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closeA bed and breakfast getaway once involved staying in a quaint cottage or Victorian, ensconced in eyeletruffled bedding and needlepoint pillows.
While some still prefer this traditional B&B setting, a new class of inns offers updated décor and a sophisticated sensibility. Options run the gamut from pared-down modern establishments to warm and sumptuous Tuscanstyle residences. Most offer private suites (no more scurrying down the hallway, clad only in a towel).
What hasn’t changed is the way bed and breakfasts balance privacy with the opportunity to be social. Common areas allow you to get acquainted with other guests. Most still have live-in innkeepers who act as hosts — someone to chat with over a homemade breakfast and offer advice on local attractions. Or, when the mood strikes, it’s equally acceptable to be utterly anti-social and retreat to your own, private room. Here are three local bed and breakfasts that offer the best of both worlds — longstanding B&B tradition with style that is very much up to date.
The Sanitarium, San Luis Obispo
When it was built in the early 1900s, the
Sanitarium was a hospital for those recovering
from surgery.Today, it continues to offer a place
for guests to rest, revive and restore the soul.
Owned by local artist Suzi Kyle and decorated
by a group of her artist friends, the
Sanitarium has a palpable creative vibe — displays
of sculpture, vibrant modern art on the
wall and groups of artists who meet regularly to
paint in its sun-flooded great room.
The creative minds behind the place picked up on the sanitarium theme and deftly translated it into a clean, spare and soothing aesthetic. Bathrooms are clad in luxurious white marble tile. Floors and most walls are painted a crisp white, a fine backdrop for the antiques, vintage flea market finds and imported pieces that furnish the inn.
All this white is far from austere, however. The Sanitarium’s seven guest rooms are comfortable and nicely proportioned. Most offer luxuries including fireplaces, private balconies and metal Moroccan soaking tubs. One room is equipped with a steam shower. And each has its own unique ambience, conveyed with enticing names like Euphoriasm,Tranquilibrium and Hydrolucinogen. Two of the rooms, located in a rear building (what is playfully called the “outpatient ward”), can be booked separately or together.
What you won’t find here is the distraction of televisions, radios or clocks—although one room has a 74-inch seven-foot pull-down projection screen, DVD player and surround sound system for occasional movie screenings.
Instead, guests can often be found enjoying a cup of tea in the garden or conversing around the huge farm table in the dining room. Some may indulge in a spa treatment or join in on a yoga class, held every Tuesday evening. Others play or sing at the baby grand piano in the great room, dip into one of the many available books or even try their hand at painting—supplies are available for anyone with a yen for a little art therapy. Perhaps one of The Sanitarium’s best features is its downtown location. You can people-watch from your balcony or stroll to shops and dining, just beyond your doorstep.
1716 Osos St., San Luis Obispo, 805-544-4124, www.thesanitariumspa.com
Villa de Buena Vista, Paso Robles
Amble through the stone-clad portico of Villa
de Buena Vista, up to the massive weathered
front doors, and you feel as if you’re about to enter
a well-appointed Tuscan villa.
This was the intention of Charlie and Patti Youngclaus when they built the bed and breakfast in 2006.The Youngclauses are a rarity in the B&B biz these days — one of the few owners who still act as live-in hosts.
Villa de Buena Vista’s Tuscan architecture suits its wine country locale. In fact, the inn’s three acres are located within the couple’sVista Creek Vineyard, approximately 4 miles outside of town. Underscoring this theme is the home’s décor, which marries the rustic ease of Tuscan design with Old World elegance.
There are three guest rooms at Villa de Buena Vista, all equipped with a mini refrigerator, television and DVD player.Vista del Sol is located in the main house and is the only room with a soaking tub. It is sophisticated yet inviting with its luxurious fabrics and burgundy and gold color palette.
In a detached wing are Vista Verde and Vista Luna. Vista Verde is on the ground level and opens directly to the pool area. Its vibrant, Mexican tile-clad bathroom and floral fabrics make it cheerful and slightly feminine. Just above is Vista Luna, a favorite among newlywed couples for its seclusion and private balcony. With a slate-tiled bathroom, warm earth tones and distressed timber ceiling beams,Vista Luna has a rich, masculine feel.
Upon arrival, guests are presented with a bottle of the couple’s own Vista Creek wine.Then, in the evening, a complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres reception is offered.
The B&B’s entertainment room is a popular hangout among guests with its pool table and 70-inch high-definition television. Some prefer to indulge in an in-room spa treatment. But who can stay indoors when there is so much to do? The inn is within a mile or so of a handful of wineries. Or you can stay on the grounds, savor the quiet and survey the sweeping vistas of hills and vineyards.Views are captivating from nearly every vantage point, including the sizeable patio and stunning infinity pool. Villa de Buena Vista is a popular spot for weddings and honeymoons, which is not in the least surprising. After all, what could be more romantic than a little wine, a lot of seclusion and the feeling of being pampered that only a firstclass bed and breakfast can offer.
4651 Buena Vista Drive, Paso Robles, 805-296-2580, www.villadebuenavista.com
Cass House, Cayucos
Don’t be fooled by the fact that the Cass
House is an 1875 Eastlake Victorian.
Instead of the frills and clutter typical of the
era, you’ll find the high style and sophistication
of an upscale hotel.
Owner Gary Bagnall and designer Anne Fortini (of Fortini Home) took great care to balance historical preservation with décor that appeals to modern sensibilities. Bagnall spent 14 years restoring the home, making sure that every molding, every bathroom tile, was true to the era. Fortini then pulled together the décor, which is traditional with a contemporary twist.
She chose sumptuous fabrics, elegant upscale furnishings (many of which were custom made for the home) and a restful color palette. Some decorative elements — like Asian-inspired pieces and the use of Victorian reproduction fabrics — are a nod to the era of the home.
Each of the five guest rooms has a different feel, ranging from sweet and subtly Victorian, to beach-inspired to warm and masculine. Some rooms have tubs in addition to a shower, and the Captain’s Room features a large, cast iron soaking tub for two. Four of the rooms have ocean views and all offer modern amenities such as flat-screen televisions, DVD players, Internet access and luxury Anichini bed and bath linens.
Bagnall’s idea was to open an English inn, a tribute to the original owner, Captain James Cass, who founded Cayucos and hailed from England. So, like all good English inns, the Cass House has a restaurant onsite that is open during the summer months.
All guests are treated to gourmet delicacies like an artisan cheese tray and array of local wines on the evening of their arrival.A continental breakfast is offered Monday through Wednesday, and a full breakfast Thursday through Sunday. For the complete English inn experience, reserve a space at their tea service, which is available Friday through Sunday.Teas, along with a selection of sweets and savories, are offered starting at $15.
To burn off some of these indulgent treats, an oceanside stroll is the best form of recreation while visiting the Cass House.The inn is just across from the Cayucos pier and a lengthy stretch of golden beach.
222 N. Ocean Ave., Cayucos, 805-995-3669, www.casshouseinn.com
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