HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-10-21, Page 16Fall Home Improvement 2004
Home renovated as B&B
A welcoming couple
For Emerson and Phyllis Mitchell running a bed and
breakfast has been a wonderful experience. So when the
time came to move from their farm into town, there was no
question that the business was coming with them. The
basement of their Brussels home has been turned into a
cheery living space with two guest rooms for their guests.
(Photo submitted)
Country charm
A move to town hasn't eliminated any of the cozy country
charm for which Mitchell's Country Bed and Breakfast has
come to be known. (Bonnie Gropp photo)
TILING &
HARDWOOD
Marble
ranite !_Cerarnic
Tiling
• Custom Design
Installations Si-Renovations.—_
•-'13 athroom_AccesS6iies
• ItordwoGdyloor Installati
• Rithrooms, Kitchens, Firepl4es,-e
PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2004.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
For almost two decades,
Mitchells' Country B&B, located in
the country, just outside the hamlet
of Walton has been a warm
welcome to local visitors.
So when the time came for Phyllis
and Emerson to hand down the farm
to Neil, one of their four sons and his
family this summer, it was important
that they find a place to continue the
tradition.
The Mitchell's hospitality venture
began after a cousin mentioned that
she had had overnight guests from
the Blyth Festival. "Nobody'd ever
paid me before for making beds and
getting breakfast ready before," she
grins. "It sounded great. I thought in
the beginning about the money. But
it's been so much fun. We have made
some wonderful friends over the
years. People who come to stay with
us are like family."
While Emerson had been talking
about moving off the farm for a
couple of years, Phyllis hadn't been
in any hurry. Thus, when Neil
bought the farm one of Phyllis's
stipulations was that any place they
moved to would have to
accommodate the bed and breakfast.
"I couldn't bring a cow into town,"
she laughs. "I had to have
something."
Though they had originally
decided to build, they came upon a
house in Brussels that seemed to fit
the bill. The house, a ranch-style
bungalow, is located on a quiet street
close to the edge of town, giving it
some of that country feel that Phyllis
loves.
With plenty of space on the main
floor for the two of them to live, the
entire basement could be renovated
to accommodate visitors. With the
help of Jim McDonald of D&J
Construction, ideas were formulated
and plans drawn up. "I suggested a
few things to be changed, but
generally, it was done when we
moved in July and I liked it."
Guests can reach the basement via
the front door. The stairs were
relocated from the kitchen into the
front hall for easier access. The main
room has a new fireplace and seating
area. Each of the two renovated
bedrooms has an ensuite bath.
There is also one bed and
breakfast room with a toilet and
basin, that is located on the main
floor.
Throughout the house there is new
hardwood flooring and new trim
The trim is oak that was milled in
Atwood.
With the trim around the fireplace
and in the basement, the Mitchells
have brought a little piece of home
with them; it was from a butternut
tree which had graced the front of
the property.
Several years ago, Mitchells had
renovated their old farm kitchen.
Phyllis had enjoyed it so much that
she wanted the same in her new
home. The old cupboards were taken
to the basement, and new ones
Continued on page 17
ROMAN MASOWA
Phone (519) 523s?,025"
Cell (519)524:0119
MCDONALD'S
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