Motel Rescue S02E01 (2024)
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TVTranscript
00:00In Florida's nature coast, the Sewanee Gables Motel and the owners need a lot of help.
00:07Definitely has seen better days.
00:08Come and work it out for me.
00:10As an only child, it's heartbreaking.
00:11I have to find any solution possible.
00:14I'm here to do you proud.
00:15I know.
00:16It's going to take some outside of the box thinking.
00:20A snackle box.
00:23And a fresh new look.
00:24Nice.
00:26To make sure this family legacy motel lasts another generation.
00:30Oh my God.
00:32This place isn't my house.
00:38My name is Lindsay Kurowski and I've spent the last few years transforming old, rundown
00:43motels into cool, unique and successful running businesses.
00:46You come bearing gifts?
00:48Nice.
00:49That looks great.
00:50This wallpaper looks amazing.
00:52I'm digging it.
00:53After completing these projects.
00:54Already, I can definitely see I have some work cut out for me.
00:58I know how stressful it can be.
01:00So I'm sharing my expertise with other motel owners who are in desperate need of help.
01:05I guess it's so overwhelming, I just shut down.
01:08That's right.
01:09I'm taking my expertise on the road.
01:11People commonly make $20,000 to $40,000 a year just on merch.
01:14And spending time with these owners who just need a little help getting these places back
01:18on track.
01:19So beautiful.
01:20This is unbelievable.
01:22I'm headed to Old Town in northwest Florida.
01:25The motel I'm headed to is called Suwannee Gables.
01:28It has 16 motel rooms and 6 cabins.
01:31And there's a huge space in the back by the river.
01:35The owners have owned Suwannee Gables for 34 years.
01:39It's pretty impressive.
01:40I bought the motel in 2010.
01:43And I've been running it for the last 10 years.
01:46I've been running Suwannee Gables for 34 years.
01:49It's pretty impressive.
01:50I bought the motel in 1990.
01:53I bought it because of the location right on the Suwannee River.
01:58And it's a beautiful location.
02:00This is our home.
02:02We've both been through a lot.
02:04We didn't get help from anywhere.
02:07And every step of the way, it was a struggle, which we were willing to do.
02:12We want to make it in this country.
02:16This is what America is known for.
02:18But the dream does need help.
02:21We're getting on in age.
02:23And it will soon be where we cannot manage.
02:27The redesign will be a big job.
02:29But an even bigger job is going to be transitioning ownership.
02:32Because the owners are in their 80s.
02:34And their daughter Sapna is starting to take over.
02:37My parents have owned the motel since I was 12 years old.
02:41But this motel is struggling so much in the last several years.
02:45Right now, at the age of 80 and 82, my parents don't have anything for retirement.
02:50As an only child, it's heartbreaking.
02:52I have to find any solution possible.
02:55Any avenue to make sure that this is a success for us.
02:59And our legacy.
03:01Because I can't imagine a world where I sell this property.
03:06It would be a waste of all of the work that my parents have done their entire lives.
03:29Hello.
03:30Hi.
03:31You must be Sapna.
03:32Yes. Nice to meet you.
03:33Nice to meet you. I'm Lindsay.
03:34Thank you so much for coming.
03:36So, Sewanee Gables.
03:37I grew up here.
03:38Oh, wow.
03:39This is my childhood home.
03:40So, your parents own the Sewanee Gables.
03:42Yes.
03:43But you are positioning to take over the Baton.
03:45I am.
03:46Wow.
03:47Exciting.
03:48Nerve-wracking.
03:49Overwhelming.
03:50Yes.
03:51Tell me when to stop.
03:52All of the above.
03:53All of the above.
03:54So, I'd imagine that's part of why you rang.
03:55Yes.
03:56So, already I can definitely see I have some work cut out for me.
03:59We could update the place.
04:01Usually the throw pillows tell me when.
04:03The throw pillows tell me the story of when ownership began.
04:06Yes.
04:07And the fact that we have layers of throw pillows.
04:10Yes.
04:11One for each decade.
04:13Making sure that this place reflects the beauty and the serenity of the Sewanee River.
04:18Yeah, yeah, yeah.
04:19I think there's a huge disconnect between the two.
04:21Right.
04:22And now, you have experience in hospitality?
04:24I grew up in one, but also then went to work for large hotel companies.
04:29Oh, great.
04:30Yes.
04:31So, you are very prepared.
04:33Right.
04:34In the hospitality industry, I learned how to manage really big motels.
04:37So, 250 rooms, lots of staff.
04:40I think one of the biggest challenges for me is how do I run a 22-room motel?
04:46How do I scale my skill set to this type of property?
04:51I'm really looking for Lindsay's guidance to help me understand this business better
04:57and what ways I can help improve it.
05:01All right.
05:02Got a couple of different themes going on in here.
05:06It's definitely an eclectic collection.
05:08Yeah.
05:09Part of me feels like I'm at a store where there's little price tags on stuff and I just...
05:14Do whatever you want.
05:15Because you're not keeping those.
05:16No.
05:17Cool.
05:18We're on the same page.
05:19Yes.
05:20I've been at this for a while, so I've learned to be kind of delicate, right?
05:22When you see a room full of stuff that you probably have to get rid of.
05:25To my surprise, Seth is like, no, get rid of all of them.
05:28So, that is refreshing.
05:29Not going to be super fun to clean out.
05:31Also, carpet.
05:32How old do you think this carpet is?
05:34Probably at least as old as me.
05:36Yeah.
05:37Okay.
05:38Cool.
05:39The good news and the bad news.
05:40So, the good news, good space, right?
05:42You have a good amount of room.
05:44Yeah.
05:45I also love a sunken floor concept.
05:46Yes.
05:47The bad news, I feel like it shouldn't feel like a living room in the lobby.
05:51We do want it to feel like a business front-facing area.
05:55This could be a really inviting space, so I can build you the next generation of the family hangout.
06:01Yeah.
06:02Because that concept hasn't gone away.
06:04People do like to book five or ten rooms, come for a family event.
06:08Giving them a space where they can all hang out, I think, is smart.
06:11We just want to make the space feel a little more cohesive.
06:14All right.
06:15I would love to see the rest of the place.
06:16Do you think I could get a key?
06:17Yes.
06:18Let me get it for you.
06:19Cool.
06:20I definitely have to make over the lobby, but I'd also like to tackle a room and see what
06:23I can do to help their outdoor space.
06:25Okay, so I'm going to go check out the rest of the property, and then when I come back,
06:28I'll meet your parents?
06:29Perfect.
06:30All right.
06:31I'll be right back.
06:32Thanks.
06:44What do we got?
06:48Firstly, we have a non-smoking room, but I got some burns on here.
06:54Remnants of a smoking room, for sure.
06:57The evidence is there.
06:58And I know there are no smoking rooms, so that just is the testament of how long these
07:02bedspreads have been around.
07:03Like this?
07:04Come on.
07:05Guys, come on.
07:06I'm not even being mean, okay?
07:08But like, you know, in what world are these matching?
07:11Let me do you one better, okay?
07:13It's a lot of patterns.
07:15Got stripes.
07:16We got squiggles.
07:17I'm not really sure what you call this.
07:19I do understand when stuff isn't, like, broken and it's still functional, it is difficult
07:23to spend the money and throw stuff away, but we got to update this stuff.
07:27It is a good size, and it does get good light, so that's nice.
07:32Floor's in decent shape.
07:33The floor looks like it probably was done within the last five years, I would guess.
07:36So I can save some budget there, and I'm going to need to reinvest in new bedding, mattresses,
07:42all this furniture.
07:44It mostly all needs to go.
07:45Lobby?
07:46Definitely going to be a lot of work.
07:48Room?
07:49Still a good amount of work, but a smaller space.
07:51I'm hoping that this riverside spot outside maybe cuts me a break.
07:55Yeah.
08:01Oh!
08:03The outside space?
08:04Very vast.
08:06This feels like a missed opportunity.
08:08It's a good amount of space.
08:09It's shaded.
08:10There's really just not a cohesive plan in here at all.
08:14I mean, we got plastic furniture.
08:16I got picnic tables going in opposite directions.
08:19Doesn't feel styled at all.
08:21And it definitely shouldn't be falling apart the way that it is.
08:26The view is beautiful, and there is so much potential here.
08:29I can definitely see why her parents purchased the place.
08:31It's just ready for a round of refresh, for sure.
08:36There's the view I've been hearing about.
08:38It's really beautiful over here.
08:39I see it now.
08:40This is what Sapna was talking about.
08:42The view in the back, she wants to match in the rooms.
08:44Lindsay!
08:45Oh, hi!
08:47Lindsay, finally!
08:49Hello!
08:50So nice to meet you.
08:51I'm overwhelmed.
08:52I need to do this that will get some of the energy to you.
08:56Okay.
08:59It's red in color for my heart.
09:02It means you and I for life are friends.
09:05Yay!
09:06Every really close friend or family member that's come to our home
09:11has always been greeted with that ceremony.
09:14It's not only a reflection of how my mom welcomes people into her life,
09:20but really about how she feels about Lindsay.
09:22Only super special people get that from my mom.
09:26Welcome.
09:28So nice to meet you.
09:29Okay, you guys want to sit down and tell me about how we landed here?
09:32Yes.
09:33I don't normally get asked to be energetically aligned with the people I'm working with,
09:36so it's definitely a first for me.
09:38I can't think of a warmer welcome, I suppose.
09:40I really am so grateful for the opportunity, and I want to do you proud.
09:44I'm here to do you proud.
09:46I know.
09:47I know.
09:48Tell me, like, why is this such a special place to you and your family?
09:51We had to do something to secure our lives financially.
09:56The Swanee Gables Motel is also special to me
10:00because being born in South Africa, we had the apartheid,
10:04and we couldn't go to the beaches.
10:07We could not sit on the benches, et cetera, et cetera.
10:11And only during Christmas, we would go on the sand,
10:17and we would have blankets, and we would sing American folk songs.
10:21The first one was always Way Down Upon the Swanee River.
10:25It became a personal song to us.
10:28So, so crazy.
10:29What a full circle moment that then you randomly end up here on the Swanee River.
10:34On the Swanee River.
10:35Wow.
10:37When I actually found out that the motel is on the Swanee River,
10:43it just blew my mind.
10:46Hearing the story from Sepna's parents of how they came to own Swanee Gables
10:51is so inspiring, and this place means so much to them.
10:55I'm feeling a little bit of pressure.
10:57How has it been going financially?
10:59Earlier years, couple of years were very good,
11:03but the occupancy has really gone down.
11:06To almost 30%.
11:09And so Sepna is getting ready to potentially take over the place?
11:14Yes.
11:15How are we feeling about that, passing the baton?
11:16Feeling good.
11:17Yeah?
11:18She's the only one in our life.
11:19And they have three grandkids.
11:20I have 11-year-old triplets, and they get really the run of the land
11:24because it's their grandparents' home.
11:26Yeah!
11:27Who loves spending time with them, too.
11:28Right!
11:29As far as where I want to spend my time, or, you know, with my budget,
11:32what makes the most sense,
11:34I do want to spend a good amount of my time and budget out here.
11:36You have this gorgeous view, but I'd love to update your furniture,
11:39teach you how to make these cozy moments where people can interact
11:43and spend time together outside.
11:45As well as revive the weathered pavilion,
11:47which has definitely seen better days.
11:49I also really want to do some work in the lobby.
11:51I want the space to be two things.
11:53I want it to be more functional by putting down new flooring
11:56and creating way more seating for guests to lounge.
11:59But I also want the lobby to be fashionable,
12:02leaning into a nature-forward design theme
12:04that will remind guests of all the natural beauty
12:07featured here on the motel property.
12:09Then I also want to do a room.
12:10I want to set you up with a blueprint for what to do after I go.
12:14The floors are great, but everything else has to go.
12:17We need to brighten the space up with a whole new color palette,
12:20all updated furniture, and we'll carry the same nature-forward theme
12:24from the lobby into the room as well.
12:26So what is our budget on this project?
12:28So we're looking at about a $40,000 budget for the renovation.
12:31Okay.
12:32I think I can make some magic happen
12:34and really help you take it to the next level.
12:36We're excited to see what happens.
12:38Yes.
12:39I'll be back soon.
12:40Thanks, guys.
12:41Looking forward to the whole thing.
12:42Yes, me too.
12:46All right, so all the furniture is a go.
12:48Great.
12:49Let's go.
12:55For this massive renovation, I have my A-team with me.
12:58I've got Dewey, who's my master carpenter.
13:01Jen, who's my upholsterer.
13:02Jim, who's a jack-of-all-trades, but is on the construction team.
13:05And Adam, who's on the construction team, but is also my little brother.
13:08Right now, it's all hands on deck to get this lobby loaded out.
13:11Trinkets, trinkets, trinkets.
13:15You can just tell.
13:16This place means so much to Sapna's parents.
13:19So I do want to pay homage by keeping some of these pieces
13:22that I did really like.
13:26Yeah.
13:27I think that's good.
13:29Jeez, you guys move fast.
13:32A lot of stuff.
13:41How we doing, guys?
13:42Hey, great.
13:43What time is it?
13:44Carpet time.
13:45Here we go.
13:46Yeah, we're ready for it.
13:47How'd the setup go this morning?
13:48Good, good.
13:49No problems.
13:50Smooth sailing.
13:51Today, we have a lot to get done.
13:52I have new flooring going down in the lobby.
13:55The rooms need to get new paint.
13:58We have an extensive new outdoor lounge
14:00that's going to be going by the pavilion.
14:02The list is long.
14:03And I only have four more days to get it all done.
14:06Woo!
14:08Who is excited to tear up this carpet?
14:11Let's do it.
14:12If smells could talk.
14:14Ooh, yeah.
14:16It's coming right up.
14:17Why does it need to go, you might ask?
14:20We don't use carpet anymore.
14:21Vinyl flooring is really the way to go.
14:23It lasts for 25, 30 years, and it's a lot easier to maintain.
14:26Oh, yeah.
14:27That's really nice, you know?
14:30We have a plan for the sunken lobby.
14:32Anytime you have a large communal space,
14:34you need to optimize that.
14:35They have traditional motel rooms at the Sewanee Gables.
14:37They're not super big.
14:39So making this more of a cohesive communal space
14:41will help them up their room rates.
14:43We have about 45 linear feet of couch, which is a lot.
14:47Dewey is working on the new benches for the couch,
14:50which means Jen has to be working on the cushions for the couch.
14:52That's a very big project.
14:54And I'm really excited to see it start coming together.
14:57How we doing, Jen?
14:58Good. How are you?
15:00These look amazing.
15:02And this is a commercial fabric.
15:03Stain-proof. It's got a moisture barrier.
15:05This looks awesome.
15:06Yeah, thank you.
15:07I would like to find a way to incorporate some of that old fabric
15:10from the couch that was there,
15:12because I want Sapna and her parents
15:14to see and remember what used to be there.
15:16Yep, absolutely. I've got it in here. I'll seam rip it up.
15:18Okay, great. This looks awesome.
15:20I gotta let you get back to work.
15:21Let me know if you need anything.
15:23Thank you. Bye.
15:29All right, this is us mixing business and pleasure.
15:31Yeah.
15:32A little bowing day.
15:33The goal is definitely to increase the profitability of the Suwannee Gable.
15:37We want to serve more people.
15:39So when Lindsay said we could spend some time together and talk business,
15:42I thought, what a great opportunity to take her out on the Suwannee River
15:45with my dear friend, Charlie.
15:47Welcome aboard.
15:48All right, Captain.
15:49Thanks so much for having us.
15:51You bet.
15:52I'm really excited for some one-on-one time with Lindsay
15:54to kind of share with her some of my trouble spots
15:57and get her to help me out.
16:01Yeah, it's really pretty.
16:02So this is all Spanish moss?
16:04Mm-hmm.
16:05Lots of cypress trees.
16:06Uh-huh.
16:07It really is beautiful.
16:11Okay, so business-wise, talking to your dad,
16:13it does seem like they've hit a little bit of a slump,
16:15you know, in the last couple years.
16:17Yeah, I think that we rely a lot on traffic that's going by
16:22and not really kind of having that proactive customer
16:25that is seeking us out to come and stay at the property for the experience.
16:29Right.
16:30What kind of traveler are you really excited about
16:32to help bring in this new clientele?
16:34Nature enthusiasts, the people who are coming to the Florida nature coast
16:38to experience all of this.
16:40People can kayak, paddleboard, canoe.
16:43And the Suwannee Gables has a dock that docks right into the river,
16:47so that is definitely an underutilized asset.
16:49Also, family and community.
16:51Whether it's weddings or family reunions.
16:55Yes.
16:56And really embracing the wellness community
16:58and the healing power of the motel and the space that we're at.
17:02Yeah, that makes sense.
17:03With the wellness community, you can add amenities,
17:06which could be classes, packages,
17:09which could lead to people paying more for a service.
17:12But in addition, it just allows you to increase your rates.
17:15Talking shop with Lindsay was amazing.
17:17Trying new things can be scary.
17:19Not only for my parents, but for me too.
17:21I don't want to make mistakes sometimes.
17:23But having her encouragement and her expertise and her experience,
17:27I'm really excited to see what she comes up with.
17:29And knowing that she's there, she's got my back,
17:31made it easier to get that courage.
17:33I do think after hearing what's important to you,
17:36I'm going to be able to hit the stuff that can really make a difference
17:39and set you up to be able to finish what we start.
17:42And I'm here, remember, for a blueprint.
17:44That's really what I've been craving.
17:47Is the blueprint.
17:48And then also the encouragement.
17:51Yes, I'm here, girl.
17:52Sister, what's up? I got you.
17:54I love it.
17:55Hey, we did have nice weather today.
17:57It was a beautiful day on the Suwannee River.
18:06Our three main motel projects are progressing nicely.
18:09The room is being painted a light blue
18:11because nothing opens up a small space like airy blues.
18:14The pavilion is undergoing some rehab
18:16before it gets its own fresh coat of pink.
18:18And Dewey, my master carpenter,
18:20has just completed the first piece
18:22of the new sunken lobby couch,
18:24which when finished will be ideal for large families
18:26who book multiple rooms
18:28but need a common area to hang out.
18:32Last screw.
18:33Last screw.
18:34There you go. We're ready.
18:35Looking good.
18:36Okay, I got it.
18:37I got it.
18:38Okay.
18:39Nice.
18:41Beautiful.
18:43All right, should we test this one out?
18:44Yeah, sure. Why not?
18:48Whoa.
18:49That's nice.
18:50Pretty deep, you know?
18:52I love the idea of putting chargers in.
18:54People can plug a laptop in.
18:55You know, you're traveling with your family,
18:57but mom has to wake up early to answer some emails.
18:59If she can come into a lobby to do that,
19:01I would absolutely pick the Suwannee Gables
19:03over one that didn't offer a communal lobby.
19:05It really does just help her level up.
19:13The backyard of the Suwannee Gables
19:15is vast but undefined.
19:17So breaking the space up into moments
19:19for nature lovers and wellness guests alike
19:21helps establish new activities
19:23and ways to generate more revenue.
19:25After talking to Sapna and learning
19:27about her wanting to bring in a wellness crowd,
19:29really any covered area she has,
19:31if I can make that look and feel more elevated,
19:33that's only going to help her get more business.
19:35So Adam and Jim are patching under the pavilion.
19:37How's the patching coming?
19:39Well, we're trying to get this thing rehabbed.
19:41It's in pretty rough shape.
19:43We're working on doing some under-the-roof patch repair,
19:45fixing some of the siding,
19:47but it's going to be tough to cover all this wear and tear.
19:49Yeah, it's a lot. It's old.
19:51This is really important that you guys finish it
19:53because I have the painters coming first thing in the morning.
19:55That's where we get all our cuts made.
19:57So you've been doing pretty good,
19:59but I might need to see a little bit of extra pep.
20:01And I think we're going to paint it black
20:03because that'll help hide some of the imperfections.
20:05It looks super modern, and I just think
20:07it's going to give a whole refresh to the area.
20:09Classy. Look at this. We've got a boater out there.
20:11Woo-wee! That's right.
20:13My instinct was to do that, too.
20:15Siblings.
20:17Hong Kong.
20:29Today we have a lot to get done.
20:33But I'm really excited with the progress.
20:35The lobby is flying by.
20:37New floors are down.
20:39The desk is out.
20:41A new desk is being made.
20:43Dewey has these awesome shelves being made.
20:45The outside space.
20:47I'm having the pavilion painted black,
20:49and I think it's turning out marvelous.
20:51I got a ton of gravel delivered today
20:53to make a more elevated lounge area.
20:55And I'm getting ready to do stenciling in the bedroom.
20:59An inexpensive way to mimic a wallpaper
21:01is to do a hand stencil.
21:03This is something that Sevna can easily mimic
21:05and repeat in each room.
21:07Okay, so I have some choices here.
21:09So the stencil is kind of a risk
21:11because it's a textured wall.
21:13I'm not sure how it's going to turn out.
21:15However, I do feel like I want a focal wall
21:17right behind the bed.
21:19I also really want to encourage stuff
21:21that'll be taking some risks.
21:23I'm doing them all day.
21:25So I kind of want to do them random on the wall.
21:27All right, this is a stencil brush,
21:29so it's got a flat edge.
21:31And you don't want to put on too much paint.
21:33You want to get good arm strength in the beginning.
21:35There's a lot of hope in the beginning of a stencil.
21:39You could easily spend $1,000
21:41on a really high-end wallpaper
21:43just to do one wall.
21:45A good stencil's like $50.
21:47And she's got 22 rooms,
21:49so that could be $22,000 in wallpaper
21:51or $50 worth of stencils.
21:53All right.
21:55I do kind of want to see how this is looking.
21:57Whoo!
21:59That was great!
22:01The old-fashioned way.
22:03You know?
22:05What can I say?
22:13Got a whole big field here.
22:15I hear him.
22:17Sapna has definitely mentioned
22:19that she wants to bring parts of the Suwannee River
22:21into the motel.
22:23So I called Bob.
22:25Sawmill?
22:27What better place than to come to a local sawmill
22:29to get some pieces to make cool, unique,
22:31custom-built furniture?
22:39You must be Bob.
22:41Yes, I am.
22:43I'm Lindsay.
22:45Pleasure to meet you.
22:47Nice to meet you, Adam.
22:49You can smell your cedar from the road.
22:51We had to stop on in.
22:53What is this cedar?
22:55This is a southern cedar,
22:57which is a more tropical brand.
22:59It's got a little more colors and purples and pinks in it.
23:01Beautiful.
23:03Yeah, we're here looking for a couple pieces.
23:05Make yourself at home.
23:07Awesome.
23:09We will.
23:11Thanks, Bob.
23:13Look, I led you right to the wood.
23:15I'm really excited to have Adam here.
23:17It's always great to spend time with him,
23:19and more so it's great that I don't have to carry
23:21There we go.
23:23Some slabs.
23:25Now, these are what you're probably looking for
23:27for your tables.
23:29I need some rounds to make some small tables
23:31inside of the lobby.
23:33I think that might work.
23:35A lot smaller.
23:3719, that's pretty good.
23:39I like that.
23:41I'm also seeking some lumber for a special project,
23:43which would be a kayak rack
23:45to hold two boats and two paddle boards.
23:47Sepna really wants her guests to be able to enjoy the river.
23:49That's kind of cool.
23:51I think this is his sign,
23:53but I'm curious if he'd sell that.
23:55It doesn't look like he's really using it.
23:57What's great to come into places like this
23:59and just kind of peeking around is like,
24:01yeah, I found some cool wood slabs,
24:03but you never know what you're going to find.
24:05You know, there's all kinds of piles of treasure here.
24:07All right, Bob.
24:09Hey.
24:11I found some stuff.
24:13We got some pieces here.
24:15Wonderful, wonderful, yeah.
24:17I'm curious.
24:19I saw a sign in the front that looks like it's handmade.
24:21It says Suwannee River.
24:23Yes, ma'am.
24:25Is that your business sign?
24:27Yes, ma'am.
24:29Would you sell that?
24:31No, ma'am.
24:33While I was asking, I kind of knew, like, yeah.
24:35Do you have any other signs like that?
24:37I can make you one.
24:39Oh, you can?
24:41Yes, ma'am.
24:43Okay, cool.
24:45I've got a couple right here.
24:47Oh, that's where you're hiding it.
24:49There they are.
24:51Okay.
24:53So now I can make the kayak raft.
24:55And it's all local?
24:57All local wood right here from Levy County.
24:59Sweet.
25:01Thanks, Bob.
25:03We'll load this stuff up and come back for it.
25:05Thanks.
25:07It's definitely cool to work with local materials,
25:09and I just think it's going to help tell the story
25:11even further for the Suwannee Gables,
25:13because they're going to get a taste of that
25:15when they're inside the motel.
25:17It definitely was worth the trip.
25:19♪♪♪
25:21I'm going to hawk the pile.
25:23Oh, okay.
25:25I've been getting good results with this stuff.
25:27Guys!
25:29Oh, hey.
25:31What are you doing?
25:33Are you going to tag us out?
25:35That's just a normal pace for this?
25:37Yeah, yeah.
25:39Just trying to get a pump in?
25:41I'm like playing in a sandbox, you know?
25:43These guys, every time I put them on a task,
25:45it's like they find a way to, I don't know, have fun.
25:47How dare they?
25:49So this is for our elevated lounge area.
25:51Yeah, this is our beach.
25:53We're building a beach.
25:55All right, well, I guess I can help.
25:57All right, I'm going to just go at a moderate pace.
25:59All right, well, choose your weapon.
26:01I'm going to go for a rake.
26:03You're going to go rake.
26:05That's a smart choice.
26:07Elegant.
26:09The area we're working on next to the pavilion
26:11is supposed to feel more like an elevated lounge.
26:13I do want to have a fire pit.
26:15I want it to have styled furniture.
26:17The Swanee Gables
26:19is such a vast space.
26:21Making this lawn feel like it was
26:23intentionally designed.
26:25She's going to start drawing in a different crowd.
26:27A deeper pocket crowd, you know?
26:29That's what I want for Stefna and the whole family.
26:31Just go easy, bud.
26:33Oh, yeah, that rock right in the foot.
26:35Oh.
26:37I realize this isn't that fun.
26:47I am working on a quick design
26:49that's going to turn into a kayak holder.
26:51It'll be a really nice piece
26:53on the lawn, but it's also something
26:55that guests will inquire about.
26:57Hey, how do we rent these?
26:59It's about eight feet wide, three to four feet deep.
27:01Storage for two boats and two paddle boards.
27:03Let's say Stefna rents out
27:05two paddle boards for $15 a day
27:07and kayaks for $30 a day every weekend.
27:09That's a total of about $9,000
27:11of added revenue per year.
27:13I am really hopeful Stefna
27:15really likes the idea
27:17and then she runs with it, you know?
27:19Because her having her own ideas and trying out
27:21new things is really the key to
27:23making this succeed during the transition.
27:25Hello.
27:27Hello.
27:29After going on the boat with Stefna
27:31and just hearing her ideas
27:33about incorporating more family activities
27:35and leaning into the holistic
27:37health and wellness community,
27:39I really wanted to grab some tea with her
27:41and just kind of start hashing through
27:43how these ideas become a reality
27:45and new streams of revenue.
27:47Okay, so I have this idea
27:49to the untrained eye.
27:51This is a tackle box, right?
27:53This is a tackle box, right?
27:55It's actually called
27:57a snackle box.
27:59Oh, I love that!
28:01Isn't that so fun?
28:03That's so great!
28:05Earlier we talked about scaling your skills back
28:07to a smaller place like the motel, right?
28:09Big hotels have restaurants and gift shops,
28:11but for small motel offerings
28:13you can do this instead.
28:15So the idea is this is something you could sell
28:17for like $20 via fire pits outside
28:19and, you know, someone comes in
28:21to charge a snackle box to their room.
28:23Oh, I got goosebumps!
28:25That's so amazing! I love it!
28:27And this is like an hour to two hours
28:29of activity at night.
28:31People will take photos because it's so cool.
28:33This is boutique.
28:35The snackle box is so amazing, especially for families
28:37that are visiting the Swanee Gables.
28:39It's really an opportunity to create memories
28:41while being revenue generating,
28:43which is what Lindsay's here to teach me as well.
28:45This is something you could sell
28:47for like $20.
28:49If you sell five of these a weekend,
28:51that's $100.
28:53There's 52 weeks in a year, so $5,200.
28:55Wow. Hello!
28:57Hi! Yay, you made it!
28:59Yes, hi! It's so good to see you.
29:01Hi! I'm Ellie.
29:03Nice to meet you.
29:05So I have another surprise.
29:07After we spoke on the boat
29:09and you mentioned wellness and really wanting
29:11to attract maybe a crowd
29:13that was more health oriented,
29:15I found a local yoga instructor named Ellie
29:17who does a lot of community yoga.
29:19I know your space and it's right on the river
29:21and that would just make it
29:23like a really nice way to integrate
29:25both of what we have going on.
29:27Business wise, this could turn
29:29into a bigger relationship potentially
29:31with retreats where your guests are actually
29:33paying for a room rate that includes
29:35yoga, but this could be
29:37quite lucrative and once
29:39you start bringing in that clientele,
29:41they are so community focused that it just
29:43spreads quick. Having somebody
29:45that can come and do yoga
29:47on the property is really going to be
29:49one of the keys to our success.
29:51It incorporates wellness, it incorporates
29:53the flow of the river
29:55and so it really is everything
29:57that we've been wanting at the Swanee Gables in one.
29:59You have endless
30:01ideas and abilities with just the
30:03sprawling lawn and the location of your property.
30:05Girlfriend, you got a new brand.
30:07I know! I think the two ideas that
30:09Lindsay gave me were amazing.
30:11She really heard me. She's also
30:13empowering me. I'm excited
30:15not only for myself,
30:17I'm really excited for my parents.
30:19Lindsay is taking the heart and soul
30:21of what the Swanee Gables is and bringing
30:23it to life. We got some good ideas
30:25ladies in business. Yes! I love it.
30:27Cheers girls! Cheers!
30:29Music
30:31Music
30:33Music
30:35Music
30:37Music
30:39Hello, hello. You come bearing gifts?
30:41Nice!
30:43That looks great.
30:45That's going to be awesome at the pavilion.
30:47Really good outside. Very cool.
30:49Fresh cedar from our friend
30:51Bob. Smells good.
30:53You got it? Yeah. It's pretty light actually.
30:55And then you got the cedar logs
30:57there for Dewey for the kayak rack?
30:59Yeah. Okay, cool. Get those over to Dewey so we can
31:01start on that rack. I'm going to bring this to the pavilion.
31:05The sign Bob made looks amazing.
31:07He used a new piece of cedar
31:09so the coloring is really unique and
31:11cool. It smells great and it's going to
31:13look so perfect outside of the
31:15pavilion that we just finished
31:17painting. It just looks great and fresh
31:19and new. That space is just looking
31:21so dialed over there.
31:23That's going to look great.
31:25Bob really saved the day on this one.
31:27Music
31:29Music
31:31So when I first met Sepna
31:33she was talking to me about how much she loves
31:35the river and she wants to incorporate
31:37the Suwannee River
31:39inside of the motel.
31:41So I think it might be a good idea to paint
31:43and put some canoe paddles inside as art
31:45helping their outdoor adventure
31:47seeker feel like they're experiencing
31:49parts of that when they're inside the
31:51motel. Pretty.
31:53To buy a finished
31:55paddle like this online could
31:57be like $300 or $400 to have it already
31:59painted. My kind of hack here
32:01was to just paint it yourself and then
32:03I was able to buy the blanks for $40 a piece.
32:05Nice.
32:07Custom wall out for $40. Can't
32:09beat it. One down
32:11about eight more to go.
32:13Music
32:15Music
32:17Music
32:19It's my final day working on the
32:21remodel for Suwannee Gables and things
32:23are coming together. I'm really happy with
32:25how the lawn is looking. The gravel
32:27looks great. Lights are going up.
32:29The bedroom's looking good. All the painting
32:31is finished. We just had our bead board
32:33go up. There's quite a bit left to do
32:35in the lobby. The cushions need to go
32:37on the couch. There's still painting
32:39so I have to paint. The bottom of the couch is black.
32:41We're going to start putting some finishing touches in
32:43and some larger furniture pieces.
32:45Music
32:47Music
32:49So this is a custom desk I had the team build and
32:51it really is such an important
32:53moment when you first arrive at a business.
32:55We used some batten stripping because I feel like that
32:57really feels nature and outdoors.
32:59Hey, Dewey. Hey, what's up?
33:01I want to talk to you about something. What do you got?
33:03I got a drawing. So I'm thinking
33:05about a kayak rack. Oh, okay.
33:07I see it. Maybe it holds two kayaks.
33:09I want to maybe try out some paddle boards.
33:11Alright. It lasts a long time. I got some local timber.
33:13Oh, did you? Yeah, so we can use some cedar on this
33:15and it'll look really great. That's even better.
33:17Yeah. How about this? I'm going to finish the desk
33:19so that you can start on that. That sounds good.
33:21Okay. Shake.
33:23Okay. Cool. Thank you. Yep, you got it.
33:25You might have gotten a better deal on this.
33:27It's actually quite a lot of sanding.
33:29Can't win them all.
33:45The lobby is taking shape.
33:47I have a ton of art that has to get hung on the walls.
33:49I have some shelves that are being hung
33:51and I've got these really cool
33:53custom yoga mats that Sapna's going to
33:55just be so impressed over.
33:57The bedroom's looking good.
33:59We're just getting furniture in,
34:01so that's all coming together nicely.
34:03And that kayak rack outside is starting to come together.
34:05My main objective here is to help
34:07set Sapna up to run this place
34:09for another 30 years.
34:11Having a family legacy motel is a dream.
34:13I want her to be able to continue that.
34:15So I can't wait to show this to Sapna
34:17and the whole family. I think they're going to
34:19be very happy.
34:21Are you excited or nervous or scared?
34:23All of it.
34:25All of the above.
34:27Surprise for me, I think.
34:29It's got to be. Looking forward to it.
34:31I've been told no peeking all day long.
34:33But I'm ready to peek now.
34:35We are in good company
34:37and it is going to be amazing.
34:39I'm excited.
34:41I'm excited.
34:43I'm excited.
34:45I'm excited.
34:47I'm excited.
34:49And it is going to be amazing.
34:51It is time to hang the towel.
34:53It'll take me a little while
34:55because this place is
34:57in my heart.
34:59But I am very excited
35:01and very ready
35:03to spend more time with my grandkids.
35:05We're so proud of you,
35:07Dikra. Thank you.
35:09We really are.
35:11Okay, here we go.
35:13Okay, are you guys ready?
35:15Oh my gosh, we're so ready!
35:17Are you excited?
35:19We're so excited.
35:21Having Lindsay here,
35:23the time I've spent with her
35:25has been so rewarding.
35:27Not only am I super excited
35:29to see all the new designs,
35:31but she's been so empowering
35:33with all of the business ideas,
35:35ways to generate revenue.
35:37I am ready to take on the Swanee Gables
35:39and make it my own.
35:41If you like it, are you ready?
35:43Ready. One, two, three.
35:47Oh my God.
35:51So beautiful.
35:53Oh my God.
35:55Lindsay, it's gorgeous.
35:57Do you like it?
35:59It is breathtaking.
36:01It's yours. This is yours.
36:0330 years in business. You work hard.
36:05It's time somebody does something for you.
36:07We digitized your sign.
36:09The cranes I did by hand,
36:11they're a stencil,
36:13which I'm going to teach you how to do.
36:15I love the idea of right when someone walks in,
36:17there's your check-in desk, they see your logo,
36:19they know where they are.
36:21I want to show you guys a couple of things.
36:23First, we thought getting
36:25the health and wellness community involved.
36:31These are custom yoga mats.
36:33Oh my gosh, Lindsay.
36:35This is your legacy.
36:37You made this place.
36:39And you look over here on the shelves.
36:41Look, these are pieces that were here.
36:43Carefully curated.
36:45No more carpet.
36:47This will be a lot easier to maintain.
36:49I like the wall.
36:51I love the oars.
36:53These paddles we made, this is a DIY.
36:55I mean, the perfect reflection
36:57of what the river brings
36:59when you walk outside.
37:01Also, remember this?
37:03Yes!
37:05It makes you feel at home!
37:07So we matched them.
37:11Sometimes you've got to keep an eye on the past.
37:13You've got to know where you were to know where you're going.
37:15We are wild,
37:17but to keep that
37:19shows me your character
37:21and your love for your work.
37:23Try the sofa.
37:25This is custom.
37:27So before, we could have probably sat
37:29about six people.
37:31You can get 15 in here now.
37:33Wow!
37:35So this is now such an amazing space
37:37to offer to your guests.
37:39This is going to be unbelievable.
37:41I'm so glad you love it!
37:43Yay!
37:45You know that there's more, too.
37:47The feel that she's given to the lobby
37:49of an upscale river lodge,
37:51really bringing in the spirit of the Suwannee River
37:53into the lobby really is just amazing.
37:55The lobby is an incredible
37:57first impression for our guests
37:59in the future.
38:01We're going to another world,
38:03and that's really what we can't wait to see.
38:05Okay, you guys want to see a few more surprises?
38:07Yes!
38:09Sometimes I love surprises!
38:11I love surprises!
38:13Alright, so we like the lobby.
38:15Amazing!
38:17I can't wait to see the room.
38:19Okay, you guys ready to see your room?
38:21Ready!
38:23Here we go!
38:25Oh my!
38:27Are you kidding me?
38:29Yes!
38:31I love the color, too!
38:33I really wanted to lighten it up.
38:35Remember, we had a lot of different patterns in here
38:37when I first got here.
38:39It was darker. The bedspreads were from the 90s.
38:41This is a lot lighter.
38:43It's definitely reflective
38:45of the river and nature.
38:47You'll see more of the cranes.
38:49They just bring this sense of light
38:51and airiness when you walk into this room.
38:53You had full-size beds in here before.
38:55You definitely had room for queens.
38:57So we upgraded these to queens.
38:59Those are amazing.
39:01A guest steps into that room
39:03and you just feel the weight
39:05of whatever you're carrying lift off of your shoulders.
39:07From the detail of the birds
39:09to the color, to just the energy
39:11that the room has now.
39:13It's really calming and serene.
39:15It doesn't have to be expensive
39:17to look expensive, right?
39:19Okay, so you were charging
39:21how much for this room before?
39:23Like $115,000?
39:25You can easily, with the upgrades to the lobby,
39:27and if you can continue this kind of look,
39:29I don't see why you can't be closer to $150,000.
39:31Yes.
39:33So that's about a 30% increase.
39:35That could easily make you an extra
39:37$30,000 or $40,000 a year.
39:39If not more.
39:41Okay, cool. So we have one more space left.
39:43Are you ready?
39:45Let's go.
39:47Are you ready to take a look
39:49at your new pavilion?
39:51Alright.
39:53Look at the space.
39:55What a transformation.
39:57Beautiful.
39:59Stunning.
40:01Stunning.
40:03The lights.
40:05Look at the side.
40:07Should we go check it out?
40:09I thought this was such an underutilized space.
40:11So we patched it up.
40:13It definitely needed some love.
40:15A fresh coat of black paint, but adding the lighting.
40:17I just thought this would be a really great place
40:19to hang out with the gorgeous view.
40:21The pavilion is going to be
40:23the central gathering
40:25space for all of our guests.
40:27It really just begs for people to come
40:29and sit down and enjoy the river.
40:31Makes it look like a resort.
40:33It is a resort. That's the idea.
40:35Also, kayak rack.
40:37Yes.
40:39That's from the local cedar.
40:41What an idea.
40:43Also, this is an idea you can absolutely
40:45build on, but here's a start.
40:47Your first yoga class.
40:49We won.
40:51We won't be going anywhere now.
40:53We're just going to spend more time
40:55out back.
40:57We want to see this.
40:59What do you think?
41:01Oh, no.
41:03It's got a totally different
41:05energy feel.
41:07It's so homey.
41:09I wanted it to feel eclectic,
41:11but also taking in the natural woods.
41:13We have these Adirondacks,
41:15but I also thought it would be really fun
41:17to play with a webbing chair
41:19when you went camping as a kid.
41:21Elevated camp lodge
41:23was really the theme here.
41:25When you talk about someone calling to do
41:27a wedding or have an event, this is
41:29what they want to see.
41:31She has incorporated wellness, community,
41:33and family into every
41:35aspect of the design in a way
41:37that we couldn't have even thought of.
41:39Oh, my goodness.
41:41We were talking about
41:43the idea of doing something fun
41:45for your guests, and it is called
41:47a Snacklebox.
41:49Wow.
41:51Sapna, do you know anyone who might want some s'mores?
41:53I think I can find some people.
41:55We'll be here.
41:57Getting them ready.
41:59People will love this place now.
42:01I know they always did, but this is
42:03really another 100%
42:05improvement.
42:07I know Sapna is going to enjoy
42:09the business she's going to carry on.
42:11Go!
42:13Whoa!
42:15Look at this fireplace!
42:17All right, who wants a s'more?
42:19Okay.
42:21We are thankful,
42:23grateful.
42:25Yes.
42:27That's my Zulu
42:29for saying thank you.
42:31Those are huge marshmallows.
42:33I know, they're huge.
42:35Are you ready for another bite?
42:37Lindsay has lit my fire up
42:39by really bringing the dreams
42:41of my parents to life.
42:43All of the spaces that she's created
42:45for us, I very
42:47easily see spending another
42:4930 years here.
42:51Three cheers for Miss Lindsay.
42:53Hip, hip, hooray!
42:55Hip, hip, hooray!
42:57Hip, hip, hooray!
42:59Yay!
43:01All the way.