Clinton News-Record, 1987-06-17, Page 3CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1987—Page 3
MORE THAN 600 VISIT THE ELEGANT BED AND BREAKFAST HOME
Kildonan Inn puts out the welcome mat
By Shelley McPhee 11aist
CLINTON - They have been called brave.
They have been galled creative and they
have been called crazy.
The owners have earned many names
since they first bought the old Dr. Gunn
home here.
Now they are being called ambitious.
Peter and Elaine Bakos and Brian and
Mary Gowan of Seaforth opened the doors of
their new business venture to the public on
June 13 and 14 when more than 600 people
toured the impressive new Kildonan Inn.
In their first business venture of this sort,
this Seaforth foursome have created a
magnificent overnight retreat - the first of
its kind in Clinton.
This past February the Bakoses and the
Gowans became the owners of the old Clin-
ton home. Since then they have worked
many 14 hour days to create an elegant bed
and breakfast facility.
Kildonan Inn is not a typical bed and
breakfast hostelry.
This heritage home, built in 1867, has been
lavishly decorated with antiques, oriental
carpets, brass, satin.
Walls have been covered in papers in
various shades of blues and greens and soft
pastels. The magnificent ball room is
decorated in shades of rose and pink.
Six bedrooms feature antique bed suites,
private bathrooms and showers. There's a
brass bed in one room, Jenny Lind spindle
beds in another. There's a bidet and a
whirlpool bath in the master suite. There's a
groupingof two rooms and a shared bath -
perfect or a family grouping.
In all, Kildonan Inn can accommodate 12
overnight guests. While the Inn does not
have full kitchen facilities, guests may have
a continental breakfast. Other meals can be
catered on request.
Guests may visit the drawing room and
curl up ona sofa by the pine fireplace. They
may read in the library, swim in the outdoor
pool or host a private party in the large dou-
ble salon style ballroom.
Kildonan Inn is an impressive addition to
the Clinton business community. •
The home itself has long played an impor-
tant part in the Clinton scene. Named by its
second owner Dr. Gunn, it was the site of
many parties and socials around the turn of
the century.
Architecturally speaking, it is rated
among Clinton's most distinctive buildings.
It is an Italian Villa Style. Rooms feature 12
foot ceilings framed in intricate moldings
and coves. There are pine floors, wood and
marble fireplaces, a central hall design and
bay windows.
Sisters Elaine Bakos and Joan Gowan
decorated the inn and, along with their
husbands, did a majority of the extensive
renovation work. They bought old furniture
and refinished it. They mixed paint,
wallpapered, hung curtains.
Joan explains that' she and Elaine have
always enjoyed decorating and are ar-
tistically inclined. After the public tour of
Kildonan Inn they have had offers to
decorate other people's homes.
It appears that there will be little spare
time to pursue such an endeavor. Kildonan
Inn is already being discovered by weekend
guests, coming from various Ontario points
and the United States. Honeymoon and an-
niversary couples have stayed at the inn.
This weekend a wedding reception will be
held here.
The new owners are delighted with the
positive response to their facility.
At a special ribbon cutting ceremony on
June 13, Huron MP Murray; Cardiff noted,
"Kildonan Inn is beautiful and I hope it will
be successful. More people will be attracted
to stay in the area because of this inn."
Clinton Mayor John Balfour also offered
his praise, noting, "This is a beautiful addi-
tion to our municipality. We are pleased to
have such alace here."
Kildonan Inn is open seven days a week,
year round. It is located at 71 Kirk Street,
Clinton.
It was known for many years as the Dr. Gunn home. It was then
owned by the Hunter family in recent years. Today this 71 Kirk
Street residence in Clinton is now known as Kildonan Inn. The
Italian Style Villa has been transformed into an elegant bed and
breakfast establishment that is fast gaining popularity. (Shelley
McPhee Haist photo)
0
490
t.. O -
A carved marble fireplace graces the
ballroom at Kildonan Inn. Other fireplaces
enhance other rooms in this dwelling.
Twelve foot ceilings, ceiling cornices, hay
windows and a central hall plan add to the
architectural excellence of this building.
(Shelley McPhee Haist photo)
Peter and Elaine Bakos, co-owners of Kildonan Inn enjoy a quiet moment in the drawing
room. This bed and breakfast inn, with a difference, was officially opened on the
weekend. The Bakos' along with Brian and Joan Gowan of Seaforth are being praised for
their work on the renovation of this 1867 Clinton home. (Shelley McPhee Haist photo)
STOREWID'E BONANZA — FOR YOUR FATHERWS DAY GIFT`.,
SENSATIONALLY LOW TRAFFIC JAMMER PRICES
Every fferfr Siforewrd'e
Reduced by
o�d C fa Oo/a
Main Cornet
CLINTON
FP
ALL ShariSleeve
®'orf Shirts
Whine Quantifies Lust
SALE STARTS,
Weds June Sad«c un
OFFICIAL OPENING
June 13 marked the official opening of Clinton's newest business venture - Kildonan Inn
at 71 Kirk Street. More than 600 people toured the old Dr. Gunn home. On hand for the rib-
bon cutting ceremonies were (left to right) co-owners Peter and Elaine Bakos, MP Mur-
ray Cardiff, Clinton Mayor John Balfour and co-owners Mary and Brian Gowan. (Shelley'
McPhee Haist photo)
Heywoods has _..
everything for the
SPORTS -MINDED DAD
Father's Day is
Sunday,June 21
* ALL GOLF BAGS
* ALL MEN'S GOLF
SHOES
* ALL MEN'S
CLOTHING
Sale ends at closing Saturday, June 20
GOLF CLUB SETS
Gift Ideas
for Dad
from Neywoods
0
7 pc.
Starter Set
Reg. 99.99
38999
Northwestern Set
7 pc.,
including bag
Reg. 149.99
512499
Super Custom Set
Laminated Woods i99
99
11 pc.
Reg. 229.99
LiGolf Balls by Spalding & Pinnacle
f 'Golf Putters
iGolf Shirts by Penmans, Adidas, Nike, Osoga
i 1 Sport Socks
;Shorts and Bathing Suits
Racquets - Tennis, Squash, Racquetball
Bali GI ves
i Bicycles
)Gas Barbecues - (Rotisseries. Covers & Accessories)
i 1We have Swimming Pool Chemicals
Main Corner, CLINTON 482-3030
Atrti-10641ZEO ALE,* t.E 4Th(
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