You find yourself in a Pacific paradise. Lush greenery and banana trees line the walkways on the grounds surrounding a large pool. Statues of birds, fishermen and Easter Island Moai heads are sprinkled throughout, and the chatter of parrots floats on a gentle breeze, inviting you to explore and see all that there is to see. At its center, a large home filled with treasures from travels past, each with its own story. But this enchanting place isn’t on a far-off island—it’s right here in Columbus.
Timbrook Guesthouse owners and innkeepers Jill and Peter Dole have lived on the property since 1988, and raised their family in the home before deciding to turn the property into a luxury bed and breakfast. Though they initially intended to start an inn on the west coast, the Doles eventually decided they would use their love of travel to create a new kind of experience and bring the aloha spirit to the Midwest. Timbrook was carefully curated to be both a relaxing bed and breakfast and incorporate design elements which hearken back to Peter’s Hawaiian roots.
“It’s his heritage, it’s been important to him,” says Jill. “I just love the plants. I’m all about plants and color.”
There are many decor and art pieces which give the inn a cozy tropical energy, including an abundance of plant life, hula dancers, pineapples and a portrait of Hawaii’s last reigning monarch, Queen Liliuokalani. The furniture and patterned wallpaper demonstrate a lively use of vibrant color throughout the inn, with rich greens, vibrant jewel tones of blues and orange and warm wood elements creating a welcoming environment.
But Timbrook doesn’t restrict itself only to Pacific Island motifs. Jill and Peter’s eclectic decor is composed of unique pieces, many of which were obtained during their travels across the United States and Central America. From quirky knick-knacks to beautiful paintings, there is something special to discover in every room of the inn. Many of the decor pieces hold more than just aesthetic value for the Doles.
“It’s funny, I mean, we have all this stuff,” says Jill. “There’s just too many for me to pick which is my favorite because so many of them have a story, and I can look at them and remember, ‘On that trip we did this.’”
Each of the inn’s six guest suites is designed to have its own unique color story and style. The Blue Bird Suite, with its walls of blue floral patterns and a neutral, pastel palette, evokes a softer, more subdued feel, especially when compared to the bold canopy of rich reds, rusty golds, and contrasting blues of the Santa Fe Suite and its detailed Southwestern decor.
Outside, guests are immediately immersed in this world as Timbrook’s curling driveway leads them away from Olentangy River Road, hiding it from sight. The tropical bird aviary, hot spa and pool continue the inn’s tropical theme onto the grounds where flowers and lush greenery create a calming sense of seclusion, as though you were in an island jungle. It was important for Jill that the grounds were designed to be an escape where guests could connect with nature.
“So many people say when they drive up that driveway they feel like they’ve entered a whole new world,” Jill says. “They can’t believe they’re in Columbus, Ohio. We’ve created this—and this is in other people’s words—we’ve created this oasis. I want it to be tranquil. Serenity all-around.”