Decorating & Design
September 3, 2021
15 Design Tips From The June Motel’s New Netflix Show
What happens when you combine a rundown ’70s motel with two imaginative entrepreneurs and a global pandemic? One binge-worthy Netflix series. In Motel Makeover, Sarah Sklash (left) and April Brown take you behind-the-scenes of the nail-biting transformation of the second The June Motel location in Sauble Beach, Ontario. It wasn’t all rosé and sunshine. “People really see the work that went into creating that amount of beauty,” says April of the six-episode series. Like how COVID pushed their opening date by three months, the pool was finished in the nick of time, a pipe burst in one of the guest rooms after it was renovated and more. “There was a lot more pressure. Millions of people are going to see this — we wanted it to be perfect,” says April. “We’re not designers by trade, we don’t have a ton of experience in hospitality. We took that leap and you see us figuring it out as we go.”
That’s what is so inspiring about the series: their approachable, trial-and-error process of “junifying” (taking something that isn’t so pretty and making it something special) the once-dated space with their nostalgic aesthetic. “We can impact and inspire so many more people with our story, and that’s really what we’re all about: helping people take that leap and live their best life, whether they’re at The June or at home,” says April.
We devoured this series in a day (yes, you heard that right), and here are the best tips we learned from the show. Scroll down!
Before you start planning, think about your potential clients (or what you want the space to be used for). The twin rooms were designed for girls’ getaways and families and the king rooms were designed for romantic couples’ retreats. Use that vision to lead the way!
Don’t rely on paint chips. Paint the wall or piece of furniture! You won’t be able to truly see what it looks like until you do — and you can always paint another color overtop.
Paint accents are an affordable way to make a statement. In Sarah’s bedroom in the motel’s residence, she and April DIY-ed a semicircle behind the bed instead of buying a headboard. Learn how to do it yourself here.
White paint instantly brightens up dated architectural details. Like the ’70s wood panelling (above). You still get the textural interest of the millwork but it’s updated for a modern aesthetic.
Carrying over a few design elements from room to room creates flow. You’ll notice similar paint colors, materials and patterns appear throughout the guest rooms, restaurant, retail space and pool. It makes the whole property feel cohesive!
Make the most of hardware store tile. A cute coral one in the twin rooms’ bathrooms was just $2 per sq. ft. It looks custom!
Spray paint can go a long way. April used white spray paint to cover up the builder-basic metal finish of these light fixtures.
Vinyl plank flooring is more durable and budget-friendly than hardwood (and looks just as good). Sarah and April opted for beachy blond flooring which matches the retro aesthetic perfectly.
Create Instagram-worthy moments. A perfect selfie spot will inspire guests to snap a pic during their stay. Sarah and April added a round mirror with faux plants and painterly wallpaper in the background.
Draw inspiration from your surroundings. Sauble Beach’s sandy shores and stunning sunsets were the jumping off points for the motel’s color palette. Plus, they included other subtle seaside-inspired accents like a painted surfboard and vintage beach photography.
Faux plants are worth the splurge. It takes the stress out of trying to keep real ones alive, and if the fake plants are good quality, you won’t be able to tell the difference. Hang a cluster in the corner to draw the eye up.
Size a custom build to match your slab of stone to save money. That’s exactly what April and Sarah did for the shop’s bar (far right). The bar was built only after they chose the slab of terrazzo marble!
Test out a bunch of knobs until you find The One. These delicate bulbous knobs were the perfect option for the light pink cabinets, but it was a tough decision with so many jewel-like knobs April and Sarah had to chose from.
Mix wood tones. Don’t be too matchy matchy — layer different types of wood for a warm and inviting look.
Hide imperfections. In the middle of the restaurant patio, there was a huge divot in the concrete (talk about a hazard). Instead of repairing it (and spending money they didn’t have), April and Sarah added a custom wooden bench with plants to cover it up. Genius!
Looks like Sarah and April are planning to do it all again soon: “We’re going to start the hunt for the next motel in the fall — we don’t know where and we don’t know when,” says Sarah. “We love that process of finding diamonds in the rough and seeing the potential and going through that whole process. We’re really excited and eager to start that hunt!”
Netflix