Heart to Heart Bed and Breakfast

TAYLOR — In a small residential neighborhood in Taylor, Teri and David Svoboda, the owners of Heart to Heart Bed and Breakfast, opened their business nearly 10 months ago as a getaway for those needing to work on their relationships.

The Svobodas initially started their business as a ministry to help other couples; they wanted to give those working on relationships a place to go and reunite, which they believe was the best therapy within their own marriage.

“I think couples need to get away with each other alone and with other couples sometimes,” Teri said. “It’s kind of a process over the years; you’re never finished working on your marriage or your relationship.”

Teri and David said the bed and breakfast is not only a place for married couples but also for families and friends as well. While Wi-Fi is offered in the two available rooms, there are no televisions because the couple hopes the quiet will give people the chance to talk and get to know each other better.

Originally from Iowa, the Svobodas moved to Killeen nearly 12 years ago and began considering the idea of opening a bed and breakfast. They eventually settled on Taylor for its small-town feel.

The couple purchased the house at 829 McClure St. in May 2010 and opened the business in October.

Teri’s love of decorating and gardening and the couple’s mutual enjoyment of interacting with their guests made owning a bed and breakfast a natural fit, they said.

David is the primary chef, a skill he was able to hone while he served in the military. He also attended a baking school in Minneapolis after his time in the service.

The flexibility of owning a bed and breakfast is also a perk, they said.

“If family from out of town comes in, I have two beautiful rooms for them to stay in,” Teri said. “It doesn’t always have to be a public house; it’s where we live, also.”

Many people from larger cities enjoy staying at Heart to Heart because they desire a place that is quiet, she said.

“In the Austin [and] Round Rock areas, there’s always something going on,” David said. “This is the country, but it’s close enough to the city to be handy and do things, but you still don’t have to put up with [the city].”

The house is also available for baby and bridal showers, teas and luncheons. The couple recently built a gazebo in their backyard to start offering wedding packages. Teri is planning on having an open house for local businesses in the wedding industry to see the business.

Teri chose the name Heart to Heart because of her fondness for hearts. She has been collecting them for years and has more than 100 heart-shaped objects throughout the house.

“You think about the heart with emotion and relationships, and that’s just really important to me, people and relationships,” Teri said. “There are different types of relationships for people who will come to stay here, mother-daughter, friends, married couples, so Heart to Heart seemed like ‘from you to me,’ it can be taken so many different ways.”

Heart to Heart Bed and Breakfast

829 McClure St., Taylor

309-4419

www.hearttoheartbb.com