While the Love Is Blind couples were busy falling in love, there was something else that enamoured me: their homes.
As somebody who searches Rightmove like a frivolous trip to M&S wouldn’t bring me financial ruin, the properties the cast got to stay in while navigating the early parts of their romantic relationships piqued my interest.
To settle my curiosity, I searched for answers and discovered that newly engaged couples lived in STAY Camden’s luxury apartments after accepting proposals and holidaying in Corfu.
I arranged to spend a night at the London pad, and my trip has left me wondering how these people ever had drama — I could probably live with just about anyone here and convince myself I’m happy.
I’d argue it’s worth signing up for the Netflix show just to have an all-expenses paid stay in Stay Camden, as a classic two-bedroom apartment starts from £248 per night.
It’s not cheap especially when you consider there is a seven-night minimum stay, so begging for a proposal on day one of the pods (the first stage of the series, where singletons date without seeing each other) would probably be a move Martin Lewis would approve of.
As you’d expect for the cost, the accommodation is pretty sizeable.
If you were to argue in there, you could get so far away from your verbal sparring partner that you wouldn’t have to hear them.
This was useful for the stars of the show – Demi Brown and Ollie Sutherland, Catherine ‘Cat’ Richards and Freddie Powell, Sabrina Vittoria and Steven Smith, Jasmine and Bobby Johnson, Maria Benkh and Tom Stroud, and Nicole Stevens and Benaiah Grunewald Brydie – who spent three weeks getting a preview of what married life could be like in the building.
Designed to feel like a home away from home, the apartments boast a walk-in-wardrobe attached to the master that even the Selling Sunset girlies would approve of.
There are also two balconies – one overlooks Regent’s Canal – plus a giant mirror for selfies (important!), and an open-plan kitchen and living room.
The neutral colour scheme makes it feel like a calm escape from the hustle and bustle outside, and unique features such as art-deco light fittings and marble tables give it a boutique edge.
The only thing lacking in size is the sofa — perhaps intentionally to inspire more contact.
Joining me for the staycation in North London was not my fiancé (at last check, I don’t have one of those) but my friend Lydia.
She’s perhaps the closest I’ve come to being married as we lived together for seven years before she actually did find someone who put a ring on her left hand and brought to an end those fun years of girlhood.
We used to spend every Sunday rotting on the sofa binge-watching reality TV while debriefing on the previous night’s antics terrorising South London bars. And on weeknights, we’d cook gigantic portions of fusilli pasta and coat it in tuna mayonnaise. We’d spoon mouthfuls while discussing our struggles to climb the career ladder or find someone eligible to date.
The best moments that happened in the Love Is Blind apartments
Jasmine finds Bobby’s music video
She may have fallen for Bobby in the pods, but Jasmine still kept her wits about her and did some due diligence.
Jasmine did what many singletons do when dating someone new, and searched Bobby’s name to see what the internet knew about her man. She discovered a music video for his song Body of a Dancer, in which he frolics with a beautiful woman.
Fans loved how Jasmine showed Bobby the music video as if it was evidence of a crime. However, they of course moved past it and even danced to the catchy tune on their wedding day.
The awkward dinner party
Jasmine and Bobby get a second spot in the list, thanks to her mum, Marisa, who visited their first shared home for a dinner party.
However, that family meeting spiralled into more of an interrogation where Bobby got told he was ‘uneducated’ when he shared that he didn’t attend university.
‘It’s better to be with a person with a good educational background,’ she said. ‘Sometimes it’s very difficult to communicate with an uneducated person. I’m very protective. I don’t want her to be hurt again.’
Tom makes a cutting comment
While lying in bed together, Tom made a comment about Maria’s profession as a makeup artist that left her shocked.
‘I was a little bit judgemental when I first heard what you did. I can be a bit judgy at times,’ he told Maria, who then walked away from the conversation.
Ollie opens up
While sitting on the sofa, Ollie felt comfortable talking about having ADHD, something he didn’t speak about with an ex-partner until they’d been together for a year.
He told Demi that he struggles with the impact of the neurodevelopmental disorder every day, and she listened attentively, before reassuring him that if he does things differently, it doesn’t make him any less worthwhile.
Benaiah gives Nicole a ring
Benaiah and Nicole’s story was a little more complicated so they didn’t get the same grand proposal that the others during the post-pod reveal.
Nicole initially accepted a proposal from Sam before realising something wasn’t right, and asking Benaiah if he would continue persuing their connection.
After moving in together, Benaiah finally gave an excited Nicole a ring while they were standing on the balcony.
As often happens in adulthood, our lives take us in different directions, and scheduling any kind of catch-up takes a lot of emotional energy, not to mention wading through multiple WhatsApp messages and diary coordination. When asking for December availability in September, it makes me yearn for our early 20s.
However, for one evening only, the stars aligned and we were able to spend nearly 24 hours together.
While the apartment isn’t magic, I can totally see how the setting helps to accelerate connections on Love Is Blind.
The luxurious feel, having a 24-hour concierge team that will take care of anything, an on-site gym, and a location in the heart of Camden market (the date night options are endless), make it feel removed from the real world. We all know holiday romances can escalate at a faster rate, and staying somewhere like this could just about do it.
Also, those staying here don’t have to set up utility bills or sign rental contracts even if they plan on being there for a lengthy period, which is appealing.
While my relationship with Lydia isn’t romantic, there is, of course, a lot of love.
After saying ‘wow’ about 15 times while touring our temporary home, we emerged onto the streets of Camden.
We sipped lagers at 3 Locks Brewery while eavesdropping on a woman giving a passionate sermon to her friends about why she loves sex, ate delicious mozzarella toasties at The Cheese Bar, and then, finally, treated an empty Coyote Ugly like an aerobics class by following the bar dancers’ every step to Devil Went Down to Georgia.
Feeling the love, we purchased friendship bracelets from a market stall and headed home to watch Wedding Crashers on the tiny sofa sipping wine out of golden cups, of course.
Love Is Blind is available to watch on Netflix