THE LITTLE INN was an amazing job to work on. It was creative, rewarding, challenging and absolutely gratifying to redesign and restore this historic Inn that means so much to Bayfield and Ontario!!
A neutral palette was used in the middle dining room to create the perfect backdrop for any bride to shine. The custom servery anchors the room beautifully. Wherever possible we reused existing elements such as lighting fixtures, fireplace, wainscotting and pine floors. An existing set of dining chairs were reupholstered in a timeless black & tan stripe.
I designed custom banquettes for the Inn. In collaboration with Gresham House Furniture truly unique fully upholstered freestanding pieces were created which are movable to reconfigure the space for any group. This allows such increased flexibility compared to built in banquettes. The bar stools are also from Gresham House and are upholstered in the same fabric a stunning yet highly durable pattern called Zenith available to the trade through Fabricut. This provides a bookmarking effect visually connecting the Willow dining room with the Taproom. The runner on the main and reception staircases is a beautiful stripe by Hartley Tissier imported from the U.K. Their wonderful line is showcased in some of the top hotels across Europe. The wallpaper in the entrance is a stunning grasscloth from Thibaut available to the trade here in Canada through Kravet.
The custom reception desk, servery, spindles for the main staircase and vanities in the powder rooms off the dining room were custom designed and made by a Mennonite cabinetmaker we work with often.
We redesigned a few of the guestrooms at The Little Inn as part of their phase one renovations. A crisp nautical Kravet stripe in white and brown became the base for the look in Room One. Simple high wainscotting was added creating a light as air backdrop for a relaxing, pampered guest experience. Existing wing chairs and ottomans were redone, various antiques were layered in and a Gresham House sofa bed was added for extra sleeping requirements. Flooring in this space is reclaimed Elm from Ontario. The bathroom was redone to enhance the open airy feeling of the suite. With guest comfort in mind, new beds, pillows, Frette linens & towels as well as beautiful L’Occitane ammenities have been added to all guest rooms at the Inn as part of this renovation phase.
HISTORIC DETAILS
The goal in this project was to retain the Inn’s historic features while updating the look and amenities.
I have written quite a few blog posts about it and you can access them by clicking here.
