There’s something about Lily Pads that put us at ease as soon as we arrived. Or rather, there were several things. From Carola’s welcome, to the natural light, to the comfortable bed, the whole place comes together beautifully. It’s calming, and while there aren’t many bold decisions in the design, that’s not a problem. The understated aesthetic is what’s called for in a place like this. In a similar vein, the surrounding streets are largely residential away from the buzz of more central areas. Home truths: *The lift finishes on the floor below, so you'll have to take the stairs from the third floor to the fourth *Terrestrial TV only – there's unfortunately it's not a smart TV *Two people can sleep on a sofa bed in the living room *The bedside lights have a very soft glow, which is soothing but not especially easy to read by