A New Cozy, Country Chic Accommodation in Ontario’s Grey County

Just outside the village of Kimberley, Ontario, the latest property from motelier partners April Jackson and Sarah Sklash, The June Motel, Beaver Valley, is a Grey County boutique motel that feels distinctly different from the duo’s first two hot spots.

Working with Ashley Montgomery of Ashley Montgomery Design, over the course of six months Jackson and Sklash transformed the existing eight-room motel beside the Beaver River into charming, country-chic accommodations. It’s the first time the pair have hired a designer. With Jackson expecting her second baby, and Sklash splitting her time between Ontario and Bermuda, they decided to focus on crafting the experience and setting the vision, and enlisted Montgomery to bring that aesthetic to life.

Montgomery achieved it—dubbed “vintage country girl” in the moteliers’ webisodes centred on the June Motel Beaver Valley’s transformation–—through blending classic prints (such as ginghams and florals) and textures (weathered wood and cozy textiles) for an inviting, nostalgic feel. The colour palette especially feels like a departure from The June Motel’s other properties in Picton and Sauble Beach, decorated in a sunny array of colours. The Toronto-based interior designer, inspired by nature and vintage pieces, worked with shades that are decidedly moodier, with soft pastels, muted earth tones, and rich, warm hues “chosen to reflect the beauty of the countryside and the charm of vintage design,” Montgomery says.

The result is a cohesive, cozy lodge atmosphere. The small, intimate rooms feature plush king-size beds with McGee & Co. quilts, walls decked out in Metrie matte shiplap in a deep hue (our room was soothing Caledon Geen) with whimsical light fixtures, framed art of landscapes and nature, and darling patterned bedding and wallpaper—paisley, check, birds, and florals, all from Sandberg Wallpaper—softening the space. The bathrooms are striking, blending classic white tiles with new elements, such as a graceful arch to the showers and Concrete Comfort sinks custom matched to the colour palette of each room. Amenities come from Northumberland plant-based brand Sunday’s Company Apothecary in a refreshing grapefruit and mint scent, and inviting grey cotton fleece bathrobes complete the homey mood.

Throughout the rest of the motel, Montgomery selected finishes and elements with a timeless, classic appeal, striking a balance between the lodge aesthetic and feminine touches, from the elegant brass fixtures to the striking marble countertop in the motel’s kitchen, where guests can grab complimentary coffee and baked goods at breakfast from Markdale bakery Susan’s Delicatessen, and the Parlour decor, which includes vintage fishing rods, snowshoes, and a gallery wall curated by Christine Flynn that combines her own photographs and mixed-media pieces. Upstairs in the Studio, where guests can do yoga or meditation, the look is graceful with soft pink walls, an oversized rattan light fixture, and a chaise longue upholstered in a sweet, delicate floral print.

Outside, the riverfront property features a gorgeous sauna with a fishbowl-like window that opens up to a view of the Beaver River, Muskoka-style chairs, the game of horseshoes under fairy lights, and two bonfires where guests can gather to prep s’mores.

Although there was some discussion during the motel’s transformation about elements that could be added later, the now-seasoned moteliers are looking to see how the space is received and how it’s used across seasons. “I’m already excited for how this space is going to feel in the fall with the changing colours, cozy stone fireplace, blankets, books and games, and a glass of red wine,” Jackson says.

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