Heron Haus: The Room

The first thing we noticed about our room was the fresh scent laced with a hint of lavender. After that it was one wonderful discovery after another. The contemporary decor had clean lines and soothing color choices.  The bed was topped with soft sheets and blankets, a treat for the senses, with plenty of pillows. We thought that it might be too soft for us but after one night of relaxing sleep we looked forward to our next one.

A walk in closet provided ample storage of luggage and clothing, maintaining a clutter free respite from the world. There was a sink, mirrors and more shelf space in  the dressing room off the bedroom.

 The highlight of the Kulia room is the large raised jacuzzi and toasty warm fireplace. After a long day of walking around Portland, slipping into the relaxing jetted water was heaven. There is also a  personal shower and toilet.

This redeeming feature alone made our room worth coming home to at night. The only thing missing was a decent sized television instead of the miniature VCR 15 inch. It would have been nice to have the option of watching a DVD on the night we chose to stay in.
The Heron Haus has several other rooms that all have fireplaces, some with better views of Mt Hood, but this is the only one with the Jacuzzi.

Next Review: The Seratto Restaurant and Bar

Was That It? Really? (More on Heron Haus)

The "breakfast" in Bed and Breakfast would imply that it's role in your experience should be memorable. If not memorable, at least adequate. We were told that the gourmet breakfasts were exceptional. If by gourmet you mean small portions on big plates than yes, it was right on the mark. We were first served a handful of mixed berries with a dollop of plain yogurt. There was coffee, juice and a large assortment of teas. Our next course was a skinny wedge of quiche garnished with three bites of a beet and two tiny triangles of toast. We were always graciously told where the ingredients were from. After waiting for 15 minutes, thinking that these were tasty appetizers we realized that this was indeed the end.

The next day we were met with the same small bowl of berries and plain yogurt. This time we were prepared for the lack of substance and had grabbed a few cookies from the night before to eat in the morning. (These are oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip cookies the size of a half dollar. Same cookies, each evening, left on an uncovered plate.)  A two or three bite muffin with jam accompanied an elegant southwestern fritatta served in individual 3x5 shallow dishes, not quite an inch deep. On the side were three bite sized pieces of breakfast squash, garnished with a mint leaf. Again, juice, coffee and tea were available.

So the last morning we hardly saw the point of rising early when we knew we would be in search of a more substantial breakfast elsewhere. When my husband did venture downstairs an hour later, our hostess said, "Oh there you are, you missed breakfast." He told her we were both very tired and needed to sleep in a bit. There was still several travelers finishing up their breakfasts, the kitchen was still open. She made no offer of breakfast to us. After we were packed and ready to check out, maybe 20 minutes later, I knocked on the half open door of the kitchen.  Two lonely fruit and yogurt bowls sat on the counter. When I handed her the keys she again made no offer to give us our (paid for) breakfast. There is a difference between a light breakfast and a skimpy one. I should know, I learned how to make a slice of bread feed 6 children.

Note to Self:
1. Gourmet actually means meagerly servings of mildly tasty creations on large plates.
2.You are only served when you are seated at the place setting, no wandering.  (I witnessed a poor elderly women be told that she wouldn't be served until she sat down at the place setting where she took her coffee mug from.)
3. If you snooze, you lose, literally. Breakfast doesn't start at 8:30am it IS at 8:30, no exceptions.
4. This bed and breakfast would be more aptly named, bed and snack.

Next:  The Room

Beautiful Setting: Poor Service

The Heron Haus bed and breakfast sits atop what locals refer to as Nob hill. Nestled in a wooded setting, the winding driveway leads to the courtyard of this spacious turn of the century Tudor/Craftsman Mansion. Heron Haus is a 10,000 square foot English Tudor home designed by noted Portland architect Joseph Jacobberger in 1904
Your first stop is the warmly decorated breakfast dining area complete with coffee,  hot water with a large selection of teas. Beautiful built in bookcases line the walls of the library loaded with books, a window seat that overlooks the yard, and cushy chairs to curl up in. The decor is beautifully done with interesting pieces and comfortable furniture. There is a veranda complete with more comfortable sitting. The wood staircase takes you up to the second floor where again simplicity, plenty of light and carefully placed artwork reflect attention to detail . The setting and home were perfect, clean, stylish, and bright and airy. 

We arrived at the Heron Haus in Portland, Oregon later than we had planned, 7:00 instead of 6:00pm, late start and bad traffic.  Our hostess was personable but seemed nervous and  restrained. Before showing us around or even welcoming us to her home, she asked for payment.(Something about signing off on $600+ before even seeing the room didn't sit right.Credit card, yes, signature, seriously?)  She then told us to get our things before showing us around or even to our room. With our bags in hand she gave us a brisk tour and a few restaurant recommendations and then disappeared and didn't materialize until 8:30am for breakfast. I guess we shouldn't have been late.


Tomorrows post:  The Breakfast