“Nobody knew what was happening - or going to happen,” she said. Larry stayed behind in Ontario temporarily, while Natasha settled into the historic house and began laying the groundwork. Despite the chaos, the timing was serendipitous. Natasha had been preparing for this for years. With a background in retail sales and design, her entrepreneurial instincts were sharpened by decades of leadership roles focused on customer service and artistry. “Interior design, decorating, real estate - my mind is constantly going,” she said. “I can walk into a room and notice the paint colours, how the furniture is arranged, how everything fits together.” The B&B opened officially on July 1, 2020, and quickly became a haven for travellers seeking charm, warmth, comfort, and thoughtful touches. The name, Down East Comfort, reflected both geography and philosophy. “Every time we would go on vacation, we’d be telling friends and co-workers, ‘we’re heading down East,’” Natasha said. Each of the original rooms - New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island – honours the families’East Coast roots.Within their family, they have all the East Coast provinces covered. Larry while born in PEI, his family originated from Nova Scotia and eventually moved to beautiful Miramichi. Natasha was born in New Brunswick with parents from Newfoundland, where Natasha was raised from a young age along with her sister. The interior of the B&B and the guest rooms blend historic elements with comfort- focused design: king-sized beds, large beds, some suites with clawfoot tubs, cozy sitting areas, and curated vintage pieces that echo Natasha’s love of repurposing. In 2025, the property expanded into a restored section of the home - once a separate living area - now transformed into a self-contained Guest House that’s home to the Newfoundland and Labrador rooms. “With that addition, we now cover all of our family connections to the East Coast,” she said.
W hen Natasha Fulton first laid eyes on the stately yellow house in Miramichi, New Brunswick, it felt like a dream. A longtime visitor to the town - her husband Larry’s hometown - Natasha had admired the historic property for years. Recalling a conversation with her sister-in-law, Natasha said, “She literally said, ‘Tash, I forgot to tell you your big yellow house is for sale!’” That moment would soon transform into Down East Comfort Bed & Breakfast - an award-winning guesthouse known for its personalized hospitality, thoughtful design, and deep East Coast roots. But the journey there wasn’t without challenges. Natasha and Larry closed on the property in March 2020, driving a U-Haul through early pandemic roadblocks. “We were literally coming down through Ontario because of the COVID shutdown,” she said. The timing could not have been more uncertain. Travel restrictions were just beginning, and Natasha was stepping into a new industry.
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If you have an idea and a dream, really take the time to look into it and see how you can make it a reality. ”
78 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • VOL 25 ISSUE 3
BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE 79
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