SLEEP IN A MUSEUM: THE STORY BEHIND THE DESMOND HOUSE
If you’ve ever dreamed of sleeping in a museum, The Desmond House in downtown Redding is your chance.
This early 1900s home turned boutique inn is filled floor to ceiling with antiques, artifacts, and lighting pieces that each tell a story.
Every visit feels like stepping into another era, one illuminated by craftsmanship, creativity, and conversation.
The Desmond House: A Home with History
Built in 1905 by John T. Desmond, an early Redding businessman who opened the city’s first feed store, the home overlooks the Sacramento River and sits within walking distance of restaurants, tasting rooms, and the Sacramento River Trail. Its gabled roof, original woodwork, and vintage details hold the grace of another time.
Owner Greg Reimann bought the home in 2005 and spent two decades transforming it into what he affectionately calls a “living museum.” He stripped it to its bones, preserved its historic structure, and began layering it with the treasures he’s collected over a lifetime—lighting fixtures, medical curiosities, salvaged artifacts, and art pieces rescued from around the country.
“I’ve always loved wandering antique stores for hours,” Greg says. “This house just seemed like it wanted to be more than it was.”
A Collector’s Dream
Greg’s collection could rival that of a museum. Guests can find everything from Tiffany glass fragments to early 1900s dental cabinets, battleship binoculars, and rare streetlights once used in downtown Redding. Some fixtures came from San Francisco, others from as far away as Ohio. Each was restored by hand, many rewired and repurposed to cast new light on old beauty.
“I have a small fortune in lighting,” Greg admits, laughing. “It’s like a lighting museum in here. Every piece has a story.”
And he’s happy to share those stories. Guests who stay at The Desmond House often find themselves taking impromptu tours with Greg, hearing about the provenance of each object and how it found its way to Redding. His enthusiasm for the craft of restoration and the history behind each artifact is infectious.
Two Rooms, Two Stories
The Desmond House has just two quaint guest rooms, each with a private bath.
The Desmond Room overlooks the Sacramento River and captures the romance of turn-of-the-century design. Named after John T. Desmond himself, it features a queen bed, antique dresser, and lighting sourced specifically for the space. Greg scoured antique shows and salvage sites to find fixtures that felt authentic to the home’s era. The private bath includes a shower and thoughtful touches that make the experience as comfortable as it is nostalgic.
The Brooks Room is named after Thomas Brooks (1811–1887), a Brooklyn cabinetmaker known for his Renaissance Revival furniture now on display at the Brooklyn Museum. The bed, crafted around 1867, is one of Brooks’ original pieces. “Sleeping in that bed,” Greg says, “is like taking a step back in time when true craftsmen built things to last.”
Hidden Layers Beneath the Surface
Below the main floor, a speakeasy-style wine cellar adds a surprise twist. Once a canning cellar in the early 1900s, it’s now a cozy retreat for guests to enjoy a glass of wine surrounded by history. A vintage stove once used to heat the home still sits in place, and the stone walls hold the cool quiet of a bygone era.
Outside, the backyard is a patchwork of eclectic details. Repurposed industrial lights, a 1920s Wedgwood stove Greg still cooks on, and even a 120-year-old grapefruit tree that continues to bear fruit. There’s a warmth here that goes beyond nostalgia; it’s the kind of creativity that makes you want to linger.
The Art of Hospitality
What makes The Desmond House truly special isn’t just the antiques; it’s Greg’s approach to hosting. He doesn’t see himself as an innkeeper so much as a storyteller. “It’s their trip, their adventure,” he says. “My job is to help make it memorable.”
He loves sharing local recommendations, often sending guests to nearby favorites like Paradisio or C.R. Gibbs for dinner, and encouraging them to walk downtown to explore Redding’s growing food and arts scene.
“We have incredible restaurants right here,” he says. “People come from all over to experience the outdoors, but downtown Redding has so much character of its own.”
A Stay That Feels Like Connection
The Desmond House isn’t about luxury in the traditional sense. It’s about connection to history, to art, and to the feeling of staying somewhere made with care. The experience is deeply personal. Many guests say the longer they stay, the more they notice: a lamp base carved with faces, a mirror frame salvaged from a theater, a chair with craftsmanship so fine it belongs in a museum.
Each visit reveals new layers, and each conversation with Greg adds another story to the home’s growing history. “Art lifts the human spirit,” he says. “That’s what this place is about.”
Downtown Redding at Your Doorstep
From your room, you can walk to Redding’s best restaurants, wine bars, and galleries. The Sacramento River Trail and Sundial Bridge are minutes away, as are live performances at the Cascade Theatre and Turtle Bay Exploration Park. It’s the perfect location for travelers who want to explore Northern California’s beauty by day and rest in history by night.
For those drawn to craftsmanship, conversation, and a touch of nostalgia, The Desmond House is more than a place to stay—it’s a story you become part of.