It is always so nice to hear that guests enjoyed my cooking & my company. The Mansion is indeed stunning. For this I can't take much credit. That shout out goes to the owner, Hunt Slonem. And, to hear it was the highlight of their trip is so delightful to us. To clear up a few things: The Honeymoon room is in the Charlet House not the Carriage House. A minor point. ALL towels were updated recently. Every towel on this property was donated to the local thrift store & replaced with brand new fluffy high quality towels. So I don't understand the guests complaint on that one. I agree with their issue of the sheets, they are old & tired. New 600 count sheets for all guest beds have been ordered and on the way! I appreciate the constructive criticism. The mattress on that bed is fairly new in my judgement. But, that suggestion will be taken into consideration. That house as well as other buildings on the property ARE undergoing restoration work. Guests are notified of this before their stay. The goal is not to "update" but to "restore". Thanks, Angie

I am glad these guests enjoyed their over all stay. Yes, much needed renovations are ongoing. We appreciate all feed back. Unfortunately, the small bathrooms will have to stay small since Madewood is a National Historic Landmark. Enlarging them would change the original floor plan of the Mansion. These bathrooms were originally closets. Just one of the unusual architectural features that make Madewood so interesting.

Susan, Thanks so much for the referral! We had an issue while she was staying with us but that has been settled now & the wine is back. Madewood guests are the best; to be able to enjoy the history, architecture, my cooking & my pleasant staff's company even while renovations are still ongoing.

Having just finished a wonderful turkey on Christmas day, we were amused to read this review & find that these guest felt like turkeys. We sincerely regret this; but like the turkey we served, Madewood is full of warmth. On another site these guests praised our professionalism & cuisine. I guess all we can say is when turkey gets cold, there’s not that much you can do about it. We made every effort to please these guests but were obviously unsuccessful.

We are delighted that this guest enjoyed the reception and conversation that Angie Johnson, our House and Events Coordinator provided during the visit. Our hospitality is a source of great pride to our family. Madewood, a National Historic Landmark, is one of the few Louisiana plantation houses that has not been “gussied up” as a tourist attraction. It remains our home, and is an expression of the authenticity of the mansion brought into the 21st century. I would like to assure the writer that my family has given Madewood an impressive amount of “tlc” over the past 54 years. The reviewer neglects to mention that the Master Suite opens directly onto the magnificent front gallery, and is furnished with antiques. In order to maintain the integrity of the bedroom, the bathroom was fitted into the original walk-in closet. It was updated in 2009, so we do not understand the writer’s displeasure. Madewood hasn’t gone with the wind; it’s still here, vibrant, loved by all, and ready to offer a heartfelt welcome to future guests.

We are so happy that this writer has pleasant memories of her visit to Madewood a decade or more ago, and of our French manager, Christine Gaudet, who departed after twelve years in 2009 When the writer last visited, Madewood did not accept reservations through third parties, and we always were able to speak directly with guests about accommodations. In this case, she selected accommodations online with a provider, without checking with Madewood, and did not realize that she had selected incorrectly. When she arrived and discovered that one of the rooms she had selected and approved online was not the room she thought it was, she became extremely indignant. Angie Johnson, our House and Events Coordinator, made every effort to explain her error and to accommodate her and her family, and thought she had succeeded. Such a situation would not be unusual in a hotel, where one often does not receive the exact accommodation expected. We strongly contest the contention that Madewood is only about money, not hospitality; Mrs. Johnson was with these guests every minute of their visit in an attempt to please them. It is insulting to refer to the grandeur of Madewood as a motel. And the contention that there are prohibitions everywhere is false. (There are only NO SMOKING signs, a request to ask permission to sit on a Gothic hall chair, and notes on a rare parlor set in the music room asking guests not to sit.) Guests often comment on the freedom to do whatever they want at Madewood, something not always possible in a National Historic Landmark residence. ALL rooms have heat and air conditioning, individually controlled, so we cannot understand the comment that there was no heat. But we are pleased that they found dinner and breakfast excellent, a positive aspect of their visit. For the protection of both the guest and Madewood, we request that guests pre