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The mansion and the grounds
The Colonels is a stately 6000 sq ft mansion, adorned by four magnificent century old cypress portico columns, and surrounded by pastoral, open landscaping with several magnolias, century-old pecan trees. red cedars and water oaks.
The main house is sitting on the 30 acres+ grounds and in its lifetime has undergone a number of restorations and uses.
The Colonels was originally built in the 1860’s as a traditional ‘two over two’ farm house. The original home consisted of the sitting parlor, gathering room and the two Antebellum bedrooms upstairs. These antique rooms still feature the original doors, woodwork and heart of pine floors, with finished floor moldings and an early federal but still elaborate mantel in what was once the parlor room of the farm. This configuration was lovingly preserved as the substructure for all later adaptations. 
A suite on the ground floor level was added at the turn of the 19th century and now features two grand French doors overlooking the newly relined pool (pool is currently not accessible to guests).
Much later, in 1977, a wonderfully designed country kitchen, entirely in hand hewn pine and with its hand built stone wood burning fireplace was added.
The most recent addition upstairs was completed a couple of years ago and consists of energy efficient guest suites, high ceilings, thermo pane windows, ceiling fans in all bedrooms, access to internet, cable and phone lines.  In one of the upstairs bedrooms one still can notice the brick of the original 1860’s chimney, the black stains on the brick being the tar used to secure the original roof. The grand bath at the end of the upstairs hallway offering an oversized whirlpool tub behind the frosted glassed French doors was designed to enjoy the beautiful sunset views and is now available in a suite package. A special feature of The Colonels is the terrace sunken garden with its beautiful brickwork and flowers, a view that can be enjoyed from within, from the upstairs bedroom windows or from the balcony of the grand music room. 
The latest renovation of The Colonels in the early years of the 21st century has been one with safety, security, efficiency, yet historical preservation in mind.
All mechanical systems and structures have been re-engineered and most fireplaces, although still displaying original wood and brick work, now feature functioning gas logs which guests can enjoy without the safety concerns often encountered in the old houses of the South.
The current owners equipped and decorated all rooms of The Colonels with European antique furniture, chandeliers, oriental rugs and tapestries from an old Imperial Hapsburg Chateau in Belgium ♥, creating an upscale, distinguished and pleasant environment in 'the French Chateau style'♣. The Bohemian crystal glaswork was individually commissioned in Bohemia by the owners and brought over after dedicated crafting and engraving.  Guest Rooms will soon be named after famous military ‘Horses of Destiny’.
| ♥ Chateau Salmonsart is pictured on a separate webpage: ♣ Gayot Food & Wine critic quote | |
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