The Livingston Inn is located in Madison, Wisconsin, near various attractions such as farmers' markets, State Street, concerts, and UW-Madison Campus. Fall tends to be the busiest time for the year-round business. Those who stay at the inn are required to be older than 12 years of age due to the older nature of the building. The inn was built in 1857 by William T. Leitch, who was the mayor at the time. In 2011, Peggy Furlan purchased the property and has been operating it since. There are five rooms available for reservation, each of which includes a private bathroom. Some of the units offer views of the lake that is located to the back of the property. Breakfast is served every day, generally at 9:00 AM, and includes granola, an egg dish, berries, and Greek yogurt. The morning meal is served in the dining room, which also functions as a common area for visitors.
In the city of Madison, Wisconsin, is The Livingston Inn, a five-bedroom lodging establishment. All of the rooms feature a queen-size bed and a private en-suite bathroom. According to Peggy Furlan, the owner, the establishment offers a relatively good mattress and a bed frame that is "structurally sound and doesn’t squeak when in use." Overall, she describes the look of the rooms as having an “updated flair to them.” As far as amenities go, all of the units generally have the same items. Such amenities include a gas fireplace, robes, hairdryers, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and cable TV. When staying at the inn, guests are given complimentary wine to drink at their leisure and are also given chocolates throughout the duration of their stay. Another thing Peggy does for her visitors is allowing access to a basket located in one of the closets she calls the “Harry Potter closet,” with various items that tend to be forgotten when traveling, such as razors and toothbrushes. These items are free for guests to take.
One feature that differentiates the rooms from another is the views found in separate rooms. Rooms located in the back of the house face the local lake and have views of the body of water. Common areas in The Livingston Inn include a front and back parlor, conservatory, a dining room that features a window seat, two front porches, a garden with a seating area, and seating around the local lake. The owner owns lakefront property which allows their patrons to have private lake access. Peggy explains that in their plot of land, a previous owner took pieces of the willow tree buried by Napoleon's grave and planted it by the lake. About one acre of land makes up the property where the inn is located, which is a relatively shaded area.
Breakfast at The Livingston Inn is described as “amazing” by the owner. Items served at breakfast include homemade granola, Greek yogurt, berries, baked goods, and an egg dish. Peggy says that people know her breakfast for the scones and Swedish pancakes that are often served. Generally, breakfast is served at 9:00 AM in the dining room but can be served earlier upon request. At 7:00 AM, coffee is made available. Accommodations for those with food sensitivities or allergies can often be made upon request.
The Livingston Inn is known to host fundraisers on the properties for things such as epilepsy, Planned Parenthood, the UW Film Festival, and book signings. Peggy, the owner, says that she will only host two big events a year. About 45 minutes from the property, there is an activity known as Shakespeare In The Woods. If a patron books this, the inn provides a basket with linens, dishes, glassware, and silverware that is used during the event. Other attractions in the area include the State Capital building of Wisconsin, various concerts, farmers' markets, State Street, and the UW-Madison campus. Additionally, there are about three music venues nearby the inn. Various restaurants can be found in the area as well. Three that Peggy recommends include Graft, Sardine, and Tornado Club.
“This is going to be the best place you’ll ever stay,” is something that Peggy often says to visitors who come to her establishment, especially if they have never stayed at a bed and breakfast before. When Peggy purchased the inn, she had the goal of providing a place where everyone who comes can feel comfortable inside. She says that she does this through her "artistic style" and the way that she decorates it in, especially in the Gothic style and through modern art. Another way she does this is by serving breakfast at 9:00 AM with the goal to allow visitors to enjoy their vacation instead of having to wake up early to eat. One review left by a previous guest of the property said, “We felt so comfortable and welcomed [during our stay].”
A wide range of individuals constitutes the general demographics of those who stay at The Livingston Inn. Peggy says that “I have the best guests in the world that stay at my inn.” “They are like family,” is what Peggy says with regards to most of her patrons, especially repeat guests. Breakfast is one of the times when Peggy is able to interact with her patrons by sitting with them and having conversations. One previous guest of the property left a review saying, “Few times have I come across such a connected and gracious host as the owner, Peggy. From delightful conversation over breakfast to helping us make the most of our stay, Peggy was a delight.” The owner says that she interacts with her visitors as much as they desire, and has basic meetings through check-ins.
The Livingston Inn is a year-round operation, with the busiest season generally occurring during the fall. When guests come to the property, the establishment asks that they follow certain policies such as no smoking in the house, no pets, and visitors must be 12 years of age or older. Peggy says that there is a "respectful atmosphere" at her property, which has led to her seeing no need for a quiet time at the inn. It should also be noted that guests must be able to ascend/descend stairs when staying at the inn.
The Livingston Inn has been owned and operated by Peggy Furlan since 2011. Peggy says that her entering the lodging industry is due to the “house finding her” and she also says that “I feel I am here to save this house and bring it into the next 100 years or so.” Her favorite part of owning the bed and breakfast is the conversations she is able to have with each patron and being able to help them enjoy their vacation. Since purchasing the house, she has continually made changes and upgrades to the building. One such endeavor she has started is replacing all of the scaffolding on the building. Other relatively major renovations include adding more passages throughout the house, painting all of the rooms, updating bathrooms, rebuilding the kitchen, and upgrading the landscaping.
William T. Leitch was the original owner of the building. It is said that the stones that were used to build the structure took three years to cut. Construction started in 1854 and was finished in 1857, and according to Peggy, “There is not another architectural property like this in Wisconsin. It’s very rare.” Another notable part of the building’s history is that Frank Lloyd Wright was involved in the construction of the basement, and he lived across the street from the inn, as reported by Peggy. She also says that the first flush toilet in Madison was installed in this house.
752 E. Gorham Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53703
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Peggy Furlan
