Searching for that special romantic getaway?

June 17, 3:07 PMNorthern California Getaways ExaminerMichele Bigley

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Northern California Getaways Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Photo courtesy of Farmhouse Inn.

Sometimes a hotel captures your heart. In the most unlikely of Sonoma County locations, the Farmhouse Inn is my Wine Country destination of du jour.

Hidden in Forestville this distinctive escape has recently expanded their digs, offering eight new luxurious “barn” guest rooms. The adds four deluxe rooms and four suites to the Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant’s original 10 guest rooms and its Michelin-starred restaurant, which have also undergone a redesign, which the owners say "refresh the acclaimed Inn’s hallmark décor of historical whimsy, classic elegance and luxurious sophistication throughout the property."

“Our goal behind the redesign and expansion is to bring farm fresh sensibility to the Inn in ways that enhance the overall guest experience,” said Catherine Bartolomei, co-owner of Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant.  “The changes that are being integrated throughout the Inn reflects the vision my brother and I have had for the property since we purchased it in 2001.”

The addition resembles the many historic barns and water towers that dot the Russian River region. Highlights include sliding barn-style doors which separate bedrooms from living areas, large French doors and floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto private decks, complete with dual-sided indoor-outdoor fireplaces, making a perfect spot to sip Chardonnay late into the evening.

Each barn room features a spacious bathroom, jetted tub with large windows overlooking the woods, fireplace, separate steam shower, double vanity, radiant heated floors, indoor-outdoor fireplace, luxurious bedding, flat panel television, stereo, writing desk, and coffered or vaulted reclaimed wood ceilings.

Since it opened almost a decade ago, the Inn’s 10 original cottage rooms, which date back to the early 1900s, have delighted discerning travelers. Now, though they have been redesigned, they still retain plenty of character. 

Other perks of your tiptoe into decadence includes a two-course gourmet breakfast each morning, fresh cut flowers, a Sumbody “bath bar” with bath salts, milks and sugar scrubs, DVD library, nightly fireside S’mores with homemade vanilla bean marshmallows, and nightly in-room homemade cookies.  In addition, the intimate Inn features complimentary wireless DSL, a heated outdoor pool, full service spa, and a renovated Michelin-starred restaurant (which serves one of the finest steaks in the state).

Though the three-night minimum makes this getaway quite a pricy event, you will long remember the gracious, welcoming spirit, the creative design (both architecturally and gastronomically), and the down to earth vibe of this one-of-a-kind inn,