The Inn at Ormsby Hill has some of the finest common space that you will find in an inn. With only ten guest rooms and given the quantity and quality of common space, you will never feel cramped for a space to call your own.

Our front living room, which is always quiet and peaceful, features a commissioned bonnet-top highboy with slipper feet, designed after a Townsend-Goddard piece, as well as two sofas and assorted chairs, which allow for viewing the fireplace. The fireplace, with its connecting operational Dutch oven, and the hand-hewn beams are all believed to be circa 1764.

A second common room, referred to as the Gathering Room, well deserves its name. This is where the largest fireplace in the inn is located (just one of 14!), which features the original ironcooking ware, circa 1764. Walls feature floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, containing many first editions and Ninteenth century books belonging to the Isham collection. The Gathering Room always has classical music in the background. A six-board chest serves as the coffee table, surrounded by wingback chairs and an extremely comfortable sofa just inviting you to sit. Two leather wingback chairs surround a leather-topped library table, which Isham had originally used in his library. Some shelves are occupied by Ted and Chris's collections, including samplers, bunnies, and violins made by Ted's dad. Some of the hooked rugs made by Ted's mom are scattered on the floor. This is one of those rooms which feels like a good-fitting shoe.

The Conservatory never ceases to produce WOWs upon first viewing. It has a wonderful wood-beaded ceiling, with nothing but windows on two walls. The short wall, which is curved and faces east, is designed to make you feel as though you were on a river boat - but not just any river boat. This landlocked one has a fireplace with an ornately carved European mantel. It not only serves as our dining room but has a sitting area where you can watch the sun come up and the birds feed, all while listening to classical music. It also affords access to a very large slate patio and a wonderfully large, authentic Colonial porch (complete with a hammock), both affording wonderful views of the Green Mountains.

Hidden away on the second floor, for those who must have it, is our tolerance of the Twentieth Century - a cable television room, with a sofa and two wing chairs for comfort. With the television set turned off, it's also a quiet place just to curl up and read a book.