It’s impossible to step inside the Fox and Pheasant Inn, Montevallo’s newest bed and breakfast, and not feel a sense of relaxation.

Evoking such a feeling is exactly what owner Janice Seaman was going for when she bought and restored a two-story, four bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath house on Shelby Street last year.

Seaman will receive her first guests in August. The home is also available for weddings, receptions and other social events. A friend of Seaman’s suggested the name Fox and Pheasant to reflect the home’s cozy, country décor.

Seaman offers a brief history of the home as she leads guests on a tour. The house was built in 1915 by W.B. Reynolds, the son of Capt. Henry Clay Reynolds. Capt. Reynolds was the first president of Alabama College, now the University of Montevallo.

The original pewter wall sconces in the formal dining room are paired with contemporary furnishings, meshing the home’s rich past with today’s style.

“We’ve tried to maintain the home’s character, but we’ve done things to make it modern and fun,” Seaman said.

Seaman’s modern twist includes a new commercial stove and oven, a stainless steel refrigerator and sink and granite countertops in the kitchen as well as the expansion of the home’s bathrooms.

“We wanted to have very deluxe baths,” said Seaman, noting each bathtub and shower is uniquely designed.

The king and queen suites boast their own style, ranging from elegant Victorian and English country to masculine paisley. Each room has its own fireplace.

“Our bedding, linens and towels are of the very highest quality,” Seaman said. “That’s very important to me.”

Guests may also relax outside the home on the screened porch just off the living room or the back deck overlooking an English country garden, a pecan orchard and a gazebo.

Seaman plans to add recreational events to the Fox and Pheasant’s schedule, including croquet and badminton tournaments in the front yard.

“We’re a bed and breakfast and an avenue for events, but we’re also going to be a site for learning. We plan to do a lot of learning weekends were we have Pilates, yoga, photography and cooking,” she said. “We’ve had some fun here already and hope to have some more fun.”

The Fox and Pheasant Inn is located at 540 Shelby St. For more information, call 665-3080.