Daily Inspiration: Meet Jan Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jan Smith. 

Hi Jan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Our story is a study of perseverance, patience, and love. When I would pass this stately yet neglected farmhouse on my travels to Oxford, I would always imagine what it would be like to live there. I just loved this house. The property was beautiful, and the stone fence in the front of the house reminded me of England. Then I saw the for-sale sign. And there the story began. Even though the house was in a state of disrepair and was over budget, it was everything I had ever dreamed of when imagining what my next house would be. There were 2 separate staircases each going up to the north or south wing of the second story. The upstairs had 4 bedrooms, and after some configuration, they were all spacious with wonderful closets. The house had 2 full bathrooms upstairs and 1.5 on the first floor. We knew there was a pool that had been filled with sand, as we could see the outline of the coping stone. This was also a huge draw for us. 

We purchased this beauty in 1994, knowing that someday we would love to open a B&B here. After 3 years, we finally finished renovations of just over half the house, and in 1997 we moved in. We blocked off (via a door) the old kitchen, dining room, pool equipment room, and a sunroom. We used this space as storage and configured a heated room for the dog kennel, and our refrigerator as our makeshift kitchen (which was originally the parlor of the house) did not accommodate our fridge. Our children at the time were 15, 11, and 9-year-old twins. 

In 1998 with my father-in-law at the helm of the backhoe and 6 strong-backed family members, we dug out the pool. The refurbishment was completed in July, and we took our first swim as a family. It was wonderful. The dream to open a B&B was still with us and then in 2012, one of our daughters decided she would like to have her wedding ceremony on the property. Our big question was are we still committed to that dream? 

The answer was a resounding YES, so we started Phase 2. Our first task was to talk to the township to determine the plausibility of opening a B&B. They were so delighted and helpful. It took us a year to complete the application process, but every minute was worth it. Our neighbors are supportive, and our goal is always to make sure their privacy is not compromised. The community showed up at the public hearing to support us, and we feel blessed to this day… 

One weekend in May, my brothers came to the house, and we demolished the old part of the house as there was no restructuring it after all those years. We had a great architect to design phase two to match phase one perfectly. Our builder was wonderful, and we had our living space built which includes the dining room for the B&B (and family events), our cook’s kitchen, family room, laundry room, and master bedroom. It is the perfect space for Mark and I and our 2 Bernedoodles. 

After months of more renovations, applications, purchases, and general research, we opened the B&B on February 1st, 2016. We had an open house and invited our friends and family who had supported our dreams for all those years. It was lovely! My first guests at the B&B were my friends from church. I thought of it as a soft opening to get my feet wet. They were the perfect first guests. 

We have been in operation now for 7 years, and I still wake up feeling like I am dreaming. Mark and I continue to grow, learn and explore ways to enhance our guest’s experience. When we had first planned out the B&B, we had made the hard decision to be adult only as our mission is to provide a quiet, relaxing, and peaceful environment for couples, friends, partners, and solos to reconnect, refresh and revitalize. I feel we meet that expectation even with the dogs, and the chickens, including 2 roosters. 

The dream continued on in 2019 when we renovated the old caretaker’s house, which is just steps away from the main house and had been vacant for many years, to be our longer stay option or our more private space. It is a 2-bedroom 1.5-bathroom, kitchen, dining room, laundry room, study, and family room with a 3-sided fireplace, 1100 square foot house that we call the August house. We have many brides and grooms stay there as well as prepare for their special day there. 

For Mark and I it is a lovely space to have our families from out of town stay and enjoy the quiet before an event. 

I feel this is not the end of the story for us. We still have many years of ideas left in us as well as a list of projects yet to happen. I am enamored with miniature donkeys and just need our barn built to accommodate our next adventure. 

Stay tuned… 

Blessings, 

Jan & Mark Smith 

Maple Cove Bed & Breakfast 

& The August House 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For the most part, our journey has been a smooth, yet long road. I am not the most patient of people, so I have really learned to slow down and enjoy this journey. Some of our struggles have been balancing the B&B with our family lives. My parents, both of whom had health issues that started when we first opened, put some stress on me as I wanted to care for them, and they lived in Grand Rapids, which is a little over 2 hours away from me. Somehow, we did it. They are both in Heaven now having died 8 months apart in 2017 & 2018. Mark’s parents live just down the street, although his mom has passed, his dad is still living in their original house and needs some assistance. This has been our biggest challenge. The guests we have had for not only the main house but the August house have been wonderful with only 2 incidents (Airbnb) that needed extra attention. All of my children and our 9 grandchildren understand that when Nana has B&B guests, she can’t attend some functions (one of always tries to go, so the other one cooks), nor can they play here (which is sad, but we can go to their houses). 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Although my drawing and painting are restricted to a stick figure, and that is being generous, my creativity shows itself in food and decor. I never really understood this until the B&B. I find myself being intuitive when it comes to what guests would appreciate in not only their private space but areas around the B&B as well. Just before we started the B&B, I found HGTV, The Great British Bake Show, and every other master class I could watch or somehow participate in. The pandemic, terrible as it was, gave me the best opportunity for my “test kitchen” for our recipes. I try and spin everything I can to keep a positive atmosphere for not only Mark and I but our guests as well. 

We are known for our spacious suites, decor, and wonderful breakfasts… Having a pool doesn’t hurt either. 

What sets us apart is each of the suites and the space provided to our guests. When they enter the suite, it is not unusual for them to either say to me, “Is this all ours” or text me as we do self-check-in to keep convenience number one for our guests. 

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Usually, it is we have 4 children now ranging from 40 to 35, and have 9 grandchildren ranging from 16 – 1 year. Also, that I have a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice. Although when I graduated from college it was in 1980, and there were no jobs besides the women’s prison, and that was not my plan for my career. I have had many jobs since graduating, from exercise instructor to cosmetologist… You are never too old to try something new. Although being an Innkeeper is by far the best, and I can finally say, “I know what I want to do when I grow up.” This will be my last career unless I get to write a book someday or become a master chef, maybe just to my family but it is still a win!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.maplecovebandb.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maplecovebandb/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maplecovebandb

Image Credits
Bluesky Images