On “Motel Rescue,” designer, builder, and Magnolia Network star Lindsey Kurowski designs renovations for struggling motels so owners can attract more clients and avoid selling their properties. Her smart, frugal, and often DIY design hacks also make for great residential upgrades.
The show, which premiered its second season on June 11, follows Kurowski as she travels to motels across America and remodels a room or two as a template owners can replicate across their property when budget allows. Many of Kurowski’s ideas are rooted in hospitality, but they’re universal enough to apply at home.
“A motel room is the same size as a bedroom,” Kurowski explains to Realtor.com®. “My show focuses on spatial awareness and how to maximize the space that you have, so that definitely translates into residential.”
Eager to learn her best renovation lessons, we spoke with Kurowski about her background in the motel business and found out how many clients successfully follow through with what she teaches them. Plus, she details all the improvements she’s making to her own homes, including a popular paint trend she did in her kitchen that you might want to try, too.
(Magnolia Network)
How did you first get into renovating motels?
I have a background in design-build for branding. I would help design retail stores, trade show booths, and event activations. My company, Knotty Pine, that’s what they do, and I’ve done that for 10 years. That company did super well, and I was like a punk 29-year-old who had some cash and needed my next idea.
I thought, I travel a lot to venues to produce events. What if I owned the venue? I ended up on a whim buying my first hotel, the Oak Knoll Lodge—the most challenging one I ever did—because not only had I never done an interior renovation, I said, “Hey, America! Come watch me as I figure this out!”
This was in someone’s family for 80 years. Everything was clean and operational mostly, it just was incredibly outdated. I did end up turning that into an event venue. It’s a super cool property. Three and a half acres, 15 cabins, very cool. It is in operation, but I did sell it last year.
I bought my second hotel three or four years ago. Magnolia loved the show, and they were like, “We want to do more of these.” I said, “OK, [but] I don’t want to buy any more hotels.”
They’re amazing and I like them, but I’m at capacity. I don’t have investors. I’ve done everything by myself, so I was at my limit capital-wise for what I wanted to own and expand into.
In buying hotels, I meet the most incredible families and the most incredible people. What I’m doing isn’t rocket science, so I had this feeling of, what if I could teach them how to do these things that would prevent them from having to sell? When I come in, it’s like a list of five things that are really important: a design, a logo, a website, and just keeping continuity consistent—and you can be working toward that.
I didn’t have millions of dollars when I renovated my places. There’s a way to do it over time as long as you clearly communicate that you’re in process, and charge more for renovated rooms and discount not renovated rooms.
The idea behind “Motel Rescue” was, “What if they didn’t have to sell?”
I’m the person that comes in and buys, and I thought, what if I showed them what to do to stay on and to keep them in their families? Because it’s important. It felt like the right thing to do. I really love what I do. Even outside of TV, I’ve made friends that I continue to stay in touch with and just be of any service that I can along the way to help keep American roadside motels alive.
(Magnolia Network)
How many of the motel owners you help actually implement your advice and remain in business?
I talk to all of them. I helped design websites for all of them. It’s a crazy group of people who do this kind of work, so I stay in touch with quite a few of them.
“Motel Rescue” is filmed [for] about a week per location. We’re a crew of, like, 25 people that’s there for seven days. When people are like, “Hey, did you do every room?” No. I’m there to do a blueprint and just try to inspire these people to sink or swim on their own. Sometimes they listen, sometimes they don’t. Who knows how many listen to me?
This season is good, and I would bet you that like seven out of 10, six out of 10 [listen]. My batting average is good!
(Magnolia Network)
When you’re not on the road filming, where do you call home?
I split my time between the East Coast and the West Coast, so I live between Rhode Island and Venice Beach, CA. Venice is a [Spanish] Craftsman that I’ve been trying to stay tried and true on, and this one in Rhode Island is like a Cape Cod or cedar shake kind of vibe.
I just renovated my Venice house. I used really stunning green marble. I also got a vintage 1950s refrigerator that opens from either side—it’s like a V-hinge.
I’m always trying to use vintage and modern, mixing these styles together. I like walnut, I love green, and I just make it feel warm and purposeful. I’m doing one room at a time, and I lived through the construction. I’m breathing some drywall just like everybody else!
(Magnolia Network)
Do you have a favorite renovation you’ve done personally?
I just did my first lime-wash. I’m a designer on TV for five years, I’ve never done a lime-wash before. I find it quite intimidating. I just did [it] in my kitchen at my house. The lime-wash was a pretty big risk because I just put a gorgeous, very expensive marble in my kitchen, so I had a lot of investment already going.
I try most stuff out on me before I go ruin someone’s commercial space. I have to report back that it came out pretty good, so I’m happy with that.
(Magnolia Network)
I’ve been working on an [accessory dwelling unit]. The city is approving turning my garage into a two-story ADU, which is really popular in Los Angeles, so I’m excited to do that.
Then landscape architecture is definitely a big interest to me. I think that is money well spent, specifically in that market because we have smaller lots. Finding a way to make it feel private and serene while you’re in Los Angeles definitely helps your property value.
What type of landscape plants do you favor?
On the East Coast, I love arborvitae. They grow huge and fast and are amazing for privacy. On the West Coast, bamboo does well. I love olive trees, and any citrus tree is great. Pink jasmine vines are really beautiful. [And] bougainvillea! It grows huge and provides nice privacy. So, East Coast, it’s arborvitae, West Coast, bougainvillea.
(Magnolia Network)
What advice do you have for homeowners taking on a renovation in today’s market?
It’s always going to cost more and take longer. I like to tell married people to just get a therapist cued up. I stand by that fully.
Listen, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Take your time. I don’t rush when I do my houses. I do one thing at a time and then see how that feels and how it changes the space. I know some people really want to have everything all planned out before they start, but I don’t. Just start, and you’ll end up somewhere pretty amazing.
What are the most common design and renovation missteps you come across?
Popcorn ceilings. Stop doing it, please! Textured walls. The color yellow? We’re done with you. Mustard is different.
I hate TVs. TVs are hard to style. I hide TVs a lot: I hide them in cabinets. I have one where it comes out of the back of the banquette. I’m all about hiding a TV. I’m a girl on TV who doesn’t watch TV.
But honestly, there are no rules. I don’t have a classic design background, which I think helps me more than it hurts me because I just go with how it feels. If I do something that doesn’t feel right, I redo it.
Are there specific materials, finishes, or features you’re currently favoring?
I like using a snap-click vinyl flooring. They’re waterproof, durable, and inexpensive to replace if you have to every five to 10 years.
I don’t hate industrial-grade carpet, but I don’t recommend it anywhere with water, winters, or mud. I’ve started using rollout vinyl mats instead of accent rugs. They’re super durable, sturdy, and waterproof.
I like blending a really neutral wall with super bright curtains and a colorful bed frame. I’m trying to mess around with making my own art and framing wallpaper with molding and all kinds of stuff.
On the show, you paint a pattern on a wall using a stencil to save money. Tell us about that budget-friendly DIY project.
Wallpaper, which I love and use in a lot of episodes—it’s expensive. One motel owner had 40 rooms to do on a budget, so the stencil made sense for there. I have a great, amazing team, but I did that whole stencil myself. So you can do it.
I decided to do three colors, and it wasn’t difficult at all. You just needed three different paintbrushes. It did take hours, [but] it was worth it.
(Magnolia Network)
Which design features are worth splurging on?
Elevated bedding is worth the spend. [I] love a nice bamboo sheet and a gorgeous linen top. I spend a good amount on outdoor furniture because you can refinish it and oil it every year, and it always comes back. Those are areas where it’s worth it to spend the money because you really do get the value.
(Magnolia Network)
What are your go-to moves to improve curb appeal and outdoor spaces?
First, take that pressure washer out there—a gas one because they really go.
My go-to move? Area rug. It starts with a rug. I use outdoor rugs indoors for commercial buildings. Pick a rug that you love, then figure out your seating. I like a rug with a couch and two chairs and some big planters and a center table. Make a nook. Even if you have a big yard, start in a small space and get it feeling curated, and then you can build off of that.
What’s your strategy for decluttering a space?
You have to identify what is the main purpose of the space that you’re designing. Like, what’s the basic amount of furniture that has to go in a room that’s a bedroom or an office to serve the function?
I go with functionality first, go light with the furnishings, and then add in some pizzazz. Less is definitely more for me personally, but really, it’s whatever speaks to you.
Flow is really important. People who interact with this space other than you should feel comfortable, inspired, and vibrant.
“Motel Rescue” airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Magnolia Network and streams the same day on Max and discovery+.
