About Us

The Villa DeWolf Boutique Hotel/B&B is located in the historic Augustus Ayers mansion in Jacksonville, IL. The circa 1857 mansion is a premier example of the Italianate style of architecture. It was built for A.E. Ayers, a prominent Jacksonville citizen involved with the banking house of M.P. Ayers & Co.

The magnificent three-story brick home, known for its cupola and massive scale, is one of the principal buildings in the Jacksonville Historic District. Architectural details include 12-foot ceilings, a stunning, fully suspended, three-story flying staircase, Italian Carrera marble fireplaces from the same quarry Michelangelo used for all his marble work, stunning carved cornices from Italy which arrived in long ships in 1856, pre-Civil War rare gas chandeliers, pocket doors with unique Tuscan arched detail.

Villa DeWolf is located in a quiet, tree-filled, historic neighborhood. The homes in the Historic District represents nearly every popular architectural style from the 1830's to the 1930's. They include some of Jacksonville's most impressive, architecturally significant homes. Queen Anne, Greek Revival, Italianate and Neo-Gothic styles are especially prevalent in the district.

Current owner Scotty DeWolf, formerly of California, instantly fell in love with the mansion after seeing it listed on the internet. The mansion reminded him of the fine, grand-scale homes of the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco.

Mr. DeWolf has spent the last several years restoring the mansion. Italian architect Davide Rocchi and Jacksonville native and fashion photographer/designer Jerry Lee Ingram have worked tirelessly to return the mansion to its former glory.

The mansion's ballroom walls are adorned with extremely rare wallpaper "Monuments of Paris, 1820". This wallpaper is a reproduction (very limited edition) of an 1820 wallpaper that was actually painted at the time in Italy.

Italian restoration artist Francesca Laurencich of Florence, Italy, created a stunning, cloud-dotted sky on the main ballroom's ceiling which blends beautifully with the historic wallpaper. Laurencich has worked on restoration projects for the last 25 years including Gherardesca Four Seasons Hotel in Florence and the Magnani Feroni Palace Florence for the Ferragamo family.

Interior Designer/Photographer Jerry Lee Ingram and Italian architect Davide Rocchi collaborated on the renovation and interior design of Villa DeWolf. Rocchi is a graduate of the University of Architecture of Florence. Ingram is a graduate of MacMurray College and has lived and worked in Florence for over 30 years. Ingram and Rocchi have created interior and exterior spaces for Five Star hospitality properties and private luxury residences around the world. Their projects include international brands such as Ferragamo, Branca Milano, San Lorenzo Yachts/Janetti, Frescobaldi and many others. Their projects have been featured in Architectural Digest, Conde Nast Traveler, Vogue and Shelter among other interior design publications.

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Jerry Lee Ingram (left) and Davide Rocchi (right) photographed in the Sala Poccetti in the Ferroni Palace in Florence, Italy where their design studio is located.

Video Tour

Pictures are not the only way to preview the elegance of Villa DeWolf. Take a journey with owner Scotty DeWolf as he showcases and explains the historic property in the seven-minute video tour.