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There are days when I’d like to make myself at home, anywhere but at home. Do you know the feeling?

It’s when the place that is supposed to help us feel safe and out of harm’s way can sometimes seem more like the hurricane’s eye. Busy schedules, a list of chores on the refrigerator door that’s been there long enough to yellow and curl at the edges and the ubiquitous family conflict that no home ever really escapes for long, combine to keep us on edge.

Sleepless nights follow weary days.

It’s time for a road trip.

I have a friend who, when she needs a break in a bad way, packs up the children and makes a 700 mile round trip to her parents.

She says it’s what saves her.

The children get time with grandma and grandpa – and the other way around – and she gets time to rest and recuperate. She sleeps in the guest room, alone, and the kids bunk on the floor in the den.

She eats breakfast – made to order – on the patio. She takes long bubble baths and reads. She goes to the mall without a stroller. She goes to sleep when she’s ready, not when she’s through for the day, and she wakes up knowing she’ll be pampered as long as she’s there.

I’m not so lucky. I don’t have that kind of relief just a day’s drive away. And I’m not alone. Many people live too far from family to come home for a sanity break.

So, I’ve been looking at a list of homey Bed and Breakfast establishments in the area.

When you think about it, a B&B is as close to going home to mother as you can get. Your bed is ready and waiting, and there’s the guarantee of a homemade breakfast the next morning. The hours in between are yours to spend as you like. Heaven.

I’ve been thinking about exploring local B&Bs and finding one that fits me. That way, when I’ve had it and there’s no relief in sight, I can do what my friend does. I can pack a bag, pick out a good book and make a call.

“I’m on my way,” I’ll say. “Keep the porch light on.”

This week in Home

When a Coeur d’Alene couple opened a Bed & Breakfast last year, they had an interesting challenge. They needed room for their collectibles as well as paying guests.

With that in mind, Shar and Brian Scott designed a space that is as welcoming as it is uniquely personal. The American Country B&B, the result of their hard work, is our cover feature.

In other stories, a handsome antique carriage is going up on the block this week and The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture is hoping to bring the hometown heirloom brougham home to the MAC. And Amy Klamper’s Urban Style profile is about a do-it-yourself project that turned into a home-based business.

This time of year, life comes at us fast and furious. In this and every issue of Home, we’d like you to feel like you’ve found more than just another section of the newspaper. We’d like this to be your place to unwind and recharge your creative batteries.

Welcome!