Over the last decade, my family has conducted something of a tour of small Midwestern towns, and we…read moreprefer B&B's over hotels. Even in small town America, the hotel market has consolidated to just a few large chains where every hotel is like every other one. But B&B's still reliably offer the kind of personal touches that allow one to feel at home while away.
Of the dozens of B&B's we've tried, Innisfree is the one to which we always return. We've stayed multiple times each year since 2007 or so. I've stayed in three different rooms, and each has its own unique charms. My most recent stay was this April, 2011. I always leave wishing I could stay just one more night.
The photography on the Innisfree website hints at the majestic edifice. We see details of the fine woodwork, the wall paper, the furniture--and we tend to expect these things at a B&B. But one thing the photos can't convey is how natural these details feel when you're inside the house. It feels like a house that's evolved over the last 100 years, not something that was slapped together as part of a business plan.
One criticism I have of many B&B's is an irksome tendency to overplay their themes and the decorative flourishes they suggest. Too often, they all but drown themselves in a profusion of ruffles and lace. Innisfree escapes this with genuine period-appropriate furnishings and treatments that look and feel like objects real people thoughtfully used and respected. And while there is a definite Irish/Celtic theme at play here, it's understated and tasteful. This is a home, not an Irish theme park.
The beds are comfy, the common areas of the house inviting and restful. And with hundreds of novels, picture books, magazines, CDs, and videos, as well as televisions in each room and house-wide Wi-Fi, the house is a library with something to satisfy anyone's taste in entertainment. (If you care to extend the Irish theme, after cheering the Fighting Irish, make sure to stop in at Fiddler's Hearth, a terrific pub just a ten-minute walk from Innisfree, with great pub fare, good brews, live entertainment and a convivial college crowd.)
Innisfree's proprietor, Cindy, demonstrates a keen eye for the little details that make Innisfree especially comfortable. A refrigerator stocks bottled water and other beverages. Any forgotten toiletries are readily available (without having the ask), as well as some rather lovely bath products, soaps, and lotions for those who enjoy such things. One can even find a sewing kit for an unexpected repair. My most recent stay included a plate of homemade cookies in my room. Pre-breakfast coffee is always waiting downstairs for those who like to read the paper or sip a cup while performing their ablutions.
Any seasoned B&B guest understand that some revisions are required for any old house like this to become a functional inn. For instance, it's often difficult to arrange for a private bathroom in every guest room without compromising the architectural integrity of the house. The modifications here are sensitive to the architecture, while displaying honest craftsmanship. As a result, some of the rooms do share a bathroom. In my experience, B&B patrons tend to be respectful, tidy folks, so sharing a bathroom is just fine with me. And the shared bathrooms are large, and beautifully appointed.
Breakfast is satisfying, and if you stay more than one night, you'll sample the variety of Cindy's capable cooking, with quiches, pastries, french toast, fresh fruit--the kind of dressed up yet unpretentious fare you expect from a B&B. If you communicate your food preferences in advance, Cindy will ensure that you won't find things on the table that you don't enjoy.
Up to this point, I've said little about the proprietor herself, Cindy, but I can't conclude this review without acknowledging what a wonderful host she is. Others have commented that they appreciated how she wasn't overly chatty. On the other hand, my family and I have delighted in many long conversations with Cindy about myriad topics: the inn and its history, our respective families, South Bend and it's various attractions. I think this speaks to Cindy's perceptiveness and sensitivity. Quiet people who prefer solitude will scarcely be aware of her presence in the house. Social, talkative types will enjoy a more personal connection.
My family has grown so familiar with Cindy over the years that we greet each other with hugs. Walking into Innisfree is like walking into our home away from home. I look forward to many more stays!
