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TRUST ME…..YOU’LL LOVE THIS: gracious hospitality
‘Tis the start of “guest season,” and those extra beds that lay unoccupied much of the year will soon be filled with kids home from college, friends passing through or family settling in for the holidays. My husband and I especially enjoy making our houseguests feel welcome and pampered at WinsHill, and sometimes even the smallest gesture can turn a simple overnight into a lasting memory.
A FESTIVE WELCOME
My mother and both of my grandmothers were masterful at making one feel welcome and loved in their homes with delicious offerings from their kitchens. I would say this was a “southern” tradition, but my Czechoslovakian grandmother in NJ welcomed us in much the same manner so I am chalking it up to an understanding of gracious hospitality!
My mother made sure there was a plate of cookies or homemade soup and a stack of lacy fried cornbread (our favorite!) when we arrived home from school – a tradition that continued well into our adult years when visiting with friends, husbands, children and dogs in tow. There was always a welcoming pot of something on the stove. I am not sure when I realized how comforting and loving this gesture was, but it made such a lasting impression on me as well as on my friends who remember this – and her – with such fondness.
My husband loves to offer guests a festive “welcome beverage” upon arrival at WinsHill – often a tray of pretty glasses filled with something simple straight from a bottle and beautifully garnished, a seasonal craft cocktail, or a warm and wonderful wassail this time of year. My nieces remember the tradition of the “special glasses” when they were young (way more than they remember the cherry flavored sparkling water they were drinking) so presentation must be everything! NEST is filled with great great beverage options this season from craft cocktail mixers to easy-fix wassails, hot toddies and drinking chocolates. Mugs, “special glasses,” serving trays, pitchers, fun ice trays, marshmallows, bourbon soaked cherries and books full of ideas to inspire abound and we can help you pull together the most festive welcome for your guests!
A WELL-APPOINTED GUEST ROOM
Boutique hotels are great sources for pampering ideas given they are in the business of “guest rooms,” and over the years, I have adapted many of my favorite hotel and inn experiences for use in my own home. “Port at Turndown” in our Inn rooms at Fearrington is one of the most elegant appointments I know of, and we offer the entire lovely set-up for purchase in NEST (including the Port!) – perfect for your own guest room or for gifting!
I live in GA and commute to the shops several times a month, so I have become quite familiar with the Fearrington House Inn guest experience firsthand and realize a heavenly sleep experience is such a gift for someone away from home. We had so many inquiries from Inn guests who wanted this “great night’s sleep” at home, that we now offer everything from our bedding to our mattresses in our Spa shop as well as online. All of our guest bedrooms at WinsHill are outfitted with Fearrington’s sleep experience, and nothing makes me happier than to have a guest arrive for breakfast marveling over how well they slept. (And they thought it was the mountain air!) I don’t know of a more luxurious gift for a houseguest than a night of sound sleep.
I usually place a few luxury products in our bathrooms for guests to enjoy during their stay along with things they may have forgotten like a hair dryer, razors, nail files, Advil, toothbrush, etc. Molton Brown’s beautiful range of bath and body products is especially wonderful as most are unisex and dual-purposed. If your guest comments on how much they love a fragrance, make a note and tuck it away for reference the next time a gifting occasion presents itself! We carry an extensive selection of Molton Brown at The Spa at Fearrington as well as online where we offer the collection used in our Inn guest rooms.
TURNDOWN SURCIES
We like to leave a little something small and wrapped on guests’ pillows when they arrive – just because something “small and wrapped” is always special and fun! My husband calls these “turndown gifts” – which I kind of love. (He even did this for me when we first met – lots of points for that I might add!) Maybe it’s a special SPF lipgloss since we live on a lake, or a pen and journal, or even an ornament this season. (I am thinking our new “Dream” or CBD “Nite Nite” patches in Dovecote from The Good Patch might be fun this year!) This tradition is such a simple gesture, but I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love a surprise! NEST and SPROUT are chock-full of surcies and surprises of all kinds for all ages – including your four-legged guests!
So take a closer look at your guest quarters, however great or small, and consider ways to make your houseguests feel welcome and cared for this season. Trust me…..there is nothing quite like the gift of gracious hospitality!