“We’re welcoming you into our home, so it’s very comfortable and informal,” Lauren Desmond said. “We like to get to know our guests at the personal level and not just at the check-in desk.”
Their first order of business after moving into the 9,000-square-foot, 3-story home was redecorating, an ongoing effort.
This spring, they’ll install several raised garden beds and plant fruit, vegetable and herb gardens to provide fresh “farm-to-table” meals for guests.
They also plan to open the house for special events, including weddings, baby showers, birthday, engagement and anniversary celebrations, plus any conferences or meeting space that local groups might need.
“It’s a great space to host a big party,” she said.
Her parents — Kate and Michael McNeil — purchased the secluded, five-acre property in November from the previous owners, who built the business in 1999 but moved away to be closer to family, she said.
“They thought about it for many years and thought it would be a good retirement plan for them but then they realized they wanted to travel a bit more, so they put us in charge,” Desmond said.
The family, which lives on the third floor of the home, is no stranger to the hospitality industry. Both Lauren and Quinn Desmond have worked in four-star resorts in Jacksonville, Wyo., as well as the mountains of Washington state.
“We have that knowledge of hotels and restaurants,” she said. “We do the day-to-day operations and my parents do the ownership-level accounting (and the) mortgage. My dad is our handyman and my mom is going to be the master gardener.”
The White Garden Inn features five bedrooms of varying size, each with a queen-size bed. Four roll-away beds are also available.
The living space on the first floor and a wraparound porch function as a gathering space.
“You can sit down and meet new people and enjoy a beer or wine,” she said.
Breakfasts typically includes an egg or quiche dish, as well as breakfast potatoes or hash browns, a cup of fruit, yogurt, coffee and tea. Sundays feature a brunch that includes a pancake or French toast-type of dish and sometimes pie or another dessert may be included.
Meals can be adjusted based on dietary needs.
“If someone is gluten-free or vegan, then we can accommodate that a little easier than some other restaurants,” Desmond said.
For more information, visit www.whitegardeninn.com or call 513-524-5827.
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