Naftel House Bed and Breakfast just north of Bayfield and fewer than 15 minutes south of Goderich was restored by previous owners. The results were notable enough for it to be featured in CenturyHome Magazine. When the house went up for sale in 2003 Heather Moffatt, who grew up nearby, came to look. It was love at first sight and the deal was made. In short order Heather added a couple of en suite bathrooms, haunted auctions for some great finds and opened her dream bed and breakfast. There's still some work to do on the grounds but inside the place has everything I look for.
Naftel House Bed and breakfast is a great 'destination' B&B for two or three nights. Here's why. You'll be five minutes north of Bayfield down a shady lane overhung with trees. I liked the fact that though it's so easily accessible, this bed and breakfast is secluded behind a woods rather than being exposed to the highway. I also liked that there's a secret section of the Lake Huron beach adjacent to the property. The beach stretches out below a bluff so it's a bit of a scramble but Heather's put some plastic Adirondack chairs down there for comfort. She'll give you the scoop on how to find it when you're there.
Back inside, the home is a marvel of architectural detail. There's a comfortable guest-only living room and upstairs three bedrooms for bed and breakfast guests. All are decorated in good taste with subtle flair. The West Room and Retreat Room both have queen size beds and new en suite bathrooms with good-size shower stalls.
The third room has a king size bed and shares a next door bathroom with the host. It has a Jacuzzi tub with lots of high-end lotions and potions artfully laid out for guests. It did have some unusual features such as a small toilet cubicle reached by way of two shallow steps. I also found the shower stall a bit small. Heather has plans to renovate this bathroom so I'll keep you posted. (Heather's two adolescent sons are in a separate part of the house and sleep late ”“ I hardly knew they were there so, not to worry, this bed and breakfast is mostly an adult retreat.)
Next morning at breakfast Heather went all out. I'm always impressed when hosts make an effort at breakfast with a lone guest as is often the case when I do my research. And remember I'm incognito so she had no idea I was a B&B critic until after I paid for the night. I had a choice of two fresh-baked goods (a delicious oatmeal raisin scone and moist zucchini bread) served with homemade jams. There was fresh fruit to start and the main course was a perfectly-baked broccoli-cheese quiche served with bacon and tomato slices.
|
;)
;)
