Thoughts on Color

When we started to think about how we would like to differentiate our rooms from one another, we immediately thought to use color as the basis. Oftentimes in wine country bed and breakfasts, you find that the rooms are named by varietal--Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Cabernet. Appropriate as this may be, to us it seems hokey. Really. We know most people come to drink the wine, but must the room names reflect this? It's been done before. Clearly rooms based on colors has been done before too, but this somehow seems more straight-forward and less cliché. Also, it provides a sensible basis on which to decorate the rooms. How do you decorate a Chardonnay room versus a Zinfandel room?

On the Design*Sponge website (again) I found two mini trends that could provide inspiration for how two of the rooms could be color-themed. One was "bright white" and the other "delft blue". Although I have concern that a bright white room could easily become a dull white (or worse, dirty white) room, it could be very beautiful and serene. I also like the clean sophistication implied by delft blue. Some other thoughts we had were to use J. Crew-type color names that could provide both visual and color decor cues, like Sage or Lemon.

Mirror Mirror

While we continue our search for the right property to acquire, we are also starting to collect renovating and decorating ideas. The two above were from a post I found on Design*Sponge. A wall of mirrors--perhaps running down a hallway--will reflect light, add a feeling of openness, and decorates without having to commit to a particular theme. I also like the classic color palette--grey and white. Again, quite beautiful yet inoffensive and universally appealing.

Secret hotels of the Loire Valley

Recently, while reading the latest news online, I found a travel story about young European couples transforming old châteaux into charming inns. The article is littered with ideas that would be appropriate to our own undertaking--brioche with fresh goat cheese, honey, and walnuts for breakfast? Check! Artisanal jams? Check! Renovated historic building? Toile bedding? Blond-wood floors? Check! Check! Check!  Of course, I'm sure this sort of thing is no surprise given the availability of such châteux scattered across the French countryside. That said, I was no less inspired about their endeavours since this is essentially what we hope to do.

Inn-spired

It all began in August 2001, when we visited what we now consider the benchmark of all bed and breakfasts--Chateau Talaud in Provence, France. Of course, the Chateau had a lot going for it to begin with, being in France and situated on it's own small vineyard. But the overall experience has been a lasting one for us. With each new bed and breakfast that we visit, we are continually comparing it to everything we loved about Chateau Talaud. Where was the wine offered upon arrival? The long drive flanked by Cypress trees? The one and a half bathroom suites with soaking tub (and mind you, that tub was big enough to fit a 6' person comfortably). We began to think that perhaps, the French knew something not only about wine, but also creating a special b+b that Americans didn't.

Much like the American wine industry learning from the French to set down successful roots in California, so are we hoping to take what we've learned and create our own European-style bed and breakfast in the heart of the California wine country. This is the beginning of our journey.