The cottages come fully equipped with the essentials. Each has two double beds, a full bathroom with sit-in shower, full kitchen, a living room area with a small couch and large TV, and a washer and dryer. Each cottage also has a deck with a barbeque.
"The pantry's filled with pots and pans, plates, everything. Complementary snacks on arrival and bottled water in the fridge," says Irene. "It's fully self contained. Everything you could possibly want."
The couple had a restaurant in Sable River for three years, but Irene says due to the decline of her husband’s health they had to get away from the business. To get away from the stressful chef life, the two picked up and moved to Liverpool, where they decided to start up the cottages earlier this year.
"We always liked Liverpool. We always used to drive here. We thought it was a nice little town," says Irene. "We had bought the house and we had the land."
Irene says she and her husband didn't have a big master plan when they came up with the idea to open some cottages. They had the land they needed after buying the house, and had previous experience in the hotel business as well.
"To do something with the land, and to be able to live in the house as well, we thought we'd put in some cottages," she says.
When the couple decided on the look they wanted for the cottages, Irene says she took the design to Brady’s Home Building Centre. Brady’s then recommended local Wayne Wentzell to be the contractor.
"We met with Wayne, and two weeks later he showed us the plans," says Irene. "I believe it was two weeks after that they started breaking ground."
All supplies for building and furnishing the cottages were locally bought within Queens County and Shelburne County, says Irene. Furniture was bought in Shelburne, all appliances such as the washer, dryer, and barbeque were all ordered from Sears in MacPherson's, and building supplies came from Brady’s.
The cottages officially opened for business Monday, Aug. 1.
"They're cute. Everyone who has seen them has loved them," she says. "It may not have the beach, but it has the facilities and everything you need. And the beach is a 10 minute drive away if you want to go."
Although the cottages are very close to Best Western, Irene says she isn't worried about being in competition with the hotel because of how different they are.
"They're rooms, this is like a little house," she says. "If people want to go stay in a hotel they'll go there. If people want to sit outside on the deck, barbeque, go for a walk in the back, personally I would stay here."
The cottages are not only geared towards people coming from out of town, but to those locally as well. Irene says they are great for occasions such as an anniversary when a couple wants to get away from the kids of a night. She adds, if arranged ahead of time, it’s possible to have her husband cook a personal dinner.
"Say it's an anniversary, and you want to come spend the night and get away from the kids," she says. "My husband is a chef. By prearrangement he can cook the dinner."
Because the cottages are new and summer is nearly over, Irene says she wasn't expecting to be bombarded with rental requests. However, she says the cottages will be great for winter, and expects business to pick up once word spreads.
"I didn't expect people to be banging at the doors because obviously anybody who is going to come on holidays has already booked," she says. "I also think once Queens Place is open we'll get a lot of business. It's just going to be the first people in, then they'll tell their friends."
Queens Place Deluxe Cottages plans to have a functional website up soon with all of their information, but until then call 902-354-7299 or email irenezaari@gmail.com to find out mor.
