Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Keaton walked through the Bay Breeze with Layne, and she said, “You’ve been a guest here.
I want you to think of your experience while you stayed here—plus using your critical eye—to help me decide what needs to be done in order to put the Bay Breeze back on the map.
Don’t think of the cost. Just tell me what you would do to make the inn inviting.
Appealing. A place where guests want to return and recommend to their friends as a great place to stay. ”
“Okay. Complete honesty,” he agreed.
She held a spiral notebook in one hand and a pen in her other, ready to take notes. Layne was all business now, commanding his attention. He knew she had been good at her job, and he was seeing a glimpse of the old Layne, who brimmed with confidence, beginning to return.
“Then we should start outside,” he suggested. “Curb appeal is important. Your website will feature the outside prominently. That will be the first introduction people have to the Bay Breeze.”
“Good idea.”
They walked outside and down the porch steps, turning to face the front of the structure.
“Spruce up the landscaping,” he began, giving her ideas for the types of plants and flowers.
“Add a ramp so luggage can be rolled and not carried up the stairs.” Moving up the steps, he added, “Replace all the furniture on the porch. Change it to better rockers. A few chairs with small rattan tables between a pair. I’m partial to Adirondack in both cases.
They even make them with wine and cup holders now.
They’re durable. Colorful. Stylish. Or instead of rockers, go with swivel glider chairs.
” He glanced to the far side. “Maybe add a bistro table in the far corner.”
He thought a moment and then pointed. “At the far end of the porch, you could place an additional set of stairs which lead to the ground. That space in front of the porch is open but not big enough for a car to be parked there. What if you added a fire pit and chairs? The weather never gets super cold here, but a fire pit would be fun to sit around during fall and winter nights.”
Layne scribbled furiously. “Good. Keep going.”
He mentioned checking the front columns on the porch for decay or damage, telling her how they could be repaired or even replaced. Keaton also recommended painting the entire outside, as well as placing a few ceiling fans on the porch.
“I’d also re-stain or even paint the porch. All those things should spruce up the outside and make it more inviting.”
“Got it.”
“I’d need to get on the roof to see if it’s in good condition or if it needs replacing. That could be pricy, Layne.”
“No talk of money,” she reminded him. “This is a dream list of what can be done to make the Bay Breeze the best B&B around.”
He had them walk around the entire outside of the inn, recommending new gutters and drain pipes, as well as additional, low-maintenance landscaping.
Satisfied that they’d hit everything outside, he said, “Let’s go inside.”
They went through the bottom floor first. The entire house needed fresh paint inside, and he thought the wood floors should be refinished. The common room needed all new furniture, as everything there was worn out and dated.
“The fireplace is nice. I’d get a new TV. The biggest one you could find and mount it on that wall.”
Keaton suggested both types of furniture and the layout, mentioning that the B&B hadn’t provided free Wi-Fi during his stay, which had disappointed him.
“That’s a must now, no matter where you stay.” He glanced across the common area. “The puzzles and games are a nice touch, but a lot are missing pieces. I’d start from scratch. Same with the guidebooks on the bookrack. They’re way out of date and should be replaced with newer versions.”
Layne continued to write. “Move on.”
They went into the dining room, which she said had been the place breakfast was served to guests for as long as she could remember. He remarked that since he and Lila had been the only ones staying at the Bay Breeze, that might have been why the morning meal had been served in the kitchen.
Keaton went to the table, running his hand along the polished cherrywood.
“This table is amazing. So are the chairs and sideboard. And that china cabinet should display not only china but glassware, along with a few local items to give it some local flavor. I’d serve breakfast in here instead of the kitchen, no matter how many guests are staying.
This room is too nice to not be used. Plus, it frees up the kitchen for cooking. ”
“I agree, especially if there’s a full house. Did Mom have a buffet in the kitchen, or was there a set menu?”
“She asked me what I wanted the days I was here. I asked for French toast and bacon one morning. That was pretty darn fabulous. Pancakes and sausage another. Eggs and bacon the last day. She added grits to my plate that morning..” He chuckled.
“I wasn’t too sure about them, but I really found I enjoyed the taste of them. ”
“Shrimp grits are the best. I have no idea how Mom made them, but they were a favorite of mine growing up.”
“We’ll find a recipe and make them together,” he said, seeing his words caused color to flush her cheeks.
Keaton still had no idea where they were going. If this was meant to be a close friendship.
Or more.
“I’d probably do a buffet,” she mused. “Or have a set menu each morning and serve it buffet-style. I’ll pick your brain later about that.”
They went to the kitchen and then the two restrooms on the first floor. One was for general use. The other was part of an ensuite, and this was the bedroom Layne’s parents had used. He made his suggestions, from furniture to fixtures, and then they moved upstairs.
Six bedrooms were on the second floor. It seemed four had been in use for guests, with a fifth serving as an office and a sixth as a storage room for whatever the B&B used. Sheets and towels. Toiletries. Toilet paper. Cleaning supplies.
They agreed that all four bedrooms needed to be completely refurbished. The furniture wasn’t antique. It was merely ancient. He revealed that his mattress had been less than desirable.
“If anything, we want guests to get a good night's sleep,” Layne said. “That means first-class pillows, mattresses, and bed linens.”
He noted she used the word we.
“Mom used to provide fresh flowers on the nightstand for each room. I like that practice.”
“Yes, I had fresh flowers during my stay. They really made the room cheerful.”
She thought a moment. “I’d like a more personal touch. Maybe add robes and slippers. Place a few books on the table by the bed.”
“That would be nice.”
“I stayed in a B&B once, and they had a tea and coffee bar set up in the guest lounge area. The owner also put out freshly-baked cookies mid-afternoon.”
Keaton grinned. “Now you’re talking my love language. I’m all about the cookie. Especially if there’s chocolate involved.”
“Do you have a sweet tooth, Mr. Maxwell?” she teased.
“Actually, I do. I never had sweets growing up. Miss Peggy baked a mean pie, though. Sweets were standard for her, not a luxury. I was the beneficiary of her baking.”
Layne glanced around. “So, new furniture, linens, carpets, and curtains. New paint. What about the wallpaper?”
“It’s too faded. Either layer another choice over it, or we paint over it.”
Now, he was also using we.
“I think wallpaper can be charming,” she said.
“It can give a room an identity. I think I’d like each room to have a color or a theme.
Piper was always reading Regency romance books when we were teens.
She talked about how in the rich people’s houses, guests were shown to the blue room or the gold room. ”
“That’s not a bad idea, working around a color palette to define each guestroom. I can help you there, picking out colors that go well together or varying shades. You could have a main color, using several lighter hues in the same family, and then possibly an accent color.”
“Ooh, I like that idea, Keaton. I’ve never been into color or design, but I think it’ll be fun to bring each of these rooms to life.”
“Do you want to keep it at four bedrooms to rent?”
She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
“Maybe. I think we definitely need to keep one bedroom upstairs for storage and the cleaning equipment and supplies. Though I think we could go all IKEA and have shelving to organize and store things better than the hodgepodge that’s present now.
The one being used as an office, though, might be a guestroom.
Then again, the other rooms are all ensuite, and that one wouldn’t be. ”
“You could still turn it into a bedroom. We could reconfigure things and cut a door so that it led into the bathroom next door to it. Then it would be a suite. Two bedrooms with the bath in the middle. Or even a bedroom, sitting room, and bath.”
“Yes, I like that idea. A lot,” she said, enthusiasm brimming from her.
“Let me draw it up both ways, and you can decide which would be a better use of the space.”
“You’re on.” Layne smiled at him. “You’re a real big help, Keaton. You have a good eye. And I really like your idea about redoing all the closets. We’ve made an excellent start today.” She paused. “I mean, this is a good start for me. For what I need to do.”
“You know my background, Layne. I can handle most of the work for you. Paint. Build the shelves in the closets. Re-sand the floors.”
“No, I can’t ask you to put your own painting on hold to do menial labor for me.”
He stepped toward her, clasping one elbow lightly. “I’d like to do this. I just finished a series of paintings, and I always take a break after that. I don’t like to be idle, though. I enjoy using my hands.” Keaton grinned. “And I’d be a lot cheaper than anyone else you’d hire.”