Monday, March 31, 2014

New rack cards ordered

Wow.... In less than two weeks we've gone through 250 rack cards. The first time we ordered we had to use "stock" photos because our room bedding wasn't in.

This is the pic that will go on the new rack cards ordered yesterday:


We're ordering a large batch, but holding off on getting too many yet. In a month we can apply for inspection and certification from Bed & Breakfast Inns of Missouri (BBIM). We'd like to be able to put their logo on our rack cards. 

Doesn't this pic make you want to curl up, get cozy, and sip a beverage? 😃

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Come spend some time in the Vidal Blanc Suite

A few finishing touches are needed, but the Vidal Blanc Suite is nearing completion.


 
 
The Vidal Blanc Suite features a beautifully carved, king-sized bed.  The room was painted in Jersey Cream, a Sherwin Williams paint, and the custom bed scarf was created by Jill Ryan at The Grateful Thread in New Town, St. Charles, Missouri.  The room includes a sitting room area, a writing desk and chair, a bureau with drawers, a closet, a single-serve coffee maker, a towel warmer, and a flat-screen Smart TV.  Next up are the finishing touches for the walls and the shades/blinds.

 
 
The sitting area in the suite includes a leather couch with a queen-sized sleeper, a full-sized mirror, table and lamps.
 


The jetted tub off the suite with custom tile in a river rock, rippling pattern.  This bathroom was painted in Humble Gold, a Sherwin Williams paint.

 
The bathroom double-bowl vanity off of the suite with the same custom tile as a backsplash in a river rock, rippling pattern.  This bathroom also has a shower to the left of the photo. 

Riesling's Retreat

Our room, Riesling's Retreat, is almost finished.



This room, with a queen-sized bed, has a chifferobe with drawers and room to hang clothes, a writing desk and chair, and a flat screen Smart TV.  This room was painted in Monorail Silver, a Sherwin Williams paint.  The custom bed scarf was made by Jill Ryan at the Grateful Thread in New Town, St. Charles.  Next up are pictures for the walls.

Cab's Corner Room near completion

Cab's Corner is near completion.  The bedding has arrived, and the finishing touches are about to be done.


This room used Bagel, a Sherwin Williams paint.  The custom bed scarf is from Jill Ryan at the Grateful Thread in New Town, St. Charles, Missouri.  The room also has a chair, writing desk, chifferobe with drawers and space to hang clothes.  Also in the room is a flat screen Smart TV.  Next up are pictures for the walls.

Norton's Nook nearing completion

Norton's Nook bedding is in!  This little corner room has a Queen-sized bed, a chifferobe with drawers and room to hang clothes, a writing desk & chair, and a flat-screen Smart TV.


This room was painted with Koi Pond, a Sherwin Williams paint.  The designer bed scarf was from The Grateful Thread in New Town, St. Charles, thanks to Jill Ryan.  Next up are pictures for the walls!

Friday, March 28, 2014

First guests arrive Friday, April 4th!

Wow - opening day is just around the corner......

Fire Marshall did inspection today. 
Building Inspector will be here Monday.
And first four guests arrive Friday afternoon!

So, this next week will be comprised of a flurry of activity. Thanks for being along for the ride on our personal roller coaster...ha!

Wish Us Luck!!

Monday, March 24, 2014

Custom mosaic medallion for our lounge

Today the final glaze went in our custom mosaic in our lounge, "The Stable."  Our tile guy, Ed Hausner, created this out of various pieces of tile. It's two feet by two feet, in the center of the room.  We love Ed's creativity, and liked how this turned out. 

Monday, March 17, 2014

Bed and Breakfast Inns of Missouri (BBIM)

At the Bed & Breakfast Inns of Missouri (BBIM) 25th Anniversary. Jeff & Chris are getting Food Prep & Serving certification.
Plus celebrating St Patrick's Day!

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Riesling's Retreat Beds

The queen bed for Riesling's Retreat is a combination of cherry wood and carved/shaped iron. We found this at Ashley Furniture and really liked it.  While there is a current trend toward upholstered headboards, they are extremely difficult to keep clean and are awful for individuals with allergies. We're striving for as close to an allergy-free experience as possible.
All of the mattresses are Serta Perfect Sleeper pillow top. Keep posted for photos of finished room!


Cab's Corner Furniture

This is the headboard for the queen bed in Cab's Corner. 

The bed has wooden side-boards, and a wood & iron footboard. We found this bed at Ashley Furniture and really liked it. The mattress is a Serta Perfect Sleeper pillow top.  While there is a current trend toward upholstered headboards, they are extremely difficult to keep clean and are awful for individuals with allergies. We're striving for as close to an allergy-free experience as possible.  

Keep tuned for a photo of the finished room!

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Vidal Blanc Suite bathroom is finished!

The shower, vanity, mirrors, jetted tub, lights, and tile are all in!

Ed Hausner used a river rock tile for backsplash. We love it!

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Booking at the Inn

Wow. Today was exciting. One woman called to book all four rooms for a weekend, with people in their group traveling from as far away as Paris, France!  Another call was from a guest who wanted to get away from St. Louis and stay two nights during the week after we open.

Obviously, after all of the "out-flow" we're experiencing as we get ready (remember that Tom Hanks movie, "The Money Pit"??!!), some income is very welcomed at this point (and needed....ha!)

This has been a very time-consuming, brain-draining, and hard-working journey for both of us; but we are trusting that all will work out.  Everyone asks Jeff what retirement feels like, and we just laugh! He's traded one 12-hour day for another (with a very demanding boss --ha)!

We have really appreciated all of the help our friends and family have given us in preparation for opening, (especially Chuck Havener, Jeremy Collins, and Nick Comotto), and for getting the word out about the Inn to others. Thanks SO much!

We feel that to have eleven room nights booked prior to being opened is a good sign. We have BnB Websites, Reservation Nexus, and Google Search Engine to thank for that!

It's going to be open before we know it! Stay tuned for the journey! 😃

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Floor Refinishing

Have you ever looked at your older wood floors wishing they looked better? Well now you can get the look of professional refinishing, but at a fraction of the cost!

At the Inn we were challenged with the fact that the older part of the building has wooden floors that are 111 years old, and there are 20-year old floors in the entryway and gathering space. These floors were very worn. We wanted to maintain the original floors, but the cost to have the floors all refinished was too costly, and we thought it might change the look of the floors. So we looked around for something good that we could do ourselves.

We found a product at Home Depot that helped us keep the original character of the floors while not breaking the bank. The product was called Rejuvenate. First, you use their cleaning product with a microfiber "bonnet" that fits over a sponge mop head. After the cleaning step, you do the finishing step, using another microfiber bonnet over a clean sponge mop. The cleaning step needs about 45 minutes of drying time. The refinishing step needs about one hour to dry, and two hours between coats.

We chose the high gloss finish for the older floors, and a satin finish for the newer floors. What a difference!! We were so happy with the results (see the half completed results below).




Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Norton's Nook - furniture has arrived!

The first bed has arrived! Norton's Nook has a queen-sized, richly carved walnut bed. Also in the room is a small writing desk, chair, nightstand,  and chifferobe for hanging clothes.
The mattress is Serta Perfect Sleeper pillow top. While there is a current trend toward upholstered headboards, they are extremely difficult to keep clean and are awful for individuals with allergies. We're striving for as close to an allergy-free experience as possible.