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Meet the Innkeeper

Emilie

Emilie first fell in love with Asheville over 20 years ago when she attended Rockbrook Camp in the heart of a wooded mountain in Brevard, NC. Those mountains, so different from the beaches of her childhood, kept her coming back for ten years. There is something majestic about the Blue Ridge Mountains that blanket Western North Carolina, at over 1 billion years old, they are some of the oldest mountains in the entire world. For her, they feel like home.

A woman and two children in sunglasses and green dresses smiling outdoors.
A woman and two children in a rockingchair on the front porch or a rustic cabin
White faced cat sticking its head through bright green shrubbery
Woman holding a baby while carrying a tray of tea
A wooden box with a beautiful arrangement of orange, yellow, and purple flowers

Emilie's first Bed and Breakfast plan was written in the back of a college notebook when she was 18, wandering around Maine searching for the perfect wraparound porch. In 2011, she decided to give those Bed and Breakfast dreams a trial run and opened a small B&B in her East Village apartment. While tiny, it gave her a wonderful test-run on breakfast planning, scheduling, cleaning, decorating, recipe testing and conflict management. A dream!

Her goal has always been to bring a new, re-invented experience to the somewhat clichéd country B&B Inn. Asheville is no longer a sleepy town with boarded-up buildings, it is a hub of restaurants, nightlife, music, beer and outdoor adventure. It's not only the perfect place to call home, it is the perfect place to welcome someone into yours.

Three white patio rocking chairs place on the porch

See What Our Guests Are Saying

About their stay at The Chestnut Street Inn

  • Mike S.
    "Wow! That’s really all there is to say. Emile is a great host. Everything is perfect. Breakfast is wonderful. Everything was made from scratch, even the yogurt was made from fresh milk. Emile’s knowledge of the local foodie scene is amazing. Everywhere she recommended was great! We need to go back just to continue to work our way down the list of suggested places to eat! She knows everything about the local scene, food, where to go to hike, things to do, the best way to get there, just everything. This is the best B&B I have ever visited and I’m sure no others will be able to live up to the expectations they have set. I highly recommend it!"
  • Anna W.
    "Staying at the Chestnut Street Inn was a truly magical experience. The innkeepers, Emilie and Arturo, are a warm, happy and charming young couple. Everything they do feels special-from the two course breakfasts and afternoon cookies, to the personalized recommendations, the local milk and and homemade yogurt. The house is immaculate, the bed and linens were perfect, and the location couldn’t be better. We felt cared for and thought of the entire length of our stay. My husband and I were in the Zen Suite for a mini-honeymoon weekend. The steam shower was incredible! I can’t wait to visit again. What a wonderful weekend."
  • B. Ray
    "Emilie and Arturo are the perfect hosts in their lovely Inn. We were comfortable in our Zen retreat with several window seats and a steam shower. Their breakfasts are fresh and delicious - it will be hard to go back to store bought yogurt after tasting their homemade version! There are many goodies available to guests: fresh baked cookies, port, beer on tap and dishes of candy that make you feel welcome. Best of all, you will get personal and expert advice on things to do, what/where to eat & drink, and sights to see from the inn keepers. I wouldn’t stay anywhere else in Asheville but the Chestnut Street Inn!"