Victorian gem highlights B&B tour

On the south end of Bayview, on a hill overlooking Scenic Bay on Lake Pend Oreille, there sits a grand old pink Victorian lady.

OK, so she’s not that old. But she’s pretty grand. And definitely pink.

The lady in question is Dromore Manor, a bed-and-breakfast owned by Shirley Hansen and run by her daughter, Cami Duclos, and her family. It’s one of the 10 inns featured on this year’s Holiday Bed and Breakfast Tour, sponsored by the North Idaho Bed and Breakfast Association, on Sunday.

The Victorian-style home was built in 1996 as a private residence and was reportedly modeled after an authentic Victorian in San Francisco, Duclos said. While the home sports all the modern conveniences — a jetted bathtub, dual-headed shower and up-to-date kitchen — the details clearly evoke a Victorian heritage. There are tin ceilings in the kitchen. The parlor next door features a decorative ceiling that looks to be a mural but is in fact wall paper.

Hansen bought the home in 2002 and quickly set about converting it to a bed and breakfast, opening in spring 2003.

“We did a lot of shopping,” Duclos said. “I told my husband I never wanted to shop again.”

The Dromore Manor specializes in weddings. However, while this is a slower season for the inn, that doesn’t stop Duclos and her assistants — husband Mark, sons Jack and Randy, and friend Shanna Arreson — from decking the halls in style.

A Victorian-esque Santa greets visitors in the foyer. The parlor is decorated in grand style, with a simple Christmas tree and seasonal ornaments around the room. The stairway leading to the banquet room in the daylight basement is lined with a series of ceramic Santas that Hansen painted herself.

The guest rooms upstairs are done in a traditional Victorian style — only with larger, more private bathrooms. The Honeymoon Suite is decked out in a lot of dusty rose and pinks, with floral wall paper and accents. The guest room next door is done in stripes. It features two twin beds and a daybed that converts into a king-sized sleeper. Both rooms overlook Scenic Bay, and feature a conjoined balcony.

Over the past few years, the inn has seen an uptick in the wedding business. This past summer, Dromore Manor hosted nine weddings. One couple timed their event with Bayview Days — and had an eagle’s eye view of the festivities.

“I love the weddings,” she said. “You really become close to the couples.”

Also on the property is a cabin, which happens to be the old Bayview Post Office, Duclos said. It was built sometime around 1910 and includes a fully furnished kitchen.

“It’s a cozy little cabin,” she said. “It’s not real fancy like the big house, but it has a nice view and a big wraparound deck.”