A Place that Feels Like Home
Belinda Howard Smith
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A new trend for hotels is to offer Christmas-themed suites. For an additional $100 or more, guests can enjoy a heavily adorned over-the-top decorated suite including toys for the kids to play during the stay. Tasty holiday treats and hot chocolate bars add a touch of home. Can a hotel feel like home?
A stay at a bed and breakfast IS like home. Often times IT IS the home of the innkeepers who have separate private quarters from the guests. Bed and Breakfasts naturally decorate for the holidays and typically offer homemade treats for guests year round.
![Homemade Christmas treats A tray of chocolate-dipped cookies, peppermint bark and canisters of peppermints.](/images/Christmas-Treats.jpg?width=405&height=auto&shrink=)
Innkeepers do what they do because we enjoy meeting people, entertaining and typically love to cook. What could make guests feel more welcome and “at home” than lodging where hosts are delighted to have them stay?
One of my passions is setting a beautiful table. Each morning at breakfast guests experience a different dinnerware pattern, vintage flatware, lovely linens and centerpiece. Did I mention I’m a dish addict? I wholeheartedly admit it. When was the last time you ate off of a China plate – at breakfast? If you own China, use it!
![Peach croissant French toast Peach croissant French toast with powdered sugar sprinkle topped with peach slices and blueberries. Plus a side of two slices of bacon served on a formal China plate.](/images/Peach-croissant-French-toast.jpg?width=120&height=auto&shrink=)
This holiday season I’ve enjoyed "playing house" with Christmas dishes, décor, and linens to create festive tablescapes. I may have gone a little overboard at Kiss the Cook, a wonderful kitchen store in the Wimberley Square, though I sure have some pretty, new table linens this year. (One can never have too many of those either.)
![Holiday table for four Table set for four. The centerpiece is three different heights of light blue, gold and pearl Christmas trees encircled by ribbon and glass ornaments.](/images/Breakfast-for-4.jpg?width=405&height=auto&shrink=)
We want our guests to know they are special and we hope feeling pampered reinforces the feeling through everything we do to make their stay with us feel “at home” only better because someone else is cooking breakfast!
![Christmas Table for ten! Colorful Christmas table setting with a centerpiece of red and white candles, bells and greenery. The buffet in the background has a small Christmas tree and other decor on it.](/images/Dining-for-10.jpg?width=405&height=auto&shrink=)
We hope to see you at our table!