Exploring Past and Present at The Colonial Inn, Part 3: Restoration
This is Part Three of a series of posts exploring The Colonial Inn's past and present. Click here for the introduction and full list of posts. Enjoy!
If you've driven on King Street in Hillsborough sometime during the past year, you probably noticed a large, white building being transformed from battered to beautiful. That is the Colonial Inn, a structure over 180 years old. The building is making a comeback to serve it's original purpose as a hotel, but in a modern style. Ever wondered what it looks like inside? Keep scrolling to get a sneak peek look at the result of painstaking restoration!
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| Want to walk on history? Check out these beautiful, and original, restored floors! Photos courtesy The Colonial Inn Facebook |
Ever since the project began in 2018, General Manager Elise Tyler and her team have preparing the building to be a boutique hotel and event space. However, they are determined to preserve the historic beauty and legacy of the Colonial Inn and have spared no effort to accomplish that mission. For example, when construction crews had no choice but to remove small pieces of original wood, they recycled it into shavings that now fill the cracks between original pine floorboards.
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| During restoration, the walls of the original cabin structure were discovered hidden behind multiple other layers built later. Photos courtesy The Colonial Inn Facebook |
The oldest part of the structure lies within the walls of the room now serving as a bar. When workers carefully peeled back the many layers of wall that protected this initial cabin-like wall, old logs with chinking and hand-pounded nails were revealed. Beams made from whole trees were also discovered, which could provide evidence to prove with more certainty whether the Inn was constructed in the eighteenth or nineteenth century. This would be done using the fascinating science of dendrochronology, the process of dating events using the ring patterns in trees.
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| Are you tall? Short? Somewhere in the middle? That just might determine where you sit at this beautiful bar! Photo courtesy AMB |
All old buildings have their quirks, and the Colonial Inn is no exception Do you notice anything funny in the picture above? Construction crews realized while installing the bar that the floor slopes! They left this fun characteristic as is and simply adjusted plans to make the bar top flat. If you look closely, you'll see that the baseboard on the left is four inches higher than it is on the right to compensate for the uneven original floor. It is the peculiarities like this that Tyler's team embraced to make the Colonial Inn even more special.
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| The unique bar facade handmade by a father and son team. Photo courtesy AB |
Not only will the Colonial Inn be restored to its historic beauty, but many of the elements were created with care by local small businesses. The diamond bar facade above is an amazing example. It was completely hand-carved by a father-son team. Tyler explained that the angles on the corners are incredibly precise, making the perfection of the work done completely without machines quite impressive.
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| Hand-carved bannisters on the winding staircase off of the lobby. Photos courtesy The Colonial Inn Facebook and AB |
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| Intricate newels at the base of the lobby staircase. Photo courtesy The Colonial Inn Facebook and AB |
Tall wooden newels welcome you to climb the winding staircase off of the lobby. One of these newels was not whole and rather than creating a new one, the father-son team carved the missing piece and fit it to the broken original seamlessly. This is yet another example of the meticulous journey to bring the Colonial Inn back to its former glory.
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| Two fireplaces in the Colonial Inn, one before restoration and one after. |
Some of the fireplaces were hidden in the walls at the beginning of the process, but now they are uncovered, a cozy touch of traditional brick surrounded by modern accents.
Hidden in this beautiful second story porch railing is inspiration for many other accents in the Colonial Inn.
Photos courtesy The Colonial Inn Facebook and AB
Have you been wondering where the ideas for some of the designs come from? Well, many of the modern touches are historically inspired, too! The above pictures are of the lovely second story porch, originally added by well-known North Carolina architect Jule Korner (see our earlier post about the Colonial Inn's history). Notice the diamond shape in the center of each column. This shape has been dubbed by Tyler's team the "Colonial Inn North Star" because it has guided many of their design decisions. Remember the wooden diamonds on the bar's facade? Those are inspired by the Colonial Inn North Star. Check out the pictures below for more examples of this creative nod to the Inn's rich history.
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| These "North Star" inspired chairs will surround tables in the elegant dining room and event space. Photo courtesy AB |
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| The Colonial Inn logo includes elements inspired by historic details of the building. Photo courtesy The Colonial Inn Facebook |
The Colonial Inn North Star isn't the only architectural element of the building that made it into their clever logo. Below is a picture of decorative eave brackets that grace the roof, identical to those of the house next to the Inn, Inn at Teardrops. A rendition of these brackets rest at the top of the logo, once again pulling history into today.
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| Decorative eave brackets under the roof of the Colonial Inn. Photo courtesy AB. |
The Colonial Inn's legacy is not just being restored, but it is continuing to grow. A new building has been added behind the iconic original that infuses the old style with one more modern. It will hold more rooms for the Inn's operation, providing a luxurious escape.
The original restored structure is to the left and the new building in a similar style stands across from it on the right. Together, these two buildings make up the modern Colonial Inn.
Photos courtesy The Colonial Inn Facebook and AB
When General Manager Elise Tyler first stepped into the dilapidated Colonial Inn, she saw sagging ceilings, fire damage, mold, and crumbling fireplaces. Over the past two years, the beauty of the building has slowly but surely been renewed by the dedication of many talented men and women. By saving both the structural integrity and spirit of the Colonial Inn, people can now explore history while enjoying modern comforts. With a wonderful mix of past and present, the Colonial Inn is shining once again!
Which part of the restoration process impresses you the most? We would love to know! Please share in the comments below:
P.S. Are you eager to see the result of the restorations yourself? You won't have to wait long! The grand opening for The Colonial Inn is tentatively set for November 12-14, 2020, so mark your calendars!
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