Heaven Inn Devon

Victorian Mansion

When you arrive on Heaven Inn Devon’s doorstep, you immediately fall in love. The exterior of this 130-year-old Victorian mansion has been impressively restored with so much TLC, that there can be no doubt that the interior will equally impress, and it does. I enjoyed a girls night with one of my besties here to cure our winter blues, and we left the next morning - in the pink, blissfully happy, and full recharged.

One of the Best Dwelling Houses in the Province

According to Devon Remembered, Vol. 3. the original homestead was built in 1891-1893 for Walter McFarlane, expert machinist and iron worker who established McFarlane-Neill Manufacturing Co. Ltd. or “The Foundry,” located for many decades on the corner of St. Mary’s and Union Streets. When the Queen Anne style home was being built, The Herald wrote:“The new residence at St. Mary’s being erected by Mr. Sanderson [Saunderson] for Walter McFarlane… bids fair to become one of the best dwelling houses in the province. It will be equipped with hot and cold water, electric bells, and all modern appliances. Mr. McFarlane does nothing halfway.”

A Fireplace in Every Room

In 1911, Hon. George Colter purchased the home, then in 1918 it was sold to Harry Hastings Pickard (Mayor of Devon 1923-1924). "As described in the personal history of Harry Hastings Pickard, ... he moved to a large beautiful home on St. Mary’s Street. The house had a fireplace in every room... The living room and the master bedroom had ornate fireplaces. The floors were of quality hardwood and a large staircase led to the second floor."

Fast forward to June 2020 and Union Studios (Contractor Darren Blyth and Realtor, Self-Taught Interior Designer, and Home-Stager Jennifer Mabie) purchased the property, and Heaven Inn Devon was born. Darren and Jenn’s initial plan was for six rental units, but in the end they decided to create four Airbnb units so that the beauty of this property could be experienced by more people. The Carriage House, and The Cozy - the first and second self-contained apartment units that front on Jaffrey Street, opened in late 2020. Then in late 2021, the 119 St. Mary’s main house apartment units, featured in my article, were opened. My friend Lucie and I stayed in The Queen Anne, but I also had access to The Attic. At the time, The Carriage House and The Cozy were booked with long-term stays, but you can see more of them, and book your stay and at any of these heavenly accommodations through the direct link found later in this article.

Gorgeous Staircase

Jen and Darren took great care when renovating Heaven Inn Devon to maintain its historical and architectural beauty, and its charm and character. In The Queen Anne apartment, the gorgeous staircase, crown mouldings, trim, and fireplaces were all lovingly preserved. Several original chimneys had to be removed but the bricks were saved, and later incorporated into The Queen Anne’s kitchen backsplash, and The Attic’s secret room wall, as well as for other projects on the main floor.

The Queen Anne

The Queen Anne is a two-bedroom apartment recommended for up to four guests. It has three beds (1 king in the master, and 2 doubles in the second bedroom). A stunning black and white full modern bath with a lovely soaker tub has been added. TV and Wifi are also available. The Queen Anne boasts 10-foot tall ceilings and big beautiful windows with wonderful privacy shades for the evening. There is a fully-stocked kitchen, a convenient on-site laundry area, and even an office area too - ideal for those Zoom or team meetings from away. It should be noted that there are 16 steps to access this apartment from the main floor.

There is a Lot to Love Here

Jen stated that more than anything, she and Darren want to share this gorgeous property with others. That is why they decided to create Airbnb apartments. They want guests to enjoy the work they have put into this special project, and to showcase this grand lady to the world. They also want guests to appreciate the surrounding neighbourhood, and what it has to offer. Jen grew up here and has always loved the area. Together, she and Darren want to give others a taste of that love through Heaven Inn Devon. They want guests to venture out, and enjoy the remarkable riverfront trail system, and local businesses too. You can walk, run, or bike around it, and you can get on the water, and enjoy the view from there, too. There is a lot to love in Devon, and it is only a short walk across the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge to downtown Fredericton (just mere minutes away), where more opportunities abound for discovery.

The Attic

The Attic is an absolute charmer. This apartment rental has a lot of character, with its clever design, and thoughtful furnishings that create many special nooks and crannies to curl up in. Suitably named, as it was indeed “the attic” to the original homestead, but make no mistake - this is no ordinary attic. It is what Jen and Darren did with this space that makes it so magical.

The Attic features 1,000 square feet of glorious space. It is a one-bedroom apartment with a bonus secret hidden room. Yes, you heard right (more later). The Attic apartment rental is recommended for two guests. Enjoy a king-sized bed, and a fully modern bathroom. TV and Wifi are also available. There is a fully-stocked kitchen, and a convenient washer, too. It should be noted that there are 32 steps to access this unit.

The Secret Room

The Attic has an extra feature to indulge your inner child - a secret room. Darren and Jen knew early on during renovations, that there must be a small room behind the main wall in the attic space. They could see a window from the outside - but it was not visible from the inside. So, after some investigation, they discovered the secret room adorned with writing on the walls, most likely made by children playing in the space long ago. Jen shared that it was indeed Darren’s vision to reclaim this area, to create a fun feature in The Attic. They even found a bookcase door to create a little extra hidden magic for guests, then Jen brought her creative flair to the space and the rest is history.

The Victorian Hair Salon & Heaven Inn Devon Café

The Victorian Hair Salon has opened on the main level, and it is absolutely gorgeous with beautiful mouldings, those 10-foot ceilings that I love, an ornate marble fireplace, and heaps of bright natural light. There are some adorable pink styling chairs, too, and a waiting room for clients that will have you at “Hello!” Jen and Darren have now opened their Heaven Inn Devon Café, too! Pop in and grab a latte and decadent treat.

Book Your Stay at Heaven Inn Devon

To book your stay at one of Heaven Inn Devon’s Airbnb suites, click on the photo links below. Be sure to tell Jen, the Maritimes Maven sent you!

This post was sponsored by Heaven Inn Devon; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Follow Maritimes Maven on FaceBook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn & Threads. Subscribe to be the first to receive my latest articles. Share articles you love with your social media community so they, too, will discover, There’s No Place Like Home!