About

Hello I’m Robert Shipp, and I’m glad you’ve found your way to Station House Retreat. I live just outside Asheville, North Carolina, where I enjoy the slower pace of mountain life, hearty coffee on the porch, and the occasional backpacking trip into the Blue Ridge. My path here hasn’t been linear.

After completing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at a regional university, I spent eight years working in hospitality management for boutique lodges and guest-retreat centers. During that time I learned not only the value of thoughtful service, but also how small decisions say the right fold of a sheet, the right outdoor hammock, the right coffee maker can make a retreat feel memorable.

From Hospitality to Honest Product Reviews

Around the end of 2024 I realized that the same eye I’d honed for guest-comfort, equipment reliability and aesthetic balance in retreat properties applied just as well to the products we bring into our everyday homes. In early 2025 I began this blog as a way to share what I’d discovered: not just the “look good on the shelf” items, but the gear, tools and accessories I actually use in real life.

Robert Shipp
Robert Shipp

I wanted a space where I could dig into how things perform, how they hold up over time, and how they fit into a genuine lifestyle not hype, not marketing fluff. I picked “Station House Retreat” as the name of the blog because to me it evokes a cozy home base, a place of reflection, of honest gathering and I believe the same spirit works for product review as much as it did for guest-hosting.

My Approach to Reviewing

Here on the blog you’ll find reviews of everything from outdoor gear to everyday home-comfort items to whatever caught my practical eye that week. I write from first-hand experience. If I’m recommending a backpack, I’ve hiked it. If I’m writing about a coffee maker, I’ve brewed a few hundred cups and cleaned it out dozens of times. I’ll share both what I like and what I don’t because to me credibility matters more than perfection. My goal is to give you a clear sense of how a product behaves in the “real world” of a regular person’s home, rather than some abstract lab test.

Why This Blog Matters

We live in a world where new products flood the market constantly. It can feel overwhelming to sort through the noise and find the item that genuinely simplifies your life, holds up under use, and brings you a little more joy. Station House Retreat is meant to be your friendly, grounded guide through that clutter. Whether you’re furnishing a home, outfitting a weekend getaway, or just trying to pick a solid gadget that won’t fail you, I hope you’ll find something here that helps you make a confident decision.

Thanks for being here. I hope you’ll stick around, browse my thoughts, and join in the conversation. If you ever have a product you’d like me to review (or just want to say hello), send me a note. Here’s to better buys and less regret.

Author Profile

Robert Shipp
Robert Shipp
Robert Shipp is the voice behind Station House Retreat, an Amazon Affiliate product review blog born from his years in hospitality and hands-on living. Based near Asheville, North Carolina, Robert spent nearly a decade managing boutique lodges where comfort, durability, and good design mattered most. That experience taught him how the smallest details a sturdy lamp, a reliable kettle, or a well-made hammock—can turn an ordinary space into a haven.

In 2025, Robert brought that same mindset online, using Station House Retreat to share genuine product insights with readers who value honesty over hype. Every review he writes stems from personal use, practical observation, and a quiet belief that thoughtful choices make everyday life feel more like a retreat.
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