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Project posted by Dwell
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Drake Devonshire Inn

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Location
Prince Edward, Ontario, Canada
Structure
Hotel

Rental for 2 Guests

$326 / night
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The Drake Devonshire is located on the shores of Lake Ontario in the town of Wellington. In addition to the guestrooms and suites, the boutique hotel offers amentites including a restaurant and bar stocked with local wines. Designer John Tong left the Douglas fir beams exposed in the dining area exposed to create a "camp mess hall" feel. The one-armed bar stools, covered in green leather, are similar to the pieces he designed for the Drake's Toronto outpost. Pendants from the Barn Light Electric Company and custom table laterns from Bookhou Design illuminate the space. A chalkboard wall highlights local events and places to visit.
The Drake Devonshire is located on the shores of Lake Ontario in the town of Wellington. In addition to the guestrooms and suites, the boutique hotel offers amentites including a restaurant and bar stocked with local wines. Designer John Tong left the Douglas fir beams exposed in the dining area exposed to create a "camp mess hall" feel. The one-armed bar stools, covered in green leather, are similar to the pieces he designed for the Drake's Toronto outpost. Pendants from the Barn Light Electric Company and custom table laterns from Bookhou Design illuminate the space. A chalkboard wall highlights local events and places to visit.
The structure was originally built as a foundry in the late 19th century and became a bed and breakfast before hotelier Jeff Stober purchased the property. “We are offering visitors and locals alike a really fun and inspired experience in one of the most beautiful regions of Canada,” he says. The Owner's Suite is underneath the gable on the second floor. Guests have access to expansive outdoor decks around the building.
The structure was originally built as a foundry in the late 19th century and became a bed and breakfast before hotelier Jeff Stober purchased the property. “We are offering visitors and locals alike a really fun and inspired experience in one of the most beautiful regions of Canada,” he says. The Owner's Suite is underneath the gable on the second floor. Guests have access to expansive outdoor decks around the building.
Mia Nielsen, the Drake's in-house art curator, populated the spaces with paintings, sculptures, and installations from contemporary practitioners. The owl is by Canadian artist Jennifer Murphy. The design team used a mix of materials and textures throughout the space to instill a feeling of "surprise and delight," as Tong describes. For example, the main corridor features painted brick, patterned tile from Sabine Hill, steel racks, and weathered wood floors.
Mia Nielsen, the Drake's in-house art curator, populated the spaces with paintings, sculptures, and installations from contemporary practitioners. The owl is by Canadian artist Jennifer Murphy. The design team used a mix of materials and textures throughout the space to instill a feeling of "surprise and delight," as Tong describes. For example, the main corridor features painted brick, patterned tile from Sabine Hill, steel racks, and weathered wood floors.
An installation by Kirsten Hassenfeld hangs above the custom reception desk, which is topped with slate. The floor tiles are 14OraItaliana's iGattipardi line. &Tradition makes the pendant lights and the Vivid Victorian wallpaper is from Flavor Paper.
An installation by Kirsten Hassenfeld hangs above the custom reception desk, which is topped with slate. The floor tiles are 14OraItaliana's iGattipardi line. &Tradition makes the pendant lights and the Vivid Victorian wallpaper is from Flavor Paper.
+tongtong custom designed the beds in the guestrooms; Multiflex fabricated them. The Monocle sconce from Rich Brilliant Willing offers light for nighttime reading.
+tongtong custom designed the beds in the guestrooms; Multiflex fabricated them. The Monocle sconce from Rich Brilliant Willing offers light for nighttime reading.
Think about proportion and size. For instance, are you swapping out your old one because it’s too small? Are you planning to install a new vanity in a tiny powder room and need to find something small enough that would fit?
Think about proportion and size. For instance, are you swapping out your old one because it’s too small? Are you planning to install a new vanity in a tiny powder room and need to find something small enough that would fit?

Credits

Posted by
Architect
John Tong
Photographer
Nikolas Koenig
Publications
Dwell

From Dwell

Designer John Tong’s inventive Ontario boutique hotel blends rural references with an urbane sensibility.

Prince Edward County in Ontario, Canada, has become a popular weekend destination for epicureans and wine connoisseurs. And while travelers have a bounty of farmstands, vineyards, and restaurants to visit, modern accommodations weren’t in the mix. Enter the Drake Devonshire, a new 13-room hotel located in a renovated 19th-century foundry.

Throughout the structure, a medley of materials and finishes—patterned tile, painted brick, exposed wood rafters, and steel accents—reflects the homespun nature of local farmhouses. Designer John Tong and his team created custom furniture for the rooms, scoured flea markets for vintage pieces, and sourced accessories from local artisans. He maintains that there isn’t a formula for mixing the elements. "It’s kind of like putting ingredients into a meal," he says. "You have to taste as you’re cooking."