The Belladonna Cottage

Our trip to Eureka Springs came a few days early as we just couldn’t wait to get here. With no reservations and most hotels/b&b’s booked; the Belladonna just happened to be available. Boy, is this place a gem! If only the rest of our stay could have been here. However, I don’t think we would have left the cottage in that case. Patti has cultured a paradise here. The Belladonna provides a peaceful and serene atmosphere that is euphoric. There’s magic here. Everything you need to clear your head and heal your soul. This is not a 4 star resort, but you’ll be surprised by how you won’t miss lavish nonsense of our modern world. The garden is beautifully rustic with surprises at every corner, nook, and cranny. Who knew bowling balls and pins could be «beautiful».?? Deer, chipmunks, hummingbirds where all on hand to greet us as if staged by Patti herself. LOL. We will definitely return for a full stay in the near future. For those planning to stay; rummage through the rooms, there is history everywhere!

Every time I come here the world stops. I immediately feel immersed in beauty and nature. There are birds right outside the big glass windows I have never seen before. It is so plush, so cozy. All my stress melts. I don’t ever want to leave this place.

We recently stayed at the Belladonna for a long weekend. Patti met us at the cottage in the midst of a storm. She was wet and cold, yet welcomed us with soft lighting, music, incense, and a tour of the amenities. The review by Kit K. is accurate, so we were prepared for a change of pace from our every day lives. We enjoyed sharing the tub for leisurely bathing, never even turned on the television, and didn’t miss the microwave.
This cottage and surrounding garden do indeed possess a quality of healing and tranquility. Our favorite spot was on the covered porch, and a long nap on the day bed was delicious. A wonderful variety of birds visited the feeder under the eaves, and deer frequented the back yard.
We visit Eureka Springs twice a year, and will plan our future trips around the availability of this special cottage.

Quaint, as it is charming — there is a whimsical magic to the Belladonna Cottage that plays a special tribute to the life and work of popular local artist — Julie Traxler. The cottage itself is inspired by the work of «JTrax» and among the jewel-​toned, dark colors and rich fabrics are stunning pieces of her collection. The cottage is adorned with suede, velvet, and richly-​hued fabrics, woven rugs, and lots of textures to complement the bohemian-​chic «Street-​Level» suite. The «Street-​Level» suite comes with a private covered balcony and an open sun deck, both of which overlook an uncompromising view of North-​American forest. The covered balcony is adorned with heavy rugs, wicker furniture, a day bed, bamboo screens, and heavy fabrics. The day bed was perfect for sipping a cup of tea and an early morning study of the ample wild life about and listening to the gentle rustling of the nearby bamboo garden.
The bedroom is also adorned with richly textured fabrics and colors that were inspired by JTrax’s art work. Heavy red velvet curtains adorn purple-​black walls to add a romanticized mystere to the bedroom suite which also comes with a DVD player, a television, and richly adorned furniture. The bathroom comes with a jetted jacuzzi tub perfect for one, but don’t expect a hot shower — it is a handheld shower head in the jacuzzi tub. There simply is not enough space in this older home to build a better shower. Also, don’t expect to actually watch television — satellite and cable is not provided. You will need to bring your own DVDs or rent one from the store. We just watched a movie on our laptop using the Internet provided.
There is a generous living room, complete with paperhanging lanterns, stained glass windows, a futon, a small suede couch, and more richly hued and textured fabrics. There is a funky antique phone lamp and other whimsical pieces that lend a bit of playfulness to the cottage, and of course there are inspiring pieces of JTrax’s art adorning the walls. A very small, fireplace stove that acts as the cottage’s main heat element is here as well. The kitchenette continues the whimsical theme, with the usual complement and includes a refrigerator stocked with some morning goodies and juice. Organic tea and coffee along with a box of organic oatmeal are also provided for guests to enjoy. However, whimsical you might find the vintage Magic Chef (light it yourself) stove to be — you will miss the microwave for heating your oatmeal, for there isn’t one to be had. A bit of an annoying oversight, as heating an oven and or taking a match to a stove to reheat a sandwich or cook oatmeal seems to waste more energy than it is worth. But, you are on a getaway vacation and this place does a remarkable job at reminding you of that.
Outside, the front porch has vintage wicker seating and a garden that is a living tribute to the deceased artist. Everywhere are small trinkets, recycled junk turned into abstract art masterfully hidden among wisteria, bamboo, grasses, and what surely must be a spectacle of riotous color in the spring (we were here in January). The garden continues to inspire, but could use a bit of tending — as there were a few pieces of broken ceramic, but one couldn’t help think that JTrax would see the beautiful irony and fatalism in the juxtaposition of how the pieces fell together. So, don’t expect to see a well-​tended, manicured English-​inspired cottage garden ~ you will be disappointed. Instead, expect to see the unexpected among the magical details to be found: a group of bowling balls and bowling pins sculpted into shapes and a collection of toothbrushes adorning the back of a chair among many other playfully hidden gems. JTrax’s living tribute would no doubt continue to amuse even the most recalcitrant critic, and Belladonna Cottage does just that.