Recent Restorations and Renovations of California B&Bs and Boutique Inns
SACRAMENTO, CA [September 30, 2013] -- It’s hard to improve upon a good thing, but a number of inns in California have done just that with beautiful restorations and renovations designed with discriminating guests in mind. Below are just some of the more recent restorations among members of the California Association of Boutique and Breakfast Inns (CABBI).
Surrounded by redwoods along the Eel River in Garberville, the historic Benbow Inn recently underwent a $550,000 restoration to preserve the grandeur of the English Tudor-style inn. The project included new wall coverings, carpeting and draperies for the guest rooms and lobby. The guest rooms also benefitted from new bathroom floors, plumbing fixtures, bedding and upgraded WiFi. Most of the rooms now feature original artwork dating back to the establishment of Benbow Valley, including Evangeline Benbow’s original color drawings. Additional projects included improving the privacy of the inn’s terrace room patios and landscaping enhancements. The restoration project was completed in August 2013 by ERS hospitality.
Chanric Inn in Napa Valley re-opened last March after an extensive three-month renovation to the Victorian farmhouse. The old interior staircase was replaced with a modern, airy, metal and black walnut flight of stairs to open up the common area and allow more natural light. The bathrooms were completely remodeled with white marble showers, stone floors, and contemporary stone vessel sinks. All of the guest rooms also now have private baths. All-new furnishings from the San Francisco Design Center feature clean lines and muted color palettes; the authentic art adds to the inn’s eclectic, modern flair. A new outdoor water and fire feature and modern lounge furniture provide a comfortable space for stargazing.
The owners of the Hotel Charlotte in Groveland have turned a previously drab Victorian into a boutique hotel combining Old West nostalgia with contemporary sensibilities. Over the past year, they have remodeled the lobby, restaurant and five of the guest rooms. The largest project was the restaurant, where they gutted the previous space and installed a custom-made wood bar. The bar is made of local reclaimed wood as well as the original siding from the hotel. Using green building techniques, they installed eco-friendly cork floors and used reclaimed materials wherever possible. The restaurant now features all local wine and beer, specialty cocktails and a tapas and small plates style menu.
Built in 1852 as a the grand dame of California gold country, the National Hotel in Jackson had begun to show her age, but new owner Stanley Lukowicz sought to return the hotel to its original glory. After over a century of continuous service to guests, the hotel closed its doors in 2010 for a $4 million restoration that aimed to preserve the hotel’s historic roots while ushering it into modern times. Original Victorian furniture was painstakingly restored. Lavish in-suite bathrooms with heated marble bathroom floors were added to all of the guest rooms, along with luxurious linens and modern amenities. The renovated hotel reopened in August 2012 as a full service, boutique hotel with opulent accommodations, a full bar, wine cellar and fine dining.
Two goals for the new owners of the Inn on Randolph in Napa were to create a place where guests feel at home and to appeal to a younger generation. Dan and Karen Lynch spent nine months renovating the circa-1860 estate with an eye toward preserving the original architectural details, but there’s nary a doily in sight. “We wanted to provide the highest levels of personal service and amenities offered by a bed and breakfast, but without the lace and doilies,” says Karen Lynch. The inn, which re-opened in May 2012, features uncluttered design, contemporary furnishings, crisp white linens with a soothing palette of earth-tone accents, and completely remodeled bathrooms with spa tubs and heated floors. The inn also features a new gluten-free kitchen, where gluten-free breakfasts are prepared each morning and gluten-free cooking classes are held every few months.
The owners of the Eden Vale Inn in Placerville began converting their home, which had been an early 1900s hay barn, into a luxury bed and breakfast in 2007. Walls were gutted and removed and all new guest rooms were built to appeal to discriminating travelers. The result blends rustic elegance with sophisticated décor and ultra-modern features. The barn’s exposed rough-sawn beams and timbers provide the inn with unmatched character. The slate rock forming the towering, 40-ton fireplace was hand-picked from a nearby quarry. All of the guest rooms feature advanced soundproofing, a computerized lighting system, gas fireplaces, deep couples soaking tubs and more. In 2011, the Hamlins added two more guest rooms to the inn: the Gray Pine Penthouse and Madrone Penthouse. In 2014, they will add four more guest rooms, as well as an expanded dining room and a wedding pavilion.
For more information on these and other CABBI-member inns, visit www.cabbi.com.
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