each entrance. Everything inside is on one level.

Can we stay a month?
Yes. Longer stays are welcome, and the full kitchen and laundry make them easy. The house is about 4 minutes from Maury Regional Medical Center, which suits traveling medical staff and families visiting patients.

Do the hosts live nearby?
We live in Franklin, about 35 minutes away, and we're quick to answer messages.

Is coffee provided?
Yes. There's a Keurig and a drip coffee maker, with coffee to get you started.

Does the TV have cable?
No cable. The 65-inch TV runs Roku in guest mode, so you can sign in to your own streaming apps.

Is the street quiet?
Yes. The quiet street is one of the things guests mention most, apart from a neighbor's dog.

Can we bring a pet?
We're sorry, but no pets are allowed.

HOUSE RULES IN SHORT

Self check-in is from 3 to 10 p.m., and arriving later is fine if you have your instructions and code. Checkout is 11 a.m. No pets, no smoking or vaping and no parties or events. Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. Maximum six guests. Before you leave, please strip any used beds, leave used towels on top of the dryer and washed dishes on the drying rack, take out the trash, set the thermostat to 72 on auto, turn off the lights, lock up and put the key back in the lockbox.

We'd love to host you at The Nifty Fifties.