New beachside motel brings retro futuristic vibes to Ontario's Southampton

Globe and Mail

6 hours ago

Growing up, I spent my summers in Southampton, Ont., a sleepy town on the shores of Lake Huron with sunsets so gorgeous National Geographic once ranked them among the best in the world.
As a teen I had a waitressing job in town, and would cycle past a classic, 1950s-era motel called Cedar Court that was a little neglected but always full. The reason was its location. Not on the water, but close enough that families could load up their wagons with coolers and inflatables and be on the best strip of shoreline, called South Beach, in less than five minutes.
Are you travelling in Canada this summer? Send us a postcard
When I received an invitation recently to visit a newly renovated motel, called South Beach, on the site of the old Cedar Court, I was intrigued. Billed as a 'retro-chic, Miami-inspired gem,' I wondered just how hip and edgy it would be. A friend of mine who lives near the motel told me she thought the yellow-and-white paint job on the façade was a 'little flashy.'
However, I thought the cheery exterior, with rope swings in front of each room and a communal courtyard with yellow beach umbrellas, white picnic tables, a sandpit for kids, corn hole game for adults, and an outdoor kitchen was a major upgrade from the bland parking lot that used to greet visitors.
Our room was a corner, one-bedroom suite that, at just over 600-square-feet, was bigger than many Toronto condos. It had a living and dining area, a kitchenette, a three-piece bath, a spacious bedroom with a king-size bed, and ample room left over for kids to sprawl with colouring books and board games.
The playfulness of the outdoor space carried through indoors where the decor perhaps can best be described as having a distinct Jetsons vibe. And by that I'm referring to the retro-futuristic aesthetic of the 1960s Hanna-Barbera TV cartoon: all smooth lines, innovative shapes and vibrant colours.
The designers behind the look are sisters Haley McDonough and Jillian Smith-Moher, of Twenty-Two Twelve studio in Toronto. They drew inspiration from images captured by the American photographer Slim Aarons. 'He took photos of people on vacation or at parties in the seventies,' McDonough says.
'We wanted a celebratory, laid-back vibe so that guests felt like they were pulled out of their reality and put into a space where they could really enjoy themselves,' she adds.
The only instructions the design duo were given from South Beach owners Dane and Samantha Buttenaar was to create something distinct from their sister property, The Beach Motel, just down the street. 'This one was designed to accommodate families and larger groups, so we converted six of the existing units into two-bedrooms,' Smith-Moher says. 'Here, people can cook meals at the outdoor kitchen, or in their units.'
The rooms also had to be functional, with furniture that could withstand sand and wet bathing suits. The modular furniture is made of a durable vinyl so it can be wiped clean, the floors are cork to muffle sound (and not show sand), and arched doorways were added to provide architectural interest to boxy rooms.
Visually, the decor is an Instagram dream but I found the sofa and chairs uncomfortable. The furniture won't appeal to anyone who likes a sofa you can sink into, although it's probably perfect for rowdy kids.
My favourite part of the overall design were high-gloss photographs from Hungarian artist Eszter Sara Cseh, depicting women in retro swimsuits and bathing caps. Bright, whimsical and colourful, they perfectly encapsulate what this new motel is all about – a place for families to go and have some old-fashioned fun.
South Beach Motel's summer room rates start at $298 for a studio with a king bed, and $412 for a two-bedroom king suite. For details, check thebeachmotel.ca/south-beach-motel.
After taking the kids to the sand dunes, load up on carbs at Gerry's Fast Food, a fast-food relic on the beach that families have been going to for years. Stock up on fresh produce at Hi-Berry Farm, located on Highway 21 between Southampton and Port Elgin. The Lighthouse Restaurant on Southampton's main street has had a bit of a facelift but retains the old diner feel.
The writer was a guest of the motel. It did not review or approve the story before publication.