Broadening appeal
Kelley Dupuis lived in a half-dozen countries on four continents before finding his way back to Spokane, where he’d attended Salk Junior High more than 35 years ago.
After a journey that spanned Germany, Russia, the Ivory Coast and Brazil, Dupuis and his wife, Valerie Blake, took on major career shifts when they bought the historic Fotheringham House Bed and Breakfast in Browne’s Addition.
“I’ve never been in business before,” the 50-year-old Dupuis said, adding, “She does the booking, and I do the cooking.”
The couple recently purchased the 3,300-square-foot piece of history, next to Patsy Clark’s Mansion on Second Avenue, for $425,000, paying another $100,000 for the business, furnishings and a recipe for scones that customers have come to expect.
Blake said they did a lot of prep work before arriving in Spokane, including getting started on a complete redo of the inn’s Web site, www.fotheringhamhouse.com.
Since arriving, they’ve continued high teas, catered a wedding and moved forward with a plan to broaden the bed and breakfast’s appeal to business travelers. While the 1891 Victorian home’s steep-pitched roof and charming rose garden whisper nostalgia, the historic bed and breakfast will soon boast modern conveniences. They’ve added wireless Internet service and are putting together a business center with a fax machine, computer and color printer.
Those conveniences could help the Fotheringham House attract business travelers, who tend to stay on weeknights — a time when bed and breakfasts often sit empty, Blake said.
The B&B’s high teas can accommodate up to 50 people. Dupuis has proved his mettle in the kitchen. When high teas roll around, he can be found juggling a scone recipe while simultaneously fixing several different types of soups, salads and finger sandwiches.
“I’d never done a tea in my life,” he said. “So far it has worked. It’s kind of like doing a new sport.”
The couple are also upgrading the kitchen, which Blake said still has a hint of the era when maids took care of dishes and chores were done at a comparatively leisurely pace. They are putting in a commercial dishwasher that does loads in two minutes instead of 45 minutes — something they’re both excited about.
Blake, a well-traveled former East Coast resident, said she’s happy to live near downtown, within walking distance of many attractions.
The newlyweds met in Germany 20 years ago. She was working for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, and he was working with the U.S. State Department. Blake was a maid of honor at his wedding, later marrying the best man.
Two decades passed when Dupuis contacted her in 2004. Coincidentally, both were single. Within a couple of weeks of setting eyes on each other again, they got engaged. Blake packed up to join Dupuis in California, where they embarked on their new life.
The Fotheringham House seems the better for their union. Upstairs, Blake has selected historic wallpapers. Sage green wallpaper features tone on tone peacock feathers — and the bedding and curtains are beautifully matched. Each of the four rooms carries a different, elegant theme.
For his part, Dupuis is becoming a gardening expert, nurturing the traditional rose garden and greeting neighbors who stop to say hello as he toils.
Both are pursuing other professional interests. Blake, a licensed Realtor in four states, is laying the groundwork to work part-time as a Realtor in Washington. Dupuis is a freelance journalist who writes articles for trade publications and newspapers.
As for the bed and breakfast, the couple are considering ideas that include converting the garage to a fitness room and adding massage and other services to create spa getaway packages. They also share a fondness for literature and are considering hosting summer plays and book readings in the garden.
Said Blake, “We just want to see what the people are looking for.”