4 minute read
SWEET & BOUTIQUE
TEXT BETHANY LITTLE PHOTOGRAPHY LAUREN MILLER
How an abandoned restaurant in Ontario ’ s Prince Edward County became a family-friendly vacation rental.
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What’s more vacationy than cabinets in a beachy blush? “The colour changes from soft pink in the morning to a sandy neutral at night, ” says owner Tania Kolesnik. The kitchen area opens to the living zone, so dads or mums can wrangle dinner for the kidlets without losing sight of any shenanigans. Cleanup is easy thanks to open shelving. Metals in rose gold and brass bring polish.
CABINETRY PAINT, Bashful 1171, Benjamin Moore. APPLIANCES, GE Café Appliances. Beach photography ARTWORK, Christine Flynn.
o, it goes like this:
“Two toddlers walk into a bar… ” Owner Tania Kolesnik laughs as she explains: “When my husband, Dustin Coldicott, and I bought this two-storey building in Bloomfield, it was just a commercial space with a fully operational restaurant. Well, renovations don ’t happen overnight, so for the first six months, our two toddlers camped out with us behind the former bar – not far from an industrial grease trap!”
It took a ton of thoughtful disassembly and creative wall removal to transform the former eating establishment in Prince Edward County, Ont., into a soothing getaway, but it quickly became a favourite destination on Airbnb for travellers, especially families. “Its open layout is super flexible. And the furnishings are intentionally durable, ” says Tania. As for guests who adore the rental’ s warm tone-on-tone look, there ’ s a bonus. “I purposefully decorate with easy-to-find affordable items. So, if guests want to replicate the look at home, they can easily copy what’ s here. ”
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THIS PAGE An open-plan layout encourages together time. “But everything can be changed on a whim, ” says Tania. At mealtimes, the bistro tables can be side-by-side, but if a Zoom meeting is on the roster, one can be pulled aside as a desk. The modular sofa is durable, easily morphing into a playhouse for little ones or a hangout for tweens playing board games. Always one step ahead, Tania is practical in her approach: “As a mum who travels with kids, I know that nothing saves the day like a throw! They catch crumbs and cuddle someone who needs a good cry. ” Chairs in leather and rattan are easy care.
Leather CHAIR, Article. SOFA, Mobilia. CUSHIONS, DRAPERY, THROW, Hecho. RUG, Tonic Living. SIDE TABLE, LAMP, CUSHION (on leather chair), HomeSense. Black arch-shaped MIRRORS, Zara Home. CHAIR, small SIDE TABLE, IKEA. CANDLE HOLDERS, Kokito.
LEFT Tania’s top tip for a vacation rental? “Outdoor furniture. It’s made to hold up!” An outdoor rattan daybed serves as a nook for readers of all ages. It can also be a kid-size spot for a sleepover guest. “I love using natural textures to bring in tones and texture, like the beaded wall hanging and pillows, ” says Tania. A table in the bedroom can be a desk or vanity. The painting is by a local artist.
BELOW Weary guests arrive to a bright and spacious primary bedroom. Instead of art, its wall is a celebration of circular objets trouvés in wood, rattan and basketry. “The bed is flanked by poufs with zip-off covers, ” says Tania. Think of them as washable bedside tables – perfect for a rental.
ARTWORK, Anthony Buttazonni. CUSHIONS, HomeSense.
CHAISE LOUNGE, LAMP, SIDE TABLE, RUG, BED-
DING, IKEA. DAYBED, BED FRAME, Article. SIDE TABLE, OTTOMANS, Tonic Living. MATTRESS, PILLOW, DUVET, Endy.
RATTAN MIRRORS, PIL-
LOWS, H&M Home. Wooden FLOWER MIRRORS, HomeSense. TRAYS (displayed on wall), Kokito.
CHAIRS, BENCH,
TABLE, Article.
” says Tania.
“Then, during the renovation, we walked in and found the crew about to pull down the millwork with crowbars! We literally arrived in the nick of time!” Dating back to 1875, the arch and bay window serve as a cozy nook. The modern (and inexpensive) chaise, side table and reading lamp are from IKEA. “Any mum or dad having a much-deserved Zen moment here can still see into the living area, ” says Tania. Translation: Lego building and art projects can be praised “I like to thrift for quirky pieces to make spaces unique, ” she says.
CHAISE, IKEA.
ABOVE For continuity, the headboards in both the primary and the secondary bedrooms are the same. The palette in the secondary bedroom is cooler, though – serene greys and blues. Sleepy guests crawl into a bed layered in cottony softness. And nap lovers of all ages nuzzle up to puffy textured pillows. The metal side table has a handle, so it can be drawn closer (the better to reach that glass of wine) or carried off where little hands can’t reach. The rug is an outdoor runner – so much easier to clean!
BED FRAME, Article. ART, Caroline Walls. MATTRESS, PILLOW, DUVET, Endy. BED LINENS, black SIDE TABLE, IKEA. PILLOWS, small RUG, HomeSense. THROW, Kokito. LEFT Nothing declares “the drive is over and the vacation is here” like a long, hot shower. “This enclosure is surprisingly inexpensive, ” says Tania. “The walls are a quality sagegreen tile, which we matched with sage-coloured grout. It looks so modern and clean.
SHOWER ENCLOSURE and BASE, Fleurco. FIXTURES, Riobel. BENCH, BATH MAT, HomeSense. BASKET, rolled TOWELS, Kokito.
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