Casita is a new old motel that was recently remodeled just in time for summer.
It’s the second property for the smart team behind The Isla, another renovated hotel in Batehaven, which opened in 2022. Yanna Dascarolis (of Clay Interiors) is among a group of “lifelong friends” who co-own the property together, After I grew up. Holiday on the south coast.
“When we bought the site next door and built The Isla, we kept looking over the fence at the unloved former hotel,” says Yana. “It was originally built in the 1980s, and it was a traditional hotel [once called Kon Tiki] With parking adjacent to the room entrances.
Then earlier this year, they secured the purchase of the dilapidated property and spent the next few months bringing it back to life.
The apartments were in terrible condition, with dilapidated kitchens, worn carpets, and dilapidated original bathrooms that (unfortunately) could not be salvaged.
“The vision for the renovation was to be in keeping with the ambiance and style of The Isla but creating a moodier, more thoughtful ambiance,” Yana adds.
“We completely repainted the property inside and out, designed and installed new kitchens, new flooring throughout, new bathrooms, all new electrical and lighting fixtures, new air conditioning units and new window furniture. A complete face and body lift for Isla’s little cousin!”
All rooms inside are two-bedroom suites, designed to host groups of four with full kitchens, bathrooms and a lounge room space with a pull-out sofa to accommodate two additional guests if needed. Each of them functions like a tiny house, which explains the property’s appropriate and fun Spanish name Casita, which translates to “little house,” says Yana.
There’s also a bit of Spanish Mission-style flair incorporated into the brick motel’s new paint colors. Touches of sangria, sandy browns and terracotta tiles are revealed throughout the interiors, along with playful paintings of beachgoers by Melbourne artist Dan Rashford.
Outside, they installed an outdoor shower, new custom-planned awnings, and updated the landscaping. But Yana says that in addition to the casita’s ideal location, the highlight of the new escape is its privacy.
“We hope our guests feel like they are at home away from home, with all the amenities the hotel has to offer,” she says. “We wanted to provide a relaxed and structured experience, unlike anything else on offer in the Batemans Bay area for large groups.”
Book a stay at the casita here.
