A New Chapter: Introducing The 1886 Hotel
If you have been following Little Luxuries for a long time, you have watched more than a shop grow. You have watched our family grow, too.
When I opened Little Luxuries in 2009, I could never have imagined all that would come from that one decision. Over the years, I have shared pieces of our life with you - the changing seasons on Mackinac Island, our life in Petoskey, raising our three boys, my other two shops I have now sold and the joys and challenges of owning a small business.
Many of you have been here for nearly all of it. You have supported the store, followed along with our family, and cheered us on through new ideas and new seasons. That is why it feels important to finally share our newest - and definitely biggest - adventure with you.
Andrew and I are opening a small hotel on Mackinac Island. Yes, a hotel. And yes, there have been plenty of moments of 'I can't believe we're doing this.' Maybe that's more me, than Andrew! LOL
The boutique hotel will be called The 1886 Hotel, named for the year the historic home was built. It sits at the corner of Cadotte Avenue and Market Street and has so much character, history, and quiet beauty. When complete, it will have 17 individually designed guest rooms. Our hope is to welcome our first guests in May 2027.
This is not a project we took on lightly. Restoring an old home - especially one on an island - has been complicated. There are endless decisions, unexpected challenges, budgets, timelines, and many nights when my mind is still going.
So, you probably ask, why are we doing this?
The simplest answer is that we love Mackinac Island, and we believe this beautiful old home deserves another chapter.
Mackinac has shaped so much of our family's story. It is where we work, where we have built businesses, and where our boys are growing up with traditions and memories that we hope they will carry with them forever. Hospitality is already woven into our lives here, but this gives us the chance to create something deeply personal - something that brings together my love of little details, Andrew's experience and steady perspective, our shared connection to the island, and everything we have learned through the years of welcoming people into our businesses.
We do not want The 1886 to feel like a brand-new hotel that could be anywhere. We want it to feel as though it belongs exactly where it is.
We are working to preserve the soul of the original house while thoughtfully preparing it for guests. Every room will be different. We are paying attention to the old windows, the staircase, the woodwork, the colors, the views, and the small details that give a historic home its personality. We want it to feel warm and polished, but never too perfect; special, but still comfortable; rooted in Mackinac history, but made for the way people travel today.
Are we nervous? Absolutely. Do we have every detail figured out? Not even close. But underneath the nerves is a real sense that this is the right next chapter for us.
Those of you who have followed Little Luxuries for years are such an important part of our story, and I hope you will come along for this one, too. I plan to share more of the renovation, the decisions and moments when we have to laugh to keep from crying!
Thank you for supporting me since the early days of Little Luxuries. Thank you for caring about our family and the businesses we have built. Starting something new is always scary, but it feels much less so knowing how many kind people are cheering us on.
We cannot wait to welcome you to The 1886 Hotel.
With gratitude,
Nicole
xo.
