Theinncrowd
The women behind the June Motel bring their cool design sense to a TV series
Renovating a derelict motel would be a big undertaking under any circumstances. But adding in a global pandemic and a TV crew capturing the whole process would be enough to put anyone’s anxiety levels through the roof. But that’s the premise of the new Netflix series, “Motel Makeover,” starring April Brown and Sarah Sklash of the boutique brand the June Motel.
“It’s still something we’re trying to digest,” Sklash says of the show, which premieres globally on Aug. 25. “One hundred-ninety countries are going to be watching us work, day after day — it’s wild.”
Over the course of six half-hour episodes, viewers will be flies on the walls as the thirtysomething best friends and business partners “Junify” — that is, transform into a millennial haven — their second, and most ambitious, motel: a 1970s property in Sauble Beach, consisting of 24 guest rooms, a swimming pool, restaurant, gift shop and lounge. “Imagine the busiest, most stressful time in your life or career,” Sklash says, “and then also being like, ‘I need to actually look good. I’m going to be on (TV).’ ”
Their journey as moteliers began in 2016, when Sklash, a former project manager and business analyst with the government, and Brown, who worked in PR with brands like Cadillac Fairview and Nike, left their Toronto lives behind to convert the old Sportsman Motel in Prince Edward County into a trendy inn, much to the surprise of friends and family. “Sarah and I had this incredibly strong vision, but people couldn’t see it yet,” Brown remembers. “It clicked for everyone when we actually opened up the June and they saw the brand. They saw the rooms and they were like, ‘OK, we get it now.’”
The original June, featuring 16 rooms, quickly became a goto spot for girlfriend getaways, thanks to the ample rosé and comfortable, yet extremely Instagrammable esthetic: a mix of both vintage and DIY pieces, bold wallpaper, neon signage and an abundance of plants.
When Sklash and Brown were ready to expand their operation, purchasing the Knight’s Inn in Sauble Beach for the price of a detached Toronto home, they were excited about the opportunity to enhance their guest experience with an outdoor pool and on-site restaurant. To develop the latter, Heydays, they brought in Fred and Katie Laliberté, the couple behind Ossington’s Bobbie Sue’s Mac + Cheese, and with offerings like lobster rolls and frosé — rosé slushies — the menu reflects both the beach and the June brand.
Although the shoreline community in the Bruce Peninsula has historically been a summer destination (“Labour Day would hit and everything would close,” Sklash explains), when the partners initially visited Sauble Beach, they saw indications that “there was a lot of opportunity from a business perspective,” Brown says, referencing the like-minded entrepreneurs behind two of their favourite local spots, The Wellness Refinery and Casero Taco Bus.
The women were also inspired by the natural beauty of the area and could envision autumn hiking getaways. “I think this fall, especially since people aren’t really travelling far, will be a great time to come stay with us,” Sklash says, advising folks to book soon, “before the world sees the show.”
The partners appreciate the opportunity “Motel Makeover” is giving them to share the transformation of their new property with a global audience, “but also our personal stories of quitting our jobs and going after our dreams,” says Brown. Filming the show was “a really positive experience for us,” she says, and the friends felt very comfortable sharing the ups and downs of their journey with viewers, with perhaps one exception. “We were like, half an hour away from opening,” Sklash says, “and I was going around the property picking up garbage — just hot, sweaty, picking up random bits of garbage. That was the moment I thought, ‘I do not want a camera anywhere near me.’ At the same time, it’s great that people see the really hard side of it and the hard work. You wouldn’t get that if they only showed us at the best moments.”
And how did it feel for Brown and Sklash to relive their best and worst moments when they finally got a glimpse of the finished show? “2020 was one of the craziest, and most challenging years of our lives,” they wrote on Instagram, “and having a TV series to document that crazy rollercoaster is just that much crazier!”