We confess we'd no idea before eventually stumbling (via our world-wide meanderings) into quite possibly creating one here at Highlander House.
Research of the term delivers nothing definitive, only a collection of descriptions:
- small and sophisticated
- personal
- eclectic
- stylish
- intimate
- urban location
- design focus
All B&Bs are small, personal and intimate, and many are urban located.
"Stylish" is in the eye of the beholder.
Sophisticated?
Research that term and you'll find some unpleasant definitions. Fortunately, Glasgow University's own professor of English, Faye Hammill, quotes it "common as a measure of refinement—displaying good taste, wisdom and subtlety rather than crudeness, stupidity and vulgarity." ?
Sophistication in the world of technology defines state of the art and superior.
With this pic of an unassuming dining nook in the Bens & Glens guest room at Highlander House, we wonder whether we've in this one pic ticked some of those "Boutique B&B" boxes?
The half-moon table is up-cycled from a cherry-wood dining table we brought back to Scotland from our previous home in France.
Whilst not in this room, most Highlander House guest rooms have original 1851-built fireplaces rediscovered with the inserts replaced by smokeless charm.
Technology-wise, today's automatic coffee machines like the one featured, offer guests a playful and experimental choice of creme-topped coffees and fuzzy-warm hot chocolates.
Behind the coffee machine (and well placed around guest rooms) wall sockets offer plentiful USB charging for tablets, phones etc
Above the tea/coffee caddy (and also at bedside locations), a dedicated Cat6a hard-wired internet jack is available for those who require seriously fast internet speed as opposed to the limitations of wifi.
In the following posts we'll consider other elements that contribute to the concept that is "Boutique B&B".