The tree-lined gravel drive leading to The Ellie Inn, marked only with an understated black and white sign, is easy to miss. Residents on their way to Fuquay’s T.J. Maxx and pOpshelf pass easily by the entrance without realizing an oasis of Southern hospitality sits behind the trees.
For those that venture onto the 3-acre property, they’ll discover — mere feet from the bustle of Sexton Commons — a historic building lovingly restored as an event venue and four-bedroom inn.
“It’s like going away without having to go away,” says Amanda Cox, co-owner of The Ellie Inn and one half of the team behind the Greenhouse Picker Sisters.
Sisters Holly Barton and Amanda Cox own The Ellie Inn and Greenhouse Picker Sisters wedding decorating and rental company. Photographed by Jonathan Fredin.
Amanda and her sister Holly Barton run the successful Raleigh-based specialty rental and wedding decorating company, founded on their inherited love of “picking.”
“Our grandfather and his dad would always go to thrift stores and antique stores and rummage through trash cans; and he, our whole lives, was a collector,” says Amanda.
“Collecting and picking was really fun for us as kids. … We would go around to thrift stores, and we learned how to use what we have.
“We would be at the flea market, and we didn’t know that that’s not what everybody wants.
We would yard sale aggressively all the time, and we found the best stuff,” she continues.
Ten years into their business, the Greenhouse Picker Sisters maintain a 10,000-square-foot warehouse of rental furniture and decor — “We don’t need any more stuff,” insists Holly — and stage 500 weddings a year.
While grateful for their success, the sisters felt a calling toward more intimate events.
“We love curating. We love creating experiences. But when we think of our 50-year-old selves, we are not just doing weddings,” says Holly. “The 40th birthdays, 50th, 80th, the anniversaries — the milestones that happen after you get married, when real life happens — those milestone moments are the ones that we want to celebrate.”
And so began the search for a property the pair could transform into a small event venue and infuse with their signature style.
The search abruptly ended at a historic schoolhouse turned private residence they discovered in Fuquay-Varina.
“We were looking for different properties, and it was all over (Wake County). My husband (Reed) does not like anything old; all he sees is dollar signs. … But Reed was like, you need to come look at this,” says Holly.
“And when you walked in, it had the historical feel, but it felt like (the previous owners) just took such good care of the property. We had to do electricity, bathrooms. We had to do some other big projects, but we didn’t have to take it down to the bare bones.”
Originally built around 1900, the building served as a schoolhouse before Fuquay-Varina Elementary was constructed. Renowned local teacher Ellie Nicholson inspired the inn’s name.
“We renovated it and opened in January. It’s been a really, really fun project that I feel like has brought us back to life. We’ve gotten to source stuff, put rooms together, and got back to picking, which is our original love,” says Amanda.
Thoughtful touches, such as snacks and magazines in the bedrooms, welcome guests.
“Preserving the property was kind of a passion project of all of ours. We just feel like it’s so important. We’ve had so many people say thanks for investing in it, not just tearing it down and starting over. There is a feeling here and it makes you think, ‘What was it like? What did it smell like? How did they do school then?’” says Holly.
The Ellie Inn welcomes visitors with a spacious great room and connected kitchen, the centerpiece of every gathering, boasting high ceilings and natural light flooding in through tall windows. Four charming guest rooms, two full bathrooms, and a private office all display a collected, feminine style hand-selected by the Picker Sisters.
“It’s definitely chic, traditional, timeless. We really wanted to do the aesthetics of this time period. And we wanted it to reflect true Southern hospitality and make people want to slow down and linger,” says Holly.
The Inn, including the beautiful outdoor patio, lawn, and garden, can be booked for private events and overnight stays through Airbnb. If desired, guests can pay an additional fee for an event host, but many run their events — often family reunions, anniversary celebrations, baby showers, and birthday parties — independently.
“A lot of times clients are coming in, renting it for three or four days, getting together as a family, and having an event during that weekend,” says Holly.
The sisters also plan to host their own small events, like a chef-catered supper club, at the Inn.
“With this property, we want to bring back experiences that promote having time to ask questions of each other and engage … where you’re coming together and just being intentional with your conversation,” says Holly.
The success of Greenhouse Picker Sisters, and the big-budget weddings it attracts, really pinpointed the pair’s desire to create slower, simpler experiences.
“We’re so grateful. I don’t want to sound like we’re not grateful. It’s just getting further and further away from who we are as people, what we’ve come from, and how genuine we are. It’s sometimes hard to be in that environment when you’re immersed in the real life of raising kids,” says Amanda.
“We needed the peace that this place brings, not just for us, but for our clients. It is so special, because it’s so simple.”
