With a background in theater, Hirschi has a flair for setting a stage that brilliantly compliments the Victorian, Arts & Crafts, and Gothic attributes of the home. The wood floors are adorned with soft oriental rugs, billowing window dressings drape the high windows, and period lighting illuminates antique furniture. Vintage photographs and heirloom trinkets add a charming air of authenticity to the home. A lady's plumed hat propped in the vestibule, a silver mesh clutch draped over the arm of a chair, and well-loved books on the tables make it seem as if the original inhabitants had merely stepped away for a moment. Yet Brumder is no dusty museum reconstruction. The free-flowing floor plan, the warmth of the hostess, and the comfortably plump chairs in the parlor contradict stereotypes of stuffy Victorian styles or cold, intimidating Gothic trends, and remind you that an exuberant life is lived here. The Mansion welcomes you in, and makes you feel right at home.

While the décor celebrates the past, the accommodations are anything but passe. All guest rooms have a private bath, and the majority feature a Jacuzzi, whirlpool or imported marble shower. The Mansion also offers guests modern conveniences such as wireless Internet, cable television, DVD/CD players and air conditioning.

Like the melange of design elements, the rooms in the Mansion range in size and personality – each with unique antique accents, backdrops and ambiance. George's Suite, named for the former master of the house, contains three rooms and is the largest of the accommodations. Furnished almost entirely with antiques, the suite has two ornamental fireplaces, a sitting room and a queen-size bed.

The Gold Suite, showcasing an ornamental oak fireplace with fluted columns, is named for its sunny yellow decor, while Marion's Suite features soft blues, grays, pinks and blacks. The walls in Gynth's Suite are faux painted in reds and yellows, and the room features a king-size bed, a gas fireplace with a 19th-century slate mantel, and a luxurious double whirlpool.

Beyond the guest rooms, visitors can peruse collections of books and magazines in the library, or play one of the many board games available in the roomy parlor. Guests of the Brumder also enjoy complimentary wine and soft drinks, along with Swiss chocolates and the Mansions' signature chocolate chip cookies.