Terrell House is a bed and breakfast that is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is also found close to the Mississippi River. There are a total of 16 available units split between four different buildings that visitors can reserve. The property is able to host events such as weddings, holiday parties, formal dinners, and more. The oldest house among them, the Main House, dates as far back as 1858. For people interested in exploring the surrounding area, many places are within walking distance, and there is a trolley that can take guests to other locations in New Orleans. Terrell House is open year-round and offers pet-friendly rooms.
The Terrell House grounds consist of the four buildings, known as the Main House, Corner Store, Creole House, and Carriage House, as well as two courtyards that connect the houses together. The Main House and Carriage House were original buildings on the property that were eventually converted into lodging spaces. The Creole House and the Corner Store were built later. The houses are decorated with many different antiques, and orchid flowers adorn many of the common areas. There are fountains in the courtyards and several places where guests may sit and relax outside if they choose. The owner explains that there are not many activities that can be done on the property besides sitting in one of the common rooms or courtyards and relaxing by drinking wine, reading a book, or the like, but the establishment does have events that take place every so often.
Guests that would like to rent more than one room can choose to reserve one of the buildings instead. Each room is uniquely decorated, though they all offer similar amenities. There is some variation between the rooms regarding size and space, and some of them have queen-sized beds while others have king-sized beds. Amenities that are offered in all of the rooms include drinks, like non-alcoholic beverages and bottles of water, a coffee maker, bathrobes, toiletries, hairdryers, television, and access to the wireless internet. Most of the rooms come with mini-fridges and ironing boards. Every room has a private bathroom except for the two units in the Creole House, so the innkeeper is conscious about only putting groups in the two rooms who already know each other. Those living arrangements are meant for guests with a larger group and require more than one room. That way, visitors do not have to share a bathroom with someone they do not know.
Breakfast is complimentary for those who are staying at the inn. Patrons staying at the inn are welcome to bring other visitors with them if they would like, but those who haven't reserved a room with the inn will need to pay for their breakfast. Breakfast is different each day, though it typically consists of some kind of egg dish, potatoes, and fruit. Everything is homemade, including loaves of bread, coffee cake, French toast, and more. Weekends may have a little more food, including dishes like shrimp and grits, yogurts, eggs Benedict, frittatas, quiche, and sausage gravy over biscuits with scrambled eggs. There are two chefs that work at the inn and are responsible for making breakfast each morning. They are able to make accommodations for special diets and allergies such as gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan, and others. Typically served between 8:00 and 10:00 in the morning, breakfast comes out to the guests in 30-minute increments to help keep the food warm when they come to eat. They can serve 16 people at a time in the dining room, though there is more available seating on the decks and outside.
There are many restaurants located in New Orleans that guests can visit for lunch and dinner if they would like. The owner likes to recommend a number of different restaurants to those who visit Terrell House. Commander's Palace is a popular eatery that is within walking distance of the property. Another restaurant that the owner recommends is called Brixton, and for those who are spending time in or near the French Quarter, one place she suggests is called Bayona's. Besides restaurants, there are also a variety of music venues in New Orleans. A trolley can take visitors to many different areas of town if they do not want to take their car or walk.
The owner of the Terrell House describes her bed and breakfast as being a historic property. She explains that throughout the years, she had enjoyed owning the edifice and learning about the architecture and history of the houses when she purchased them. She also enjoys meeting people that come from all over the world. Due to the fact that the property has been open for almost two decades, there are many guests that have come back after having stayed at the property before. The owner says that some patrons have been coming for as long as 15 years and intend to continue coming to Terrell House.
Some activities and events that the property hosts include things like weddings, rehearsal dinners, cocktail parties, Christmas parties, and seated dinners. Whenever she is asked about specific events, she says, "You name it, we can probably do it." Terrell House is primarily an outdoor venue. Seated dinners are inside, but she can only seat up to 48 people for such events.
There are a number of policies that Terrell House enforces to help ensure that all of the visitors have an enjoyable stay. Quiet hours are implemented, starting at 10:30 p.m. Any events going on in the courtyards have to be done by then, or, if they can be moved inside, and the only people staying in the building are part of that group, they can continue later into the night at their own leisure inside. All of the units at Terrell House are pet-friendly, and the owner has her own dog that stays with her on the property. The owner also explains that there is a resident cat that hangs out on the property. "That cat came with the property, she is over 20 years old, and she is treated like royalty." Smoking is not permitted inside the buildings, but it can be done outside if none of the other guests are bothered by it. While the property does not specifically cater to children, there is no issue with guests bringing their young ones to the inn. There are certain rooms that are much better for those with infants so that if the baby starts crying, it will not disturb the other patrons that are there for the night.
The owner wants her guests to "feel warm and fuzzy." Additionally, she wants them to feel comfortable at her establishment. The place is furnished with antique chairs, but she does not want guests to be afraid to sit on them. One thing that is sought to be avoided at the Terrell House is for patrons to experience a "stuffy" environment. The owner is able to interact with her guests, usually during breakfast, but she also interacts with them around dinner time and in the evening after they come back from a day of exploring the town and going to other places in the area. She enjoys talking to people, but she tries her best not to be overbearing. Sometimes she doesn't see visitors at all, but she does try to say at least hello and make sure they are enjoying their time at Terrell House.
Among the reviews that have been left from previous patrons, many of them mention the quality of care that is put into the cleanliness of the living arrangements and the quality of service that the staff provided. One review reads, "This is a fantastic place if you are looking for a cozy corner in New Orleans, Louisiana. The location is great, the staff is super-friendly, and the room is very clean. There is an amazing patio and an indoor sitting area to relax."
The Main House and Carriage House were initially built in 1858, and the property still has much of the original flooring, plaster walls, moldings, medallions, original fireplaces, and other aspects from that time period. The Creole House was built in the 2000s, and the Corner Store finished construction in 2016.
The current owner, whose name is Linda, purchased Terrell House in 2003 and has been running it ever since. She built the Corner Store, but before that, all of the other buildings were already finished. The Main House was built in 1858 by a man named Richard Harrell. He and his family lived there until the turn of the century. When he died, it was sold several times over to a number of different people until the early 60s. At that point, the buildings were in disarray, and there was a lot of construction around it that was going towards a new highway. The neighborhood decided that they didn't want it and put a stop to it, which also helped the buildings stay intact for much longer. A professor bought the house and converted it into a guest house in the 60s. Later, Bobby Hogan purchased the property, who eventually sold it to Linda in 2003. Before it was a guest house in the 60s, it was used as a boarding house.
There were many repairs that needed to be done on the buildings to keep them standing. Almost everything on the first floor of the Main House is from the original house and nearly everything on the second floor is as well, except for the walls, which had to be replaced. There was a massive renovation done when Linda took ownership. This includes having to fix things like plumbing, wiring, roofing, and flooring.
Linda explains that she was led into the industry when she moved to New Orleans. She tells of how she did not have a job and was bored. Due to having experience in flipping houses and fixing living spaces, she decided to try her luck with a bed and breakfast. When she found Terrell House was up for bidding, she placed a bid on it and won. She also explains that she had never owned a bed and breakfast in the past, so it was a "great learning experience" for her.
1441 Magazine St.
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Linda
Bobby Hogan
