New Style Urban Bed and Breakfast in Atlanta
I have been tossing around the idea of having a B&B here at 130 Krog Street in the loft I that I designed and built in an old cotton sorting warehouse. I purchased the entire building in 1998 and turned it into seven loft condos keeping Unit A for my home and office. In my mind I have been thinking of the B & B as The Urban Oasis, since that is exactly what it is. There are several other B & B s in the Inman Park neighborhood but they are all the old southern Victorian mansion style. Although those large southern porches with magnolia trees are nice, I have been thinking that there maybe a market for travelers wanting a more hip urban loft experience that I could definitely provide here.
Since our kids are grown or in colleges scattered all over the globe, it would be a cool way to utilize the space, meet people and make a little moola. Before moving here, I actually ran a Bed and Breakfast, The Tree Top Cottage, which was a separate little hideaway, complete with hot tub, in my back yard in Druid Hills. It was darling, but catered more to the romantic getaway, honeymoon couples. After checking them in I would not lay eyes on them for the entire weekend. And at that time in my life, with two little children to manage believe me, I would not have wanted to make breakfast for anyone else! But now? Well now is different.
The thing is that I feel very fortunate to have this amazing place to live and I love sharing it with others. We are always party central for family and friend get togethers. And we rent or sponsor large events here such as the Inman Park Christmas Party. Last year we were on the HGTV program, Rezoned and in 2006 were featured as the “Fun House” in the Atlanta Magazine Home Edition atlanta-magazine-home-ed-spring-2006.pdf . People are always amazed when they step into the front door. It reminds me of the old Popeye cartoons where someone would enter a little non nondescript tent in the dessert and inside it looked like a huge palace that went on and on which you would have never thought was in there.
In addition to the open plan living and dining room, with their 30 foot wood ceilings, there is a bright, sunny kitchen, and four bedrooms and baths, two offices, the dogs room and a garage. One of the bedrooms is a two story space with a lounge area with a futon couch, TV, and desk connected by a chartreuse circular stairway to a private bedroom and bath above.
Although Krog Street was once a very transitional part of the Inman Park neighborhood, it is now right in the center of all thats happening around town. Despite that, it is just so serene you would never know you were within a mile of downtown.
Please write me and let me know what you think of the idea of a loft B&B. What do you think of the name, Urban Oasis? Do you have any other suggestions? Would you like to make a reservation? Act now and I will let you play my Guitar Hero!
