I can’t believe that it’s been five years since I took ownership of The Williams House Bed and Breakfast. It feels like it was just yesterday that Egor and I were packing up the car in New York. I was trying to remain calm on the outside, but I was imploding on the inside, thinking……I am an architect…did I just quit my job? Am I really buying a bed and breakfast in Florida? Did I really roll my retirement savings into a self-directed 401(k) to fund this new business? Are we actually moving to Florida? How am I going to drive all the way to Florida? Is Egor going to be okay? Have I watched too many Hallmark movies?
(You have no idea how many times my family told me I was crazy!) It was a long journey to get here. There was a lot of uncertainty and sleepless nights deciding if it was right for Egor if I turned our lives upside down. How was I going to make this Hallmark movie fantasy a reality for me and make sure Egor would be okay?
It was one of those things that I always wanted to do (in my fantasy/what-if head), but again, I am an architect. I have a great career in New York. I have phenomenal clients that I adore and have spent years developing relationships and projects with, which I understand make a difference in the community. I loved the challenge of developing multimillion-dollar projects for fire districts and school districts. It was my passion.
All of this was also my downfall. My family suffered because, unfortunately, I thought my work came first. My work was a big part of what was keeping our family moving forward, so I thought. That is very hard to admit, but I acknowledge that my family suffered from my career.
As my family was breaking up and I was getting divorced, I knew that I had to do something different. I knew I could not fix the mess that I had a big part in making but at a minimum I knew I could make life better for me and Egor.
As you may have read previously, since I was in my mid-20s, I had a dream of a bed-and-breakfast. However, as I mentioned earlier, I was on a career path to become an architect. I was awarded a full scholarship to a renowned design school in New York City, and I went on to partner in a firm. I just had to hang on for 17 more years. ……I could have retired, and life would have been easy. Or I think it would’ve been, but I was turning 49 and decided if it was time for a significant change before I got too old to do it.
The first day I arrived on Amelia Island, I looked at a few properties. I knew the moment I pulled up to The Williams House that this was the one. It was in disrepair. I knew this was going to be a massive undertaking (that I am still working on today). I spent a few months decluttering, learning about the business, exploring the buildings, and understanding the impact of Florida’s humidity and weather on 170-year-old structures. Then we started… one room at a time. We shut down the room, renovated it, and reopened it. Then we started on the grounds. Today, we are a certified arboretum with beautiful gardens and an heirloom rose garden.
The Williams House will be 170 years old in 2026. I am always concerned that I’m not doing enough to keep this special home moving forward in our community. As an architect, I understand that it will always require work, and I’m always on the lookout for repairs and restoration that may be needed.
Reflecting on this phenomenal journey, there are many things I could consider, things I could’ve done differently, but I have no regrets. Egor is doing well on his path. He currently works at Harris Teeter, a local grocery store, as one of their four chefs. He realized that the EMT path would be a significant challenge, and after completing the program twice, he decided to take a break from it. I think he likes to cook. But he is a 22-year-old young man and needs to figure it out on his own. Now and then, I get to share some of my cooking secrets with him. That brings me joy.
What I have learned 5 years later… this property is truly magical. I don’t know why. But I know it is, and guests tell me often. They keep coming back. They arrive and say, “We are so happy to be home.” The magic of the Williams House comes from my staff and the guests. I understand how I keep things moving forward. I know the vision is mine, but I couldn’t have kept things moving forward without the team around me. My housekeepers, contractors, handyman, and my community are what make the Williams House such a special place.
My guests have truly become my Williams House family. I am joyful when they arrive. I look forward to hearing updates about their families. I love spending a little bit of time with them when they’re here. Perhaps it’s just as we are serving breakfast or wine or running into them as they’re enjoying the gardens or veranda. It’s always essential for me to say goodbye, and I always look forward to their next visit.
And, I miss them. At times, tears follow them after they leave (and sometimes quietly before they go). I do acknowledge that there are some guests that I may never see again. This is so hard for me. I am saying goodbye to family. The hugs are real. The tears are real.
For those of you who have not figured this out, I am genuinely a type A personality. I strive for perfection in everything that I do. I straighten every coaster and pillow. I examine every plate before it is placed in the dining room. I straighten every bedspread, drape, towel, and lampshade. I check under every bed and open every drawer. The guests appreciate the passion of my staff and me. I do realize that my staff know that I expect a lot from them. And they understand what is expected of them. They are phenomenal! They are the team that makes the Williams House what it is. They are a massive part of what makes this place magical. They all care deeply, and they all work incredibly hard. It shows in everything that Miss Helen, Miss Delia, Miss Julie, Miss Fanny, Sebastian, and Kevin do. Yes, I have vision. Yes, I do the cooking. But they make this property beautifully perfect, a bed-and-breakfast.
I am grateful and look forward to the future unfolding here at The Williams House.
Thank you
