You’re walking down a charming block in a historic city. You see a somewhat rundown Victorian home for sale. You buy it, renovate it, and turn it into a quaint inn. I’m sure many of us have had this fantasy, but very few have realized it. Terra Stratton and Matthew Smith are the exception.
“Without a specific purpose in mind, we took a tour of the property, and then one night I was literally awoken by the idea of converting it to an inn,” says Stratton, about their discovery of this gem in the rough located across the street from Washington Park, designed by Vaux and Olmstead of NYC’s Central Park fame.
Their intent was to provide “comfortable, classy, convenient, and cost-conscious accommodations” to the Center Square and downtown neighborhoods. They have achieved this, and get extra points in the classy category. The seven-guestroom mansion, built in 1884, has been beautifully updated. It has a modern, clean, and airy interior, yet maintains the Victorian framework and details. Access to a fully stocked kitchen (including local products and wine!) that is open 24/7 is especially appealing when you’re coming in from a night out. And if you want to binge-watch like you do at home, just sign into your Netflix account on the SmartTV in your room.
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