36 First Street, Morrisburg


 Russell Manor was built in the early 1870s. It is a tribute to its French Second Empire architecture. Named after its builder Thomas Russell, the Manor is situated in the historic section of the Village. The Manor offers all the Old World comforts one expects from a house of its time.




36 First Street, Morrisburg

 In 2001, Michael and Ron took a life-changing trip to New Orleans. To say they fell in love with the city and its architecture is an understatement. Seven whirlwind days in and around the French Quarter and the Garden District left them with the indelible desire to create something similar for themselves back at home in Ontario. At the time, they were living in Ottawa’s Chinatown, in a century home too small for Michael’s decorating ambitions.

Michael, as many of his clients will attest, is a chameleon decorator. He’ll take on the character of his client and subtly transform their ideas into reality. Michael has been an interior decorator for over 25 years. Never having had to advertise his services, he has worked continuously in the Ottawa area where he has helped homeowners with every aspect of home décor. For the past eight years, Michael has also been decorating model homes for Richcraft Developments of Ottawa, as well as extending his services to new clients along the St. Lawrence Seaway.



In the last 10 years, Michael has become somewhat of a specialist in decorating the century home. His forte is Victorian; and his aim is not to re-create Victoriana but to adapt it to the 21st Century. He doesn’t copy what the Victorians did; instead, he interprets what they would have done were they alive today. Just take a look at his use of stencils and paint washes and you will understand. He takes Victorian elements and translates them into today’s reality. When it comes to fabric, Michael is a supreme artist. A trained couturier, it’s little wonder that his window dressings look a lot like ball gowns. Michael has used hundreds of yards of fabric in the Manor’s décor.

Lighting is also a prime point of interior decoration for Michael. From pinpoints of modern halogens, to re-wired garage sale finds, to pieces acquired at auction, the Manor's lighting runs the gamut. As those who know him will agree, Michael has a penchant for the decorative arts. Why have one statue when two, three or even more will do? Capo diMonte, you say; Michael will take three!

What to do with their desire to create a bit of Louisiana in Ontario led them to purchase a house large enough to fulfill their desire to open a bed and breakfast. Never having stayed in one didn’t deter them from setting about to open one. They thought they knew what people would want in a B&B.

The Manor’s purchase also allowed Michael to fulfill his lifelong desire to live in, and decorate, a Victorian home. It allowed Ron to fulfill his need to feed the masses and garden as much as humanly possible. In fact, opening a B&B was the only way they could justify buying such a huge home!



Russel Manor today



Russell Manor, known to many as just “The Manor”, is the result of their long search for a suitable property. A group home for almost 40 years prior to its purchase, and a perfect example of French Second Empire architecture, Russell Manor was six years in the making. To say it needed some TLC does not do justice to the term “tender loving care”. The house had been sadly neglected. Although it had been modified to play the role of group home, none of these modifications were so egregious that a little decorating magic (and a great deal of hard work) couldn’t take care of them. Undaunted, they undertook the renovations with zeal. Their neighbours, on the other hand, thought they were both completely mad!

It was soon decided that The Manor would not be your typical B&B. Somewhere along the way, the decision was made to run the B&B more like a small boutique hotel. Each room is lavishly decorated in a distinct manner. There are two 2-room suites. All four rooms have ensuite bathrooms. Breakfast is served in the suites, if that is the wish of the guests. And, if it isn’t, guests can congregate in either the gorgeous dining room or, weather permitting, in the heavenly courtyard to indulge in one of Ron’s fabulous breakfasts.