Blue Water Motel
Designed by Jason Grant, Blue Water Motel, located in the coastal village of Kingscliff, takes us back to memories of the quintessential Australian holiday.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Jessie Prince
Photo: Jessie Prince
Photo: Jessie Prince
Three pelicans, 'Captain, Skipper and Sandy – are an example of some of the more playful elements designer Jason Grant added to the design. Photo: Jessie Prince
Photo: Jessie Prince
‘To design a motel had always been my dream – I think there’s something about the nostalgia associated with them, there’s an ease and casualness, maybe it’s that Australian holiday feeling of escaping to the coast,’ says Byron Bay-based interior stylist and designer Jason Grant.
Earlier this year, the creative’s dream became a reality with the redesign of the Blue Water Motel, previously a tired and rundown ’80s motel, located north of Byron Bay, in Kingscliff.
Rather than simply knocking it down and rebuilding from the ground up, it was important for the motel to still pay homage to its history and coastal roots.
For the redesign, Jason, with the assistance of owner Ryan Bowman, drew upon his signature cool, calm and refined coastal aesthetic to create a space that is fresh and modern but still feels familiar, as if it’s always been there.
The new design honours the original motel era of the 1980s, where retro elements and details have been injected into the reimagined coastal motel.
An exercise in retro meets coastal cool, the Blue Water Motel has been given a modern makeover, marrying the past with the present to provide a stylish stay to guests. Photo: Jessie Prince
“Designing interiors for a motel is all about making the guest feel relaxed – every detail encourages a feeling of escape.”
Photo: Jessie Prince
The decorative pelicans are a tribute to the real pelicans that swim in the nearby Kingscliff! Photo: Jessie Prince
Every detail of the renovation has been carefully considered, with each room designed with individual points of interest that offer a personal touch. Photo: Jessie Prince
Transforming the exterior of the motel was first on the agenda. It was important to not lose the original charm – Jason chose a colour for the exterior from his signature collection with Murobond paints – a faded pale blue.
The external and internal paint colours are gelato-hued and restrained – mimicking the calming colours of the coast.
‘The colours create a sense of calm, we wanted quests to immediately feel relaxed on the property, I was fortunate to have awesome clients that trusted my vision – the bottom line is Kingscliff is a small coastal town and we wanted the property to feel at home and not be loud or glitzy,’ says Jason.
The Blue Water Motel offers 17 stylish queen, twin and family rooms plus a 4 Bedroom Beach House. All rooms include; luxury Malin + Goetz toiletries, a dedicated work station, air-conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities, large Smart TV’s and more. We can’t wait to check in!