With each of the 12 rooms decorated differently by local interior designer Patrick Gallagher, the inn will primarily cater to urban
visitors looking for a quiet weekend retreat on the water, according to owner William Griffin.
During an open house April 1, hundreds of people toured the three-story Colonial inn on Water Street in the borough with many stopping
Griffin to congratulate him.
"I'm absolutely blown away by this. The details and the thought that has gone into everything is amazing. I think it will develop an
amazing reputation," resident Moira O'Malley said as she toured the inn. "It really feels like you're staying in a friend's home."
Borough Warden Andrew Maynard called the inn spectacular and said the borough was buzzing about it. He said it would provide more
customers for borough restaurants and shops. He said that not since the stately Wadawanuck Hotel in the 19th century has the borough had such
accommodations.
Griffin, of Watch Hill, bought the Harbor View and the adjacent Skipper's Dock restaurant in 1996. An early-morning fire destroyed the
Harbor View in September 1997. It took Griffin six months to work out a settlement with his insurance company, and a year to obtain permits
to build the inn. The foundation was poured in late 1999, and crews began framing the building last summer.
Residents got a chance a week ago Sunday to examine the inn's interior. They stepped from the cobblestone sidewalk into a lobby area that
leads to a large airy room overlooking Stonington Harbor. With blond wood floors, plush couches and small tables and chairs, the
bright room has large windows and doors that lead to an outdoor deck.
Connected to the room is the bar area with an L-shaped wooden bar, red walls and black-and-white prints of sailboats. A buffet breakfast
and evening hors d'oeuvres and wine will be served in the bar, and guests can take their food and sit in the large room.
Each of the 12 guest rooms has ornate beds and fireplaces, but the furniture, artwork, lamps and color schemes are different in each one.
Many of the bathrooms have large tubs as well. Six of the rooms have harbor views and small balconies, while five overlook Water Street. A
corner room overlooks Cannon Square and has a view of Sandy Point to the east.
Historic black-and-white photos of the borough can be found in the hallways.
The guestrooms are on the first and second floor. The third floor has a large sitting room/meeting room that overlooks the harbor and is
decorated in shades of yellow.
"It turned out even better than I expected," Griffin said.
Gallagher said he tried to balance comfort and style in the rooms that have such names as Out of Africa, the Zen room, the Colonial
Williamsburg room and the West Indies room. Gallagher's passion for colors can be seen in the blues, greens, yellows and reds in the
rooms.
"I tried to give each room its own personality," he said. "I wanted to create a place where I would want to come."
The inn will employ about 10 people and will have kayaks, bicycles and an exercise room for guests. While the inn will not serve meals
other than the buffet breakfast, Griffin pointed out that there are five popular restaurants within walking distance.
Room rates vary depending on the time of the year, whether the stay is midweek or on the weekend and the type of room.
Until May 24, room rates will range from $155 a night during midweek to $245 for a weekend night in a room with a water view. Rooms with a
water view will be $295 a night during summer and fall weekends.
Griffin plans to renovate a brick building next door into six more guestrooms, which Gallagher also will design. Work will begin in
November, and Griffin expects the rooms to open in the summer of 2002. Information on the inn will soon be found at www.innatstonington.com
or by calling 535-2000.