Notes from the host
Plum Crooked Poet’s Cottage On the waterfront
Plum Crooked Poet’s Cottage is a beautifully restored 1930s cottage nestled between a mountain and rushing creek right at the edge of town. Reminiscent of a European alpine village chalet, Plum boasts fairytale gingerbread trim, endless porches and charming window boxes on her country dacha inspired windows. Like an old forgotten poem, Plum’s inspirational charm is a step back in time and boasts a goosedown pillowtop king bed and a clawfoot tub. Lounge on the wrap around porch overlooking the creek as the small town pace of historic Marshall passes by. The covered back deck is nestled against the mountain with an outdoor sofa bed for nature napping. A wondrous winter destination evoking a fabled era while providing modern convenience with scrupulous attention to detail, we aim to spoil our guests!
The space
Plum Crooked has been fully restored while retaining it’s original 1930s charm. A rediscovered treasure, everyone in town knows and loves the one and only purple house on Main Street in Marshall. If you are looking for something a little different, our enchanting Poet’s Cottage fits the bill. A covered wraparound porch offers a peaceful respite with rocking chairs, outdoor wicker seating and a bistro set to enjoy the rushing creek just below. Nestled against the mountain we call Ibsen’s Knoll, the cottage has been transformed into a haven of inspiration and restful cozy comfort. A perfect blend of in-town convenience coupled with the dramatic setting at the base of the mountain, Plum Crooked is a perfect choice if you are looking for a Blue Ridge getaway which is not secluded or remote. Main Street in Marshall follows along the French Broad River and then bends uphill past the old church. Plum is nestled across the creek that feeds down to the river. It’s location just at the edge of town is easy to find and super convenient to everything the area has to offer.
Our small cottage is ideal for a couple’s getaway, writer’s retreat, artist’s refuge or solo adventure. We imagined a space that could inspire a poet and the moment you cross over your private bridge, you know a special experience has begun. In a nod to our favorite poets, there are small gardens dedicated to the greats and poetry quotes woven into the decor. A working vintage typewriter is a delightful addition for you to record any poetic inspirations and thoughts about your special time in our wee cottage. Who doesn’t love pecking away on an old Corona? Poetry tiles for the fridge and a solid collection of poetry books are also on offer. Our house gnome Wordsworth greets you in the foyer with a guest handbook to help make your stay with us perfection. Everyone needs a little poetry in their life!
Original art throughout the cottage adds authentic Old World elegance and you will discover many eccentric and interesting touches in each nook and cranny. Art Nouveau is our inspiration for the decor and feel of the home. We lovingly refer to our interpretation as Rustic Nouveau! Plum Crooked truly is a one-of-a-kind property created with loads of love and attention to the smallest detail. I simply love this house and I so hope you will as well!
The covered back deck offers a more private nature space and has an outdoor sofa and chairs! Privacy partition and glass ball lights transform the back porch into your very own outdoor living room with a small garden at the base of the mountain. A charcoal grill and a few yard chairs are stored on the deck if you would like to BBQ in the side garden. Rumi’s Lounge is one of our favorite spaces and I think you will be drawn to it as well!
The Italian king size sleigh bed offers what we like to think of as the finest bed for let in town! A premium goosedown pillowtop, goosedown pillows, Belgian linens/high thread count sheets and a custom bedcrown offer our guests the ultimate mountain sleep experience. A bed fit for a poet! There is a JBL alarm clock bluetooth player with usb chargers and an additional wall heater for extra chilly nights. A freestanding closet, chest of drawers and luggage stand are provided with plenty of hangers and built-in shelving for your convenience. A mid-century writing tray can also serve the ultimate breakfast in bed. Our bedroom has been nicknamed Dreamland for good reason!
The new kitchen features solid oak cabinetry and granite countertops, modern fixtures and amenities. It is fully stocked with all of the cooking utensils and necessities to cook your own meals and includes a Haier stainless convection oven range, french door refrigerator with ice maker, microwave, blender, coffee maker for both brew and pods, a french press, electric water kettle, toaster, pots/pans, dishes, glasses and silverware but heads up - No dishwasher. We do have a set of fine china and vintage linens to lend your holiday meals an elegant touch. Basic cooking essentials, oils, spices, coffee, tea, sugar, sweetener, pancake mix/syrup, popcorn, jam, condiments and napkins/paper towels are provided. And we always provide a pastry dome with fresh croissants or muffins and a freshly brewed pitcher of my mum’s famous sweet southern tea in the fridge for your arrival.
Our french country dining room is a light filled cozy space that is open to the kitchen and filled with original art and charm. Hardwood floors throughout the house accommodate scrupulous cleanliness with new rugs, window treatments and all scent free sanitized fabrics. The back half of the house still has the original beadboard walls and ceilings that I adore and hope you will too!
The small bathroom retains the original clawfoot tub and we have added a shower to it for your convenience. Ample storage shelves and baskets give you plenty of nooks for your toiletries. Shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, handsoap and hand sanitizer are always provided along with abundant fluffy towels and washcloths, toilet paper and tissue.
Plum Crooked is an 850 sq ft one bedroom cottage. The cottage is small, four rooms and a bathroom, and there is one closet in the living room with plenty of shelves and room to stow your luggage. Please keep this in mind if you wish to book an extended stay. The home is nearly 100 yrs old and we have tried to retain as much of the original structure as possible in the restoration. Please be gentle with the doors and windows. She was built a wee bit crooked back in the day!
The living room has two extra deep velvet loveseats with loads of down pillows and throws. There is an antique writing desk complete with vintage working typewriter and paper, pencils and pens for your own writing inclinations and also provides a dedicated workspace. Multiple usb chargers are included throughout the house. The 200+ Mbps wifi is always lightning fast and reliable. There is a smart TV and an infrared fireplace completes the coziness of the space.
The house is comfortably heated with a Toyo Laser heating system and the house is naturally cool in the summer months due to the setting at the base of the mountain. There are ceiling fans in each room and two window unit air conditioners for the hotter months but it is rarely, if ever, necessary. Redundant water heaters, both tank and on demand, provide plenty of hot water for your clawfoot tub time! We also have an air purification unit that runs at all times and the entire house is sanitized via ozone between each guest stay!
Our private bridge is the entryway to our wee town haven and you can feel the magic begin as soon as you cross. Plenty of private parking adds to the convenience of our in-town property. Plum Crooked offers a unique blend of small town mountain bohemia, as well as, your own alpine mountainside and creekside venues.
Come and be inspired - be transformed - but most of all - be spoiled at our Plum Crooked Poet’s Cottage in the heart of charming Marshall. As Shakespeare once said, “ I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it”!