Meet the Innkeepers
Leslie
Leslie Kimball purchased Blake House in January 2006 and keeps busy updating the Inn and putting her own personal touch on each room. She describes her style as very eclectic with a touch of vintage cottage. No two rooms in the house are alike and guests will see elements from several decorating styles. “This style allows me to add to what I have with re-purposed things I find around Asheville.” Cases in point are the iron footboard used as a fireplace screen in the Parlor and the stack of china cups and saucers used to make a lamp base. “It works for me and it draws the eye around the room to see what I’ve done with vintage architectural pieces and elements. You won’t be bored seeing how I’ve changed one thing into something else, that’s for sure.”
Originally from the Washington, DC suburbs in Northern Virginia, Leslie spent eight years in Orlando, FL before coming to Asheville, NC.
Leslie has a B.S. in Psychology from George Mason University and a Master’s degree in Human Resource Development from Clemson University. She worked in human resources for 10 years for various companies including a debit card processor and a large video game producer before giving it all up to purchase this historic Asheville, NC bed and breakfast.
She is assisted by her mother, Eleanor, and Amber, our Assistant Innkeeper. She lives in the Carriage House with her son, Brian, our 2 rescue dogs (Jenny & Squirt, Jack Russell/Chihuahua mixes), our foster dog, Sophie (another Jack Russell Terrier) and 3 indoor cats (Baby Girl, Mickey & Minnie). Guests may also meet Rocky on the property. He is a very friendly indoor/outdoor cat that has adopted us and he spends more and more time in the Inn.
Friendly advice and helpful comments are always welcome. Leslie’s goal is to provide a warm, welcoming environment without trying for superficial perfection. If a guest experiences any problems, please notify Leslie or Amber as soon as possible so we can attempt to rectify the situation quickly. Also let us know about things that you specifically liked about your room or the Inn or places that you ate that you would recommend.
Amber
Amber joined the Blake House “staff” in 2011 as our Asst. Innkeeper. Originally from Nashville TN, she grew up in a large family. The oldest of 3 sisters she attended college at Austin Peay University earning BS in Microbiology. Her husband and she moved to Asheville 9 years ago after a short stint in St Louis.
On of Amber’s passions is foreign travel. She loves meeting people of different cultures, learning their traditions, and trying indigenous cuisine… She enjoys entertaining, gardening, and horseback riding as hobbies.
Amber’s life revolves around animals. Besides her two horses and three parrots, she has a side business pet sitting horses, birds ,cats, and dogs. 
Amber says, “I never get tired of the eclectic diversity of Asheville. The artistic and personal expression, green extremes, nature lovers, architectural enthusiasts, and history buffs all interacting in such a small area. A truly wonderful place to live.”
Innkeeping Innternship
If you have ever wondered if innkeeping (or interim innkeeping) is for you, try it out first under the guidance of an experienced innkeeper. Learn the ins out outs of innkeeping by experiencing it first-hand. You will learn the sun-up to sun-down operation of a bed and breakfast plus you will have the opportunity to explore the city and get some well-deserved down time.
Cost: $695 per person (single occupancy); $495 per person (double occupancy)
Your Innternship includes room and breakfast during your stay and you can choose from a 2- or 3- night option for the same rate:
- 2-night weekend (Friday-Saturday) innternship or
- 3-night mid-week (Sunday – Thursday) innternship
- add a 4th-night mid-week: $100 per person (single occ.) or $75 per person (double occ.)
The 2-night option includes a free ticket per paying person for the Gray Line Historic Trolley Tour. The 3-night option adds a free ticket for one of the Asheville Food Tours. The 4-night option adds a free ticket to the Biltmore Estate.
Availability for an Innternship is based solely on room availability. There is no minimum headcount requirements for an innternship and we won’t schedule more than 4 at one time so that you are provided with as much one-on-one instruction as possible.
Call to schedule your Innkeeping Innternship and step into a whole new world of possibilities.
