Idlewyld Inn in Black and White

Several months ago, I was commissioned to prepare an original watercolour and ink painting of the Idlewyld Inn on Grand Avenue.  I was about 80% complete on the work when the commission was unexpectedly cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.  My wife had a great idea, why don’t you finish the drawing, but just leave it as a black and white drawing instead of painting it.  I thought that was a wonderful idea, and that is what you see here today.  As always, I’d like to provide you with a bit of history regarding this beautiful old building.
The Idlewyld Inn and Spa is a historic 1878 Victorian mansion in London, Ontario's Old South neighbourhood. Originally the private estate of prominent former Mayor Charles Smith Hyman, it has evolved through the decades into luxury apartments, a nursing home, and eventually a premier boutique inn. 
Built as a private Queen Anne-style home for Charles Smith Hyman (a prominent businessman, former London mayor, and federal cabinet minister under Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier), the mansion later transitioned through multiple uses. It served as luxury apartments in the 1930s and a nursing home in the 1960s before being restored into a luxury inn in 1986. 
After a brief closure and sale in late 2013, the inn was acquired and beautifully renovated by Farhi Holdings Corporation. 
Today, the property operates 21 uniquely designed guest rooms, an on-site spa, and a fine-dining restaurant, while still retaining much of its original Victorian woodwork, stained glass, and ornate fireplaces.  If you’re in the area, it’s also a wonderful place to stop for lunch or dinner.
 
This original artwork will be matted and framed and READY TO HANG.
 
Free delivery within 100 km of Dorchester, Ontario.  Contact me at billstephenswatercolours@gmail.com to make arrangements