Lindley House Bed and Breakfast

indley House is one of Urbana's finest examples of the Queen Anne style of Victorian architecture. It was designed by Rudolph Zachariah Gill, an 1887 graduate of the University of Illinois in architecture and engineering, and was built in 1895 for Dr. Austin Lindley, a prominent physician and surgeon for the Big Four Railroad in Urbana. The Lindleys lived there until around 1922. For a time Dr. Lindley used the first floor as his office and the family lived on the second floor. The house was empty from 1922 until 1942. For the last 50 years, the house has been used for various commercial enterprises, including the Conservatory of Music of Central Illinois. In 1996 Norman and Carolyn Baxley refurbished the house and with their friend Catherine Cutter opened Lindley House Bed & Breakfast

The imposing gables and asymmetrical massing give Lindley House a strong silhouette. The design is quite whimsical and charming with many irregular exterior details and a variety of mismatched palladian, baroque, and lancet windows. The front facade has two gables, an octagonal turret on the left corner, and a curved porch supported by carved wooden columns and decorated with radial brackets. At porch level the beveled glass triptych window of the living room is visible. Inside the house, intricate Victorian architectural details abound: inlaid parquet floors in the four public rooms, a magnificent oak gingerbread staircase, many original brass lighting fixtures, beveled and stained glass windows, butternut pocket doors, fireplace, and decorative woodwork. There are three queen bedrooms on the second floor, each with its own unique features, and a lofty king attic suite that accentuates the fanciful asymmetry of the house. The carriage house has been converted into an apartment for the manager. All of our rooms have stairway access.

A gourmet continental breakfast is served in the main house. Requests for additional breakfast guests not staying at Lindley must be made when reserving the room or when checking in; a $7.50 per person charge will apply.

Lindley House offers a quiet haven in a mid-town setting. We are conveniently located one block from Lincoln Square mall and all the downtown Urbana stores. An historic walking tour of the immediate area offers a welcome diversion as it takes you past many 19th century homes and businesses. Our house is your house while you are here and we want you to make yourself at home. Curl up under an afghan in the parlor or library and sip a cup of tea while you enjoy a good book or a quiet moment of reflection. Or keep in touch with the world by browsing the Internet. We will make every effort to make your stay comfortable and relaxed.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:

• Robes and toiletries are provided.
• Airport/train pick-up available.
• TV, VCR, and CD players in rooms.
• Air conditioners and ceiling fans in rooms.
• CD and video library available for check-out.
• Computer with Internet access in library.
• Books, games, and magazines in library.