Inn This Together: Episode 3 Recap "It's Not A Restaurant"

If you watch the latest episode of The Heirloom Podcast, you’ll hear all about why we did not build a restaurant. It’s definitely NOT a restaurant, because according to Jim Rasberry, the word alone raises everyone’s blood pressure. As Jim says, it’s a cooking school. If you don’t like the food, you only have yourself to blame. (What a tourism slogan, ha!)

As we worked to transform this old, dilapidated building into a vibrant new space, we knew one thing from the beginning: people needed a place to gather around a table. As Southerners, we believe the dining table is one of the most sacred spaces left in our culture. It’s where prayers of thanksgiving are offered, stories are passed down, traditions are preserved, and arguments are settled. It’s where life happens. 

That idea created a real challenge for Mallorie. She didn’t want these kitchens to feel cold or commercial. Nobody wants to sit in a sterile kitchen and tell family stories. She wanted them to feel warm, timeless, and lived in — more like your grandmother’s home than a restaurant. Somehow, she had to do that three different times on a tight deadline, so Erin stepped in to help. 

Together they designed three completely different kitchen spaces, each with its own personality and material palette. Our Scotsman factory team then built all of the islands, tables, cabinets, and shelves using walnut, cherry, and oak to help define each room, and they absolutely crushed it. Then the staging and design team layered in handwritten recipes, aprons, antiques, and family touches that honored the women and tables that shaped all of us growing up.

(Did you know you actually can purchase many of these American-made tables and islands?)

As you’ll see next episode, we did not get to spend nearly as much time together in these spaces as we had hoped. But that’s alright. These kitchens were inspired by our homes and the people who filled them. By God’s grace, we still have good tables to gather around while we work to build back what we lost.

Thanks so much for watching, and for caring about our little place and its little story.

Keep building,

Josh Nowell

If you want to hear more behind the scenes from Episode 3  — check out the latest episode of The Heirloom Podcast.

Special thanks to all of our sponsors: ROCKWOOL, Rockfon, Southern Pipe & Supply, Forte Opening Solutions, Viking Range, and Vaughan-Bassett Furniture.