Photo: Monica Slaney
With Heights House Hotel, a must-visit in Raleigh’s historic Boylan Heights neighborhood, husband-and-wife owners Sarah and Jeff Shepherd have created luxury lodging that is as cozy as it is chic. In 2018, the pair purchased the antebellum Italianate mansion— previously christened Montfort Hall—then tapped architect Laurie Jackson, general contractor Greg Paul and designer Bryan Costello to meticulously update the 1860 structure.
These efforts highlighted its impressive 15-foot ceilings, original hardwood floors and 10 fireplaces across nine guest suites and grandly appointed entertaining spaces ideal for weddings or seasonal soirees. Drawing upon a shared passion for global travel, the couple further embellished the hotel using antique and modern elements: rugs, custom furniture, fine art and more. Plush amenities like Frette linens underscore the duo’s old-school approach to hospitality, evident in European-inspired breakfasts served in the original dining room and terraces, tea service in the afternoons, and evening cocktails in the Parlor.
