611 Cathedral Street, Baltimore.Hot House: Live/Work Carriage House in the Heart of Mount Vernon. 2 Beds/2 Baths. 1,508 Square Feet. Garage! $3,000/month.What: When I moved back to Baltimore from the UK, the place I had in mind to live was somewhere that I could run a small business and also where I could live. If this charming carriage house had been available at the time, I would have snapped it right up.This free-standing carriage house was home to a local architecture firm for years. It has recently been vacated, and had its kitchen and bathrooms redesigned and upgraded for a more family-style space by its owner, a local furniture maker. It’s a creative combination of original details, with an industrial overlay.After you park your car in your private garage (a MASSIVE perk) you enter the house into the open plan first floor with its brick and hardwood floors and walls with some of the original beadboard. A custom designed bathroom is to your left, and it features a vessel sink on a vintage railroad desk. The doors to the bath and adjacent closet come from the owner’s workshops. There is also an inside door to the garage.As you move forward, two doric columns frame the dining room which also features some of the original beadboard paneling. The brand-new kitchen has new appliances along with lighting designed by the owner, and a peg-board wall (a la Julia Child) for your collection of kitchen utensils.The second floor has two bedrooms, one of which has a wall of bookcases, which could be used for books (!), or for clothes and shoes. There is also a laundry room with new appliances and a bathroom which combines classic – a marble sink, with industrial – the faucets. There is plenty of light coming from the windows on both sides.The attached private garage is a huge asset in a neighborhood where there are numerous clubs and cultural institutions. It’s for one car, but there is also storage space.Where: The carriage house in on Cathedral Street, just a one-minute walk to the west park at Mount Vernon Place. The Walters Art Museum is immediately to the south, and the Engineers’ Club is just to the rear. There is so much to do in this walkable neighborhood, and if you ever have to leave, you know you’ll always have a parking space when you return.Final Appraisal: If you’re looking for a downtown life-style, but don’t want to commit to buying a huge townhouse, this is a perfect compromise. It is quirky, with lots of space for you to make it your own. The listing for the house is here.All photographs from the listing.