New Ashford — Lindsey Kurowski is no stranger to the Berkshires; in fact, she grew up in Cheshire, worked at Jiminy Peak, and graduated from Hoosac Valley Regional High School. As serendipity would have it, she’s also no stranger to The Springs Motel—where the hospitality entrepreneur and TV show host celebrated her 13th birthday dinner, calling the former restaurant “the fanciest—and funkiest—place [she’d] ever been.” Two decades and countless hours of sweat equity later, Kurowski owns the iconic motel and is welcoming guests to the recently renovated, retro-inspired digs on Route 7 that are now open.
“I just had this feeling there was going to be a spike in domestic tourism, and the good old American road trip [would be] back,” she told The Edge, citing many Americans’ lingering wariness of traveling abroad as all the impetus she needed to invest in the local motel. (The term was coined nearly a century ago by Arthur Heineman who, in 1925, could not fit Milestone Motor Hotel on his rooftop sign in San Luis Obispo thereby shortening it.) Not to mention, COVID protocols are de rigueur at such roadside establishments that shy away from shared space by providing some—but not necessarily all—of the services associated with a hotel.
Equally drawn to the history and the aesthetic, Kurowski—who owns Knotty Pine, a California-based design and construction company—vowed to restore the long-dormant property and bring it back to its glory days. Want an inside look? The entire process, which Kurowski calls “tough and a little bit out of [her] league,” is chronicled in Season 2 of “Inn the Works” on Magnolia Network.
Unlike Oak Knoll Lodge, the Big Bear, California property Kurowski acquired in 2019 (which was up, running, and came with a century-long loyal following), The Springs had been shuttered for 20 years when renovations began. “It needed major, major construction,” said Kurowski of the project scope, one she’s dubbed, “bigger than anything I’ve ever done before.” And she’s far from done.
Following a soft opening over Memorial Day, the 4th of July long weekend found guests splashing in the motel’s recently renovated, retro-inspired swimming pool; sidling up to the vintage trailer turned quirky bar; and taming the sizzle on outdoor grills primed for barbecuing. The lower half of the motel, including 20 private rooms (queen, king, and honeymoon suite), are open; four cabins, each of which sleeps six, are also fully refurbished and ready to rent. “We’re still working on small projects all the time,” said Kurowski who plans to tackle another 22 motel rooms on the back half of the property—plus an event space and wedding venue—in the next 12 months.
There’s a sleek lobby (complete with Wi-Fi and fireplace), and the former parking lot—to the tune of 13,000 square feet—was upgraded to lush lawn for lounging on sofas, making s’mores over open fires, and unwinding after a day spent exploring all the 413 has to offer.
As to why Kurowski picks properties in need of major TLC? For one, she’s not into ground-up construction; second, and perhaps more importantly, she’s a fan of embracing what already exists—which, at The Springs, was a whole lotta vibes from 1952.
“I like to lean into the existing in the story,” said Kurowski who happens to be a big fan of the bygone era’s design and style. “For example, all the motel rooms have these gorgeous tiled [original] bathrooms; I left them, they look great, they’re amazing,” she explains. All the rooms got new carpet and Kurowski and crew added whimsical wallpaper to many of the rooms. All the details are retro: from in-room fridges and coffee machines to pool lounges and lawn chairs, “everything is a nod to the ̔60s,” which she dubs a fun era. When she does build new spaces, Kurowski leans into rustic and retro—choosing once-popular items like 1960s breeze blocks, vintage tile, and hanging globe lights (all with modern touches).
When it comes to doling out DIY tips and tricks, Kurowski is quick to share. Right now, any alternative to wood is economical which makes her current hack a huge hit. The pool fence at The Springs is fashioned from corrugated metal panels, meant to adorn a roof, that hold paint extremely well. She’s quick to refurbish furniture found at auctions (when she’s not making custom headboards, many of which are featured at the property), and she’s a huge fan of live-edge wood, readily available across the region from folks who will custom cut slabs for myriad projects and purposes.
As to her golden rule? “I’m creative, but I don’t start with nothing,” says Kurowski who implores others to consider buying a property they are drawn to, because you like a good amount of it (as opposed to knocking everything down and painting it white).
“I really like to go into something that has a good story, a good look and has decent bones — and you can do a lot with it.”
