The Pillow & Paddock Bed and Breakfast is located in La Grange, Kentucky, which is said to be "horse country" by Michelle, the current owner of the property. Near the premises, there are paddocks for horses, including thoroughbred breeds. The property covers an expanse of six acres and has features such as multiple sitting areas, two fire pits, and a creek running through it. The Room With a View, one of the six rooms available for reservation, has a view of the creek, hence the name, and is also the most popular unit on the property. A two-course breakfast is served to patrons every day at 9:00 AM; additionally, there is a guest pantry that has complimentary snacks and drinks for visitors. The business is open year-round, with the busiest season of operation being between April to October when multiple festivals occur. Local attractions include breweries, shops, and the Kentucky Derby.
The Pillow & Paddock Bed and Breakfast is located in the town of La Grange, Kentucky. Michelle, the owner, describes the land as a 6-acre property that has "rolling grass" throughout the premises. Around the back of the property, guests may see horses on the neighboring fields. These horses are housed in the paddocks along the property line. Michelle says that the surrounding area is considered "horse country." The building is a two-story home built in a "farm" style that includes a wrap-around porch with sitting areas accompanied by views of the paddocks. Other features of the premises include a relatively small pond. One of the rooms available for reservation named The Room With a View overlooks one of the relatively larger ponds on the property. Another on-site amenity includes a pergola-covered jacuzzi available for guest use, as well as a back porch that includes a propane fire pit, sofas, and chairs. There is another fire pit with Adirondack chairs located along a creek that runs through the property on which the bed and breakfast is located.
Michelle describes the inside of the building as "elegant [and] country." There are six bedrooms available for reservation at the Pillow & Paddock Bed and Breakfast, each of which is decorated uniquely such as the Parisienne, Gatsby, Country Faire, and Nantucket suites. Additionally, there is the Paddock Apartment that overlooks the horse paddocks and has more of a farmhouse theme; this unit is also a suite meant for families or larger groups. The most popular room among patrons is the Room With a View due to it being the only unit on its level, which provides more privacy compared to the other rooms, plus it has the largest square footage. This room also features a pond view from the windows. Amenities offered in each of the rooms include bathrobes, shampoos and conditioners, private bathrooms, and walk-in showers, and all except two have relatively large bathtubs. Common areas in the building include a relatively formal dining room, living room, porches, and a guest pantry on the second floor. This pantry has complimentary coffee, tea, sodas, water, and snacks available to visitors. It should also be noted that a microwave is available to guests in the inn's sitting area.
In addition to the guest pantry, breakfast is complimentary to visitors' stays. The meal is two-courses and is described as "gourmet" by Michelle. Breakfast is served every day at 9:00 AM. Patrons who have dietary restrictions or preferences are encouraged to inform the establishment so Michelle can try to accommodate such needs. The first course of breakfast usually includes either a cinnamon roll, yogurt parfait, or a grapefruit bouillon. Strawberry French toast, Hawaiian waffles, pecan pumpkin waffles, and blueberry pancakes are a few things that are often served for the last course of breakfast.
The option of "whole inn rentals" is available to patrons, according to Michelle, where people are able to book the whole property for large groups, activities, or events. Activities available on the property to those staying at the inn include giant Jenga that is played outside and movies in the back porch lounge area. Other things that guests can participate in include visiting the historic downtown of La Grange, where HGTV was supposedly kickstarted, according to the owner, and visiting the shops and restaurants.
Events can be hosted at the Pillow & Paddock Bed and Breakfast on the condition that the whole house is reserved. Other things that draw guests into the area include the Kentucky Derby, which takes place annually in May. Barn 8 Restaurant is a local restaurant that Michelle, the owner of the property, says brings people to the region. Michelle recommends this restaurant to her patrons during their stay. Other dining options she suggests include Ernestos Mexican Cuisine and Main Street Bourbon and Ale House, located on Main Street. La Grange Quarry is a clear water quarry exclusively for adults where visitors can snorkel, kayak, and scuba dive. People who are interested in trains often visit the main street to see the local train that passes through. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is located near the property, where multiple breweries are available for people to tour. Michelle says that festivals are common occurrences in the area, such as the Renaissance Festival, for example. April to October is generally the busiest time for the inn, which is open year-round, due to the various local festivals and other attractions happening during that time.
When patrons are staying at the Pillow & Paddock Bed and Breakfast, Michelle's goal is for them to feel "pampered and relaxed." She also wants them to be able to enjoy what she describes as a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere. Michelle considers her business to be a place where people can come to "get away, relax, and recharge." In an effort to induce these feelings, she has put forth the effort to create her common areas with a "tranquil" atmosphere, she explains. Other things that the establishment offers are massage services and spa baskets. Mothers make up a considerable fraction of the general demographic of those who visit the property, and many of them come for a "getaway," according to the owner. Because of this, the extra spa services are often utilized by these mothers who come for a break. Returning visitors are another fraction of the demographic that has been found to stay at the inn. One previous guest left a comment saying, "We absolutely loved the Pillow and Paddock. Very clean, great breakfast served at a decent time, and very attentive owners. They prepared everything from the fire pit, our room, the hot tub, and breakfast with care. They even put towels in a towel warmer by the hot tub for when we got out."
Interactions with guests are determined by each individual visitor, and Michelle says she "lets them take the lead" when it comes to how much they interact with them. She does say that they try to make themselves available to the patrons as much as possible. The inn has set specific policies for those who stay at the bed and breakfast to adhere to. One such policy is the smoking guidelines that prohibit visitors from smoking inside the inn. Guns are also not welcome at the property, and children are not permitted to stay unless the whole building was booked by one party. Pets are generally prohibited from all the rooms except the Paddock Apartment, which is the only suite where animals can stay. Guests are expected to keep noise levels down between 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM; however, Michelle reports that they have never had to enforce these quiet hours during her ownership.
Pillow & Paddock Bed and Breakfast was established in 2008 by Don and Francesca. Previously it was a private residence, but Don and Francesca decided to purchase it and convert the building into a place of lodging. Originally the home was located on a relatively large expanse of land until it was subdivided into a smaller property in 2004, the year that the house was originally built.
During Don and Francesca's ownership, Michelle, the current owner, stayed at the inn. Her time on the property led her to fall in love with the environment, which influenced her to purchase the establishment in 2020. Taking on the property was also a way for her to start a "semi-retired lifestyle." She reports that her favorite part of her job is being able to live in the bed and breakfast environment and meet people from various places. Renovations that have taken place during Michelle's ownership include adding the back porch lounge area with the propane firepit; she was also the one to add the natural firepit by the creek. The first-floor master suite was converted into the Paddock Apartment. Previously this room served as the inn keeper's private residence; now, that area is located in the basement of the house. Future plans for the property include converting half of the basement into a movie theater area with a speakeasy bar. Currently, the property will occasionally set up a projector on the back porch where visitors can watch a movie; however, that is expected to end once the movie theater is installed.
3262 Old Sligo Road
La Grange, Kentucky 40031
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Michelle
Don and Francesca
