When you stay at a B&B, you know a scrumptious breakfast is waiting in the wings. But did you know you’ll also be treated to a lesson in impressive architecture? From Victorian and Greek Revival to Italianate and the ultra modern, inns literally come in all shapes and sizes. So, after putting down your fork and knife, pick up your camera and snap a few photos of a B&B today to celebrate National Architecture Week!
Whether you’re a die-hard architecture fan or a casual admirer, a trip to a bed and breakfast will offer an eyeful of stunning design. Would you ever consider staying at a B&B inside a monolithic dome? If so, Thyme for Bed located in Lowell, IN, might be for you! It was built from scratch by owner and engineer Donald Bainbridge and his wife, Sherryl, in 1998. This 3-room B&B has two floors and a mezzanine along with modern amenities, fireplaces and whirlpool tubs; the concrete and steel shell is fire and tornado proof (it can withstand winds up to 300 mph).
A vision of Italianate design, the Terrell House Bed & Breakfast located in New Orleans, LA, was built in 1857 for wealthy cotton broker, Richard Terrell. This 3-story stucco-over-brick mansion still contains original architectural elements including 14-foot ceilings with plaster molding and ceiling medallions. Along with porches and balconies framed in cast iron, it also features a brick New Orleans-style courtyard adorned with fountains and lush vegetation.
If you’re looking for quintessential ornate Victorian architecture, check out The Empress of Little Rock Small Luxury Hotel and Conference Center located in Little Rock, AR. Designed by Max Orlopp and Casper Kusener, it was completed in 1888 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The mansion is considered one of the most important, existing examples of Gothic Queen Anne design in Arkansas with its divided stairway, stain glass skylight, octagonal shaped rooms and 3 ½ story corner tower.
Not only is breakfast part of the unique B&B experience, but so is the inn itself. Whether it’s a prime example of a bygone era or a one-of-a-kind design, B&Bs offer up a smorgasbord of visual and historical detail to please any admirer!
Want to see more examples of beautiful B&B design? Visit our “Inn”-triguing B&B Architecture Pinterest board!
