HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Welcome to 2026! We hope you had a chance to relax with loved ones over the holidays.
During the holiday season, we were grateful to pause our renovation efforts and enjoy meaningful time together as a family. Having Brandon home from the Navy for Christmas was a highlight, making the festivities even more special. We cherished memorable gatherings with both the Brewer and Wood families,
In December, we relocated most of our belongings from Detroit, marking an exciting new chapter as we made Brickhaven Inn our home.
SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN
We are planning a targeted social media campaign with the help of Alex Wood. We want to develop engaging content and strategies that will showcase the renovation progress, highlight the historic charm of the inn, and generate excitement for our upcoming opening. Our goal is to connect with the local community and future guests.
INTERIOR DESIGN COLLABORATION
We have partnered with Karen Joseph Interiors, a talented local interior designer to assist during renovations. Their expertise will help us enhance the unique character of each guest room and common area, creating warm, inviting spaces that honor the inn’s historic charm.
2025: The dream begins > 2026: The year it happens!
SOUTH BEND HOLIDAY HISTORIC TOUR
In December, we attended South Bend’s Holiday Historic Tour. The event provided a wonderful opportunity to engage with the local community and to experience firsthand the unique history and vibrant festive atmosphere for which South Bend is known during the holidays.
Looking ahead to the 2026 holiday season, we are excited to announce that Brickhaven Inn will be featured as one of the historic homes on the tour! Inspired by our experience, we have begun preparations by taking advantage of after-Christmas sales to purchase a variety of holiday decorations. These festive additions will help us highlight the inn’s charm and holiday spirit when we welcome visitors on the tour next season.
RENOVATION UPDATES
BEFORE/AFTER
Our beloved Brickhaven Inn has received several exciting upgrades.
Six brand new walk-in showers have been installed. This major improvement was made possible thanks to the skilled team from Bath Planet. With just two dedicated installers, all showers were completed in less than one week!
Renovations on the third floor complete, transforming it into our new innkeeper living quarters and dedicated office space. This space now serves as our home within Brickhaven Inn, allowing us to be on-site for guests and daily operations. Gretchen assisted us with deep cleaning the entire area, ensuring a fresh and welcoming environment as we settled in. We painted our bedroom, closet, and bathroom and installed new carpet.
Rob returned to Brickhaven Inn accompanied by the entire Borreson family (including Arty). While Rob assisted with the hands-on work, the girls made the most of their visit by exploring the house. Their adventures included playing hide and seek, dashing up and down the staircases—particularly enjoying what they re-named the “peasant stairs,” which were formerly primarily used by servants and discovering creative ways to communicate through floor vents. Natalie, Meredith, and Kate did get locked in a bathroom with no doorknob, but we were able to get them out before any tears came (from Meredith). They were good sports! It was an incredibly fun and memorable weekend at the inn.
We addressed a significant maintenance issue by installing a new roof. This was prompted by an unexpected leak in the middle of the night near Amanda’s head. During this process, we also discovered uninvited guests (raccoons and/or squirrels) had found their way into the attic. We removed the animals and sealed all openings.
We filled a second 25yd dumpster, hired a landscaper to remove four trees and vines, recently had the chimneys cleaned and ordered two new gas fireplaces for the library and living room.
We engaged an experienced local woodworker who is passionate about craftsmanship and historic preservation. He is excited to restore our 154-year-old, award-winning front doors, ensuring their original beauty and integrity are maintained for years to come. In addition to this signature project, he will also contribute his expertise to several other carpentry projects throughout the property.
Carpet was removed from four rooms and we discovered underlying hardwood floors are in a condition that allows them to be salvaged. This finding is especially exciting, as it means we can restore and showcase the original hardwood flooring, preserving a piece of the inn’s historic charm.
FUTURE ROOM NAMES & AMENITIES
*We reserve the right to change names and/or amenities up until we are officially open.
Library Suite
- Description: A private room just off the large library, making it the perfect retreat for book lovers
- Amenities:
- King Bed
- 55″ Frame TV
- Electric Fireplace
- Separate Sitting Room
- Daybed/Reading Nook
- Walk-In Shower
Cushing Suite
- Description: Pays homage to the inn’s history as the Cushing Manor Inn & Tea Room and honors the mansion’s founder, Albert Cushing
- Amenities:
- King Bed
- 65″ Frame TV
- Electric Fireplace
- Reading Nook
- Surrounded by Bay Windows
- Soaking Bathtub
- Rain Shower
- Satura
Varsity Suite
- Description: Celebrates the legacy of Notre Dame, St. Mary’s and Holy Cross colleges
- Amenities:
- King Bed
- 55″ Frame TV
- Electric Fireplace
- Soaking Bathtub
- Walk-In Shower
The Book Nook
- Description: A tribute to the inn’s past as The Book Inn Bed & Breakfast in the 1990s.
- Amenities:
- King Bed
- 55″ Frame TV
- Separate Sitting Room
- Walk-In Shower
- Soaking Bathtub
Martha’s Room
- Description: Named in honor of Martha Cushing, the bride of Albert Cushing.
- Amenities:
- Queen Bed
- 55″ Frame TV
- View of Tippecanoe
- Reading Nook
- Walk-In Shower
Steward’s Room
- Description: Recognizes the dedication of the men and women who helped maintain Cushing Manor over the years
- Amenities:
- Queen Bed
- 55″ Frame TV
- Reading Nook
- Walk-in Shower
WELCOMING FEBRUARY VISITORS
We are excited to welcome more family and friends to the inn this February. Alex and Gabby will be joining us, bringing their enthusiasm and support to our ongoing projects. Jean and family will also be visiting, and we look forward to sharing the progress and charm of the inn with them. In addition, fellow aspiring B&B innkeeper Jackie will be stopping by, offering us a great opportunity to connect and exchange ideas within the hospitality community.
COMING SOON!
We have several exciting events planned as we move closer to our official opening. Keep an eye out for more details on the following opportunities to engage and participate:
Beta Testers Needed:
- We are seeking enthusiastic guests who are interested in visiting during our soft launch. If you’re excited to experience the inn before our official opening, we would greatly appreciate your feedback to help us refine our services and offerings in preparation for our Grand Opening!
Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony:
- Join us as we celebrate the official opening of the inn with a special ribbon cutting ceremony. This milestone event will mark the beginning of a new chapter for our property and the community of South Bend.
Open House for the Local Community:
- We are planning an open house event dedicated to welcoming our neighbors and local friends. This will be a wonderful opportunity for everyone to explore the inn, meet us, and learn more about our vision for this space.
We are eagerly preparing to welcome our first guests and are excited about this journey. As we move closer to our official opening, we invite you to stay connected and participate in the upcoming events we have planned. Your involvement and support are truly appreciated as we get ready to open our doors May 1st. We look forward to seeing you all soon!
– Safe & Amanda
