Bed and Breakfast on Tiffany Hill: Mills River, North Carolina

Several months ago, I found out about the Bed and Breakfast on Tiffany Hill near Asheville, North Carolina from the owner of Burlington’s Willis Graves Bed and Breakfast near Cincinnati, Ohio. They were both selected this year for inclusion on a Top 10 national list of romantic inns. It is fitting that they share such a distinction, because out of the twenty-one small inns and bed and breakfasts we have experienced over the years, these two by far top our own personal list. Their attention to detail and hospitality mirror what people traditionally experience at luxury hotels or resorts. And don’t let the romantic title of the award fool you into thinking it is a couples only destination - both properties are ideally suited for group events, solo retreats, and even business travel as they are less than ten miles from major airports.

The Bed and Breakfast on Tiffany Hill was a labor of love for the owner, Selena Einwechter. Her journey from corporate executive to innkeeper is a testament to never give up on one’s dream, no matter what obstacles life and the economy might throw your way. Selena has most deservedly been interviewed and profiled in various publications, so I won’t repeat her story here, but I do encourage you to get to know the woman behind this destination. She personifies grace and hospitality, and is the kind of person that you feel like you must have known for years because you feel so comfortable and at ease in conversation.

Upon arrival at Tiffany Hill, it is clear you have been fortunate enough to discover a new kind of destination. To define it in lodging industry terms seems to do it a disservice. Sadly there are people out there with preconceived (and outdated) notions that a “bed and breakfast” involves lace doilies, squeaky old floors, shared bathrooms, and sometimes odd interactions. So it is may be better to say this is a next generation bed and breakfast. But even then, we have stayed at other places that were built from the ground up as a B&B (as this was), but they did not share the foresight that Selena put into this property. It incorporates the decor and comfort of a luxury hotel, the ability to be as private or social as one prefers similar to a country inn, and the delicious breakfast and personal concierge service normally found at upscale bed and breakfast establishments. It is a place that blends the best of each so that you really will not want to leave. This is also a property where the business website and photos do not do it justice - it is even more beautiful and pampering in person!

Guests enter the first time through the welcoming front porch (complete with rocking chairs) and into a spacious entry. It only takes a few moments for one to take in the pristine cleanliness, beautiful surroundings, and genuine hospitality found at Tiffany Hill.


Once you step into the foyer, to the left is a gift shop/future art gallery, and to the right is a office/library that guests are welcome to use.


Straight ahead of the foyer and stairs is a beautiful view of the dining room and beyond. The built-in to the right of the dining room table houses an ice machine, beverages, and snacks for guests to enjoy.


Just on the other side of the fireplace (to the left of the dining room) is a large sitting room that overlooks the herb garden and woods. There are plenty of puzzles and games stocked in this living area, in addition to binoculars and a bird field guide for identifying birds on the property.




Each of the five suites are named and themed after a Southern city. While they vary in size and beds, a guest would be fortunate to stay in any of the five suites as they all come equipped with comfortable reading chairs, work desks, and modern private bathrooms. A hand-signed welcome note greeted us in our room.


Women will appreciate that each room is equipped with a full length mirror, and at least three of them (that I can remember) have a make-up mirror.


They all contain a custom closet with plenty of hangers for your clothes, a full-size ironing board and iron, plush robes, and a luggage rack. Small details that show the thought that went into creating the bed and breakfast: even the ironing board covers and luggage racks differ in that they were clearly chosen to coordinate with the distinct style of each suite.


For those wanting to stay connected to the outside world, each room is equipped with a television/DVD player and WIFI Internet is available throughout the building.

The suites and common areas also feature beautiful fresh flower arrangements.


Meticulous details are evident everywhere, such as dimmer switches on room lights, motion sensors for lights in the common hallway, various books and magazines to match a wide variety of guest preferences, delightful nooks and reading spaces indoors and out, and beverage stations near the upstairs bedrooms.


Each suite has been fitted with a speaker system that is controlled by a dial in your room, it pipes in pre-selected music when turned on. You can turn it off at any time and control the volume. Because it is Tiffany Hill, where every detail matters, the music has even been carefully chosen to correspond to the time of the day!

We stayed in the Charlottesville Suite. It is a very large room complete with a king-size bed, comfortable chairs and ottoman in front of a flat-screen television (which I forgot to get a picture of), and a spacious bathroom with two sink vanities, a large soaking air-jet tub, and separate shower. There is even a heat lamp above the shower!





The Natchez Suite includes a queen-size bed and has a cozy window seat that overlooks horse pastures. The bathroom has a soaking tub/shower combination and a pedestal sink.






The Madison Suite includes a queen-size bed and two soft reading chairs. The bathroom is complete with a shower and pedestal sink.





The Beaufort Suite includes a queen-size bed and a long vanity with two sinks. This is the only room that can accommodate more than two people; there are two twin fold-out window seat beds.






The Seaside Suite includes a king-size bed. It is on the first floor and the bathroom is ADA accessible with a large shower and stand alone sink.








When it comes to food, guests will not go hungry at Tiffany Hill. A three-course breakfast is served each morning at 8:30am in the dining room or outside on the patio. Admittedly, we normally look for places with individual tables because we are not always chipper in the morning and we have had some rather odd experiences at communal bed and breakfast tables. That said, our experience at Tiffany Hill was delightful. There were several other couples that we genuinely enjoyed meeting. One couple was celebrating a milestone anniversary and as Selena honored them with a beautiful toast, I surprisingly had tears in my eyes to be present for such a thoughtful gesture. Do not let the set time or communal table deter you from booking and enjoying breakfast. You will not want to miss it!

Because there is one chef in the kitchen, there is not a menu or choices in the morning, so guests pass on any allergies or food preferences before arrival. Each morning included a fruit course, main entree, and then even dessert! On one of our favorite days, each plate was comprised of individual size pastry cups filled with scrambled eggs and topped with a savory Mornay sauce. Roasted rosemary potatoes were on the side garnished with bacon crumbles and fresh tomatoes. The recipe will be featured in an upcoming edition of SavorNC magazine. And did I mention Selena has her own herb garden? As someone who loves fresh and local ingredients, I was thrilled to see a bed and breakfast with an on-site garden.


Towards the end of breakfast, Selena checked in with everyone and provided assistance in planning excursions. She thoroughly knows the area and has a plethora of printed material to assist guests. I am not sure that words can accurately convey just how devoted she is to making guests feel welcome and taking care of any needs you might have. If you have any preferences at all, or special requests, she seems to go above and beyond to make sure that everyone has an unforgettable stay at Tiffany Hill.

During our first day, my husband went off to play golf with a friend while I relaxed on the grounds. The weather couldn’t have been more beautiful and I wanted to check out the property’s acreage. Just behind the main house, tucked into the wooded landscape, there are an amazing array of gardens and sitting areas complete with a walking trail.







And just in case you don’t believe me when I say that Selena really does think of everything, take a look at this picnic table. Notice anything out of the ordinary? How about the brush that has been conveniently attached to the side of the table so that guests can brush off any leaves that might have fallen! The genius is truly in the details.


Had we not had plans to join our friends for dinner, I might not have gotten up from the hammock. With a good book in hand, a light breeze, and the gorgeous canopy of leafy branches, I was well near heaven. And then as Selena was walking in between buildings, she stopped by and unobtrusively handed me a rolled up throw to use as a head pillow. Is this the Four Seasons? Again, such thoughtful attention to detail truly sets this bed and breakfast apart from the rest.


The inn also happens to be within a short drive of some breathtaking waterfalls, state park grounds, downtown Asheville, and the Biltmore Estate. An extensive list of activities and attractions can be found on the main website. We chose to stop by a few waterfalls while we were there.


Coming and going you can use a side door that gives access directly to the parking area. All of the suites and main exterior doors feature keyless entry so you do not have to keep up with keys! And as the placard notes, the property is a member of Select Registry, Distinguished Inns of North America. Guests earn Select Registry points for each stay, which count toward a $100 gift certificate valid at any member property. (And don’t forget to notice the umbrellas next to the door for guest use - another characteristic detail!)


As I mentioned previously, the Bed and Breakfast on Tiffany Hill has already been profiled in numerous press publications. While sometimes magazine articles can give an edge to properties that advertise in their magazines or they gloss over everyday guest experiences, in the case of Tiffany Hill all of the praise is much deserved.


See and experience it for yourself soon, as such a unique getaway is bound to fill up once the word gets out. Please stop back by to share your experience - a few passing health challenges have limited my ability to travel this fall, but I would love to live vicariously through your reports!

It is truly a memorable escape and very special place.

Bed and Breakfast on Tiffany Hill
400 Ray Hill Road
Mills River, North Carolina 28759
www.bbontiffanyhill.com