10 Ideas to Steal from The Ozarker Lodge, a Redone Mid-Century Motel in Missouri - Remodelista
Photography by Diana Paulson. Amy Pariser and Christine Babini always dreamed of transforming an old motor lodge into a boutique hotel—just one of the reasons they teamed up to launch Parini, their Detroit-based hospitality design studio. Then they refreshed the motel with an earthy color palette and a nostalgic aesthetic—all with materials sourced as locally as possible, ensuring that The Ozarker Lodge is a true celebration of the Midwest. The owners originally planned to replace the existing motel sign with a more contemporary version, but Amy and Christine convinced them to restore the original instead. The bar/check-in desk is tiled in glossy rust-toned tiles with dark gray granite countertops. Amy and Christine chose concrete floors as a budget-friendly option. A closeup of the tiled details. A grid motif appears throughout the lobby, from the wood ceiling beams to the interior windows to the tiled bar. Instead of one massive area rug to fill the lobby, Amy and Christine dotted lots of mid-sized area rugs for a homey vibe. 4. Add multiple rugs to a big space. The corner counter—one of many welcoming spots for guests to hang out–features intricately carved wood legs, while rooms and doorways are edged in unpainted wood trim. For Amy and Christine, the key to mixing bold patterns—like the lobby bathroom’s wallpaper and checkerboard tile—was sticking to their earthy range of colors. 6. Mix patterns liberally. In the communal pantry, Amy and Christine created an eye-catching backsplash with honed, textured Portobello America tiles in a deep sage hue. Amy and Christine sourced over 600 pieces of art for The Ozarker Lodge—many of them tiny. All the items in the guest rooms are intentionally small, playing with scale and encouraging a closer look. Most of the teensy art is vintage, from bingo cards and plates to needlepoints and erasers. “Orange peel” walls are polarizing (read: most people don’t like it), but Amy and Christine predict that textured walls will make a comeback, so they kept the existing finish. Kitschiness isn’t Amy and Christine’s style—so they worked in the outdoorsy theme of the hotel in subtle ways instead. 10. Incorporate Easter eggs. Only on close inspection would a guest notice that the print is a compilation of destination-specific icons designed by the owners.