Thursday, October 15, 2015

Fall Fun!



I love this time of year! Fall can be so much fun.... I mean the decorating options are so great. As an Innsitter taking care of a B&B in the fall I often get to shop for pumpkins, fall flowers and other decor. Isn't this display wonderful? Well, I didn't do it. I didn't do any of these but they are some of my favorites. Tell me what you think:
   

This one might be just a bit too "cutesy"
but I kind of like it anyway.








The one below is almost too formal but...
I kind of like it as well.


This porch is my idea of the perfect fall  decor: subtle, lovely and seasonal. I'm just getting ideas for my next property. Fun Fun Fun!
                                                   
                                                                                      





                                                      How do you decorate
for Fall?


                                                                       











                   

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Midwest Mansion


No, this isn't a museum. It's the Spaulding Inn B&B in Grinnell Iowa. No, we were not innsitters here. We were guests and we loved it!
         
 
                 I grew up in Grinnell and was there visiting my parents. This town like so many other Midwest towns is filled with beautiful old mansions. But even with so many to choose from, the Spaulding Inn stands out. It is an imposing brick beauty. Our room was the top left room in this photo and had a cozy little screened in porch on the corner.


                                  

 This 1907 mansion/B&B has many stunning architectural details such as this lovely stained glass window, burl walnut woodwork, built in lead glass book cases, two working fireplaces and art deco chandeliers.



Facing Main Street, the house boasts a grand porch with stone pillars and a beautiful bay window where guests now get to have breakfast. Yes, we were guests, we did not have to cook and we got to enjoy breakfast just like everybody else. What a treat!


But this little alcove was my favorite place to have breakfast. Note the beautiful lead glass and the chandelier. One morning Valerie served just the two of us here..... so romantic!
Now we are back to work but it was a treat to be pampered in this wonderful Midwest Mansion .