With the decision to become inn proprietors comes the need to find an inn. For the past year we had been working with our wonderful architect, John, to design the farmhouse inn of our dreams. One that would house me, our parents, and have 3 guest rooms. Given COVID costs (yes that’s a thing), that dream would take a step back in favour of a revised plan, lovingly named Phase 1, where we would buy an existing house that could be renovated into a luxurious BnB.
After an extensive search in the Markdale and Owen Sound areas and some failed/torturous negotiations, with the help of Lane, our ever patient Real Estate Agent, we found our Inn. The century red brick beauty with a white wrap around porch is ours. Yes, it’s on the main thoroughfare between Toronto and Owen Sound, but when you sit on the front porch you can wave to the neighbours and when you sit on the back deck you can’t hear the traffic.
So I relocated home to Markdale, moved into our Inn, and we started the process of removing wallpaper, carpet, and planning what our business would become. It is turning out to be far more work than we could ever have imagined. And that’s all before Lee, our contractor, puts a sledgehammer to the walls!