The Platinum Pebble Boutique Inn on Cape Cod

Located in the town of West Harwich, Massachusetts, is the Platinum Pebble Boutique Inn on Cape Cod. The inn has a total of eight guest rooms, four of which are classified as “Luxury Rooms” by the establishment. All units include private bathrooms and many amenities including bathrobes, towels, and TVs. Also in the Main Inn is a gift shop where visitors can buy memorabilia, utilize common areas, and use the pool lounge and its accompanying amenities. The property is relatively close to the beach and other various attractions in the area, one being the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Bicycles are available to guests staying at the property, which can be used to ride to the beach or on the trail. The summer months are usually the busiest for the establishment due to the activities in the area during that time. However, the business is open year-round with the exception of six weeks, usually towards the end of February.

About

The Platinum Pebble Boutique Inn on Cape Cod, located in West Harwich, Massachusetts, is a “boutique inn,” according to Sharon, one of the owners of the establishment. There are eight rooms available for reservations, six of them being located in the Main Inn and the other two being in a separate building, the Carriage House. The Main Inn is a two-story building, having two rooms on the main floor, and the additional units are located on the second floor, while the Carriage House is only one story. Each of the six rooms located in the main building varies in the amenities they offer; in total, there are four Luxury Rooms throughout the property that specifically have a dry bar, mini fridge, gas fireplaces, and a private outdoor space, either a private patio or a rooftop deck. Of these Luxury Rooms, two are in the Carriage House, and the other two are in the Main House. Each room includes a private bathroom, towels, Wi-Fi, a TV, and individually controlled heat and AC units. The most popular rooms on the premises tend to be those in the Carriage House due to the privacy that comes from being in a separate building and having a private entrance. Sharon says that all of the rooms are designed with a “Contemporary, beachy theme." The main inn building has additional areas for guests to utilize during their stay, such as two common rooms, a sitting area that features a wood fireplace, and a pool lounge where coffee and tea services are provided. Also available in the pool lounge are games, DVDs, and books.

On the 2-acre property that the establishment sits on, there is a gift shop area where visitors are able to buy souvenir mugs, the same type of sheets used in the suites, and other various local items. Both the Carriage House and Main House are adorned with clapboard siding with a shingle roof. In the back of the property, there is a relatively big grass area, a heated pool, a hot and cold shower, a wood fire pit, a gas fire pit, and a beach shack. The beach shack has different types of beach items, such as chairs, umbrellas, towels and coolers. Additionally, a bike shed offers 11 bicycles for people to ride to the beach or on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Other features of the grounds of the inn include various gardens, some of which are raised up, and beehives that the establishment uses to make their own honey. Herbs and vegetables grown on the premises are used in the breakfast served to patrons.

Breakfast is served daily at the Platinum Pebble Boutique Inn on Cape Cod. Guests are given a menu the day before to choose what to eat from and can also determine what time they would like to eat between 7:30 to 9:30 AM during the summer, with the time tending to be later in the morning come fall and winter. Options on the menu often include Chef’s choice with two other choices for the main entrée. Breakfast can be served in most guest rooms, by the pool, in the gardens, or in the common areas. The inn is able to accommodate most people with dietary needs or restrictions if notified ahead of time. In the past, they have made accommodations for those who are vegan, gluten-free, and those on a keto diet. Items available on the breakfast menu include eggs benedict, roasted potatoes, egg cups, homemade granola with yogurt, Belgian waffles, different types of French toast, and muffins.

Culture

Cape Cod is often known as a “summer destination,” says Sharon, one of the owners of the property, and as such, she tries to cater to guests’ visits by suggesting cuisine and helping plan activities. Some of the places that Sharon recommends her guests eat at include the Ocean House, located along the beach, Buca’s Tuscan Roadhouse, and Skipper’s. Activities in the area include hiking, biking, whale watching, visiting the beach, and going to different museums in the area. Tours in the area include cranberry, dune, or beach tours. Specific attractions include the 28-mile-long Cape Cod Rail Trail, a lavender farm, and the John F. Kennedy Museum. “We really customize for each guest,” says the owner, which they do for any patron that wants such services. Sharon also comments on the high interaction there is between them and their patrons. 

The Platinum Pebble Boutique Inn on Cape Cod is an “Adult’s Only Inn,” as stated on the property's website, meaning that each person planning to stay at the inn must be older than 18. Additional rules of the inn include that pets are only permitted in two of the eight units on the premises. There are also breed restrictions for dogs; further information on this guideline can be given by contacting the property. Other policies include a quiet time, which starts at 10:00 PM, and the restriction of smoking or any open flame inside the buildings. There is a designated smoking area in the backyard area on the premises.

When talking about the desired atmosphere of the property, Sharon says, “we are shooting for them to feel that this is their home away from home." Ways that they endeavor to do this are by striving to cater to their patrons by allowing them to eat breakfast in their rooms and by providing amenities such as robes. Other goals for the Platinum Pebble Boutique Inn on Cape Cod include keeping furniture up to date and making visitors feel “spoiled.” Guests have remarked on their experience while staying at the establishment. One such comment left by a patron states, “the room itself was spacious and immaculate with modern Cape Cod décor, great bed/bedding, spacious bathroom, and extra details that made it luxurious. The gardens are lovely and give a sense of privacy. Shawn and Sharon are welcoming, thoughtful innkeepers; we had everything we needed and more.”

A unique aspect of the property, according to Sharon, is that they receive a relatively high amount of international visitors. Other trends in the demographics of guests visiting the inn include people who are older than 55 and those in their 30s. The business’ success has been attributed to the changes the owners made when first purchasing the property and having the mindset of tailoring to each patron's experience. Due to these changes and innovations, Sharon remarks that they have had a high amount of repeat visitors. The business is open throughout the year except for six weeks when it closes down, which generally occurs at the end of February. When the establishment is in operation, it receives the most business during the summer, which Sharon attributes to the activities available in the surrounding area.

History

Before The Platinum Pebble Boutique Inn on Cape Cod was a bed and breakfast, it was mainly used as a private residence. The only exception is that for one period of time, the building was used by a local church that owned it. However, it was eventually sold and became a private residence again. It was originally built in the 1850s as a local sea captain’s house.

The Platinum Pebble Boutique Inn on Cape Cod officially became a bed and breakfast in 1950. At this time, it was a very “traditional bed and breakfast” with rocking chairs, ruffles, and “floral everywhere,” says Sharon, the current owner of the business. The property was renovated when it changed ownership in 2009 to an English couple. During this renovation period is when all the private baths were added, new tubs were brought in, fireplaces were made, and tile and glass showers were implemented.
In 2019, Shawn Gilmore and Sharon Foster purchased the property. Sharon grew up in a country club that her father ran, and Shawn, the other owner of the business, had experience from managing a motel. The two decided that owning the Platinum Pebble Boutique Inn on Cape Cod was something they could do together because they both had previous experience. Since owning the business, the owners have focused on providing a good “guest experience and amenities for the guest.” Sharon says that she has traveled a lot and knows what they prefer, which is what they try to have at their inn. Changes that the current owners have made since purchasing the property include adding the vegetable and flower gardens, adding the heating feature in the pool, adding a flexible breakfast menu, upgrading the amenities in the rooms, and they are currently working on getting charging stations installed for electric cars. Overall, Sharon says that her favorite part of the job is cooking for people and decorating “the inn in a way that makes people feel welcome.”