Check Out the June Motel Co-Owner’s New Retro Lakeside Retreat

The original inspiration for the kitchen was sage-coloured cabinets, but April settled on this agave colour by Sarah Sherman Samuel for semihandmade. As the light changes throughout the day, the cabinets appear to change colour. The retro-looking fridge from Smeg was one of the kitchen’s biggest investments, but April had to have it.

The gold, half-moon hardware – also by Sarah Sherman Samuel for semihandmade – adds a whimsical touch to the room. For the light fixture, April opted for this thin, airy piece from Anthropologie, which is bold without being clunky.

The rattan bar cart is from Bephi Home, a Hamilton-based company that sources one-of-a-kind vintage finds. April used some of Bephi’s pieces for the June motel, but she wanted this cart for her own space. The tasseled mirror above is another funky find from Anthropologie. The kitchen table is from CB2, and April paired it with a set of mid century-modern inspired chairs from West Elm.

Anyone whose spent 10 minutes searching “kitchens” on Pinterest knows that subway tiles are a thing. April liked the look but wanted something unique, so she went with these square tiles with charcoal grout rather than the usual rectangles.

The deep soaker sink juts out from the counter and provides plenty of space for doing dishes (to save space, April opted to forego a dishwasher). The champagne bronze faucet is from Delta Faucets, and switches on with a simple touch.

Here’s a closer look at the swanky faucet.

April’s home is dense with greenery. But, due to her busy schedule, nearly all her plants are faux. The living room is drenched in light thanks to the large skylight in the centre of the room, which April considers one of her favourite parts of the home.

April found this gorgeous rug through Instagram from a woman in Kingston, Ontario. The colours tied together the exact shade of blue from the kitchen cabinets, so it was a perfect fit. The walnut coffee table from West Elm folds into a desk, which was ideal for April’s small space.

In the living room, a bottle of wine is never farther than an arm’s reach. April picked up the metal wine rack from a vintage shop for a cool $15, and she’s tucked it beside her tan leather couch from Article, which she found to be surprisingly comfy.

The master bedroom is equal parts lush and minimalist. A collection of ivy plants (faux, of course) are placed in terra cotta pots along an Ikea shelf to create a dramatic backdrop. The macrame light fixture, also from Ikea, adds to the crafty vibes, which contrasts nicely with the metallic gold bed frame.

The guest bedroom is almost a mirror image of the master bedroom, save for the plant wall. The bed frame’s circular motif echoes the retro, moon-inspired handles from the kitchen, and the all-white paint job offers a calm oasis.

April spends her summers in Prince Edward County and winters in Toronto, so having a deck where she could make the most of the sunshine was a big selling point. She grounded the space with a propane fire pit table from Lowe’s, which has a surprising amount of actual table space. The previous owners left these wicker patio chairs in the shed, so April put her own modern spin on them with black-and-white striped cushions.

Here’s another look at the patio, which looks out onto the lake and offers stunning sunset views. The deck itself was originally a dated brown colour, but April gave it new life with a fresh coat of cool grey paint.

April bought this funky umbrella from Target Canada (R.I.P.) with plans to put it somewhere in the motel. Eventually, it made its way to the corner of her patio, which she’s reserved for sunbathing. The lounge chairs were another leftover shed find from the previous owners.

A walkway surrounded by big trees and ferns leads down to the water, where April spends plenty of hot summer days cooling off. She might paint the rest of the patio one day, but for the moment, she likes the cottagey feel of the natural wood tones. To see April’s other property, check out 15 Reasons to Visit PEC’s June Motel This Year.