Case Study for Farmhouse Inn - Forestville, California

Joe and Catherine Bartolomei are siblings and owners of the highly rated Farmhouse Inn of Forestville, CA in the heart of the California Wine Country. In the spring of 2006, they contacted us at White Stone Marketing because they needed a whole new image. When I looked at their current site, I saw a fence with some flowers around it on their home page. From a marketing standpoint, we had nowhere to go but up! Unfortunately, for the Bartolomei's – we were booked out for several months AND our designer was going on maternity leave! Thus, from the time of their initial phone call, to the completion and launch of the new site shortly after Christmas Day... they had a long wait! However, the wait has been well worth it with the unveiling of the stunning, final product.

From the beginning, all of us realized that Farmhouse needed an entirely new look if they were to continue capturing the type of discerning traveler attracted to the amenities and features of Farmhouse. The Bartolomei's quickly set about the task of securing the best photographer possible – Andy Katz Photography – a world-renowned photographer with his own gallery in Colorado and work featured in galleries across the U.S. His exceptional photos brought artistic renderings of the Inn, Restaurant and Spa as evidenced throughout the site. Furthermore, they commissioned an artist to create the silver soon logo and imagery for Farmhouse. Their meticulous attention to detail and demand for excellence significantly contributed to the final product you now see.

Our first stab at creating the new site had to be completely scrapped as we realized that Farmhouse must reflect simplicity and elegance while still retaining a relaxed feel. Because we had initially opted for darker colors and a bolder approach, we decided to switch tactics. Thanks again to the watchful and careful eye of Catherine Bartolomei who worked very closely with us, our third attempt proved a winner! We nailed it and the Bartolomei's were thrilled. The simple and the elegant meshed into a site that speaks to both the causal inn-goer and the traveler seeking a truly world-class experience. The end result is a site which will serve as a cohesive and powerful marketing tool for years to come.

Joe and Catherine's professionalism and creative energy have contributed significantly to the beauty and success of this project. We've really enjoyed taking the site from a single photograph of a white fence on the home page to a showcase of what the Farmhouse Inn, Restaurant and Spa is all about.