WORDS & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN
‘I feel as though the weight of the world has just been lifted from my shoulders,’ I say to Liz with a chuckle, dropping my well-traveled Filson luggage onto the cool, poured concrete floor. I exhale, take a slow look around, and then step fully into the spacious, design-forward oasis. It’s the peacefulness of the space that hits me first: it’s utterly serene, as though the entire suite has been acoustically tuned to quiet my thoughts.
To my left, an open-concept kitchen unfolds, outfitted with sleek Miele appliances, a satisfyingly deep sink, nearly black granite countertops, exposed limestone, and a striking art deco range hood. Open glass and nude wood shelving displays a curated mix of stylish tableware, crystal champagne flutes, en vogue recipe books, and sculptural earthen pottery. It’s elegant yet approachable — more beautiful home than hotel. To my right, a pair of impressive solid white oak doors — locally crafted in art deco style — open toward the bedroom: an embracing sanctuary with an exquisitely coffered ceiling, oversized windows with deep sills, plush king-sized bed, dedicated alcove with custom vanity table and mirrors, and a cozy reading nook that catches the late-afternoon light just so.
Past the bedroom, the bathroom is equally alluring: radiant heated floors, underlit cabinetry, plush white towels, LOVEFRESH amenities, and a walk-in shower lined with delicate clay tiles handcrafted in Morocco elevate the entire place from functional to spa-like. Further into the space, a dining area — featuring a plush off-white bench and round wooden table accented with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot on ice and two tickets to the Gorge Cinema — fits perfectly into a corner of the suite. To the right of the dining space, the living area beckons — with sleek glassed-in electric fireplace, stylish sofa and lounger, and a long low coffee table decorated with more striking earthenware and coffee table books (including Amber Lewis’ Call It Home: The Details that Matter, Alex Vervoordt’s Wabi Inspirations, and more). Through a set of glass doors, a large covered balcony with twin muskoka chairs provides spectacular views of the street below.
I could go on (and on). And I will. But for now, I’ll catch you up. It’s Monday, late afternoon, early May, and Liz and I have just checked into the Ruby Suite at Kat Florence Hotels in Elora. Nestled in the heart of the village, this hotel is as much gateway as getaway to everything this exquisite village has to offer. A springboard to restaurants and cafés and shops and trails and water and adventure. (From our balcony, for instance, we can catch glimpses of everything from the Elora Mews to the Elora Mill — and even hints of the Grand River.) And yet, as I’ve already begun to sense, the hotel functions as a cocoon too: a place where thoughts of the outside world, no matter how tempting, melt away the moment you step inside. ‘I think we should just stay in all night,’ Liz says, pouring us each a flute of champagne and gesturing towards the balcony. And I don’t disagree. But I’ve made reservations — at The Friendly Society (just steps from Kat Florence Hotels) for dinner, and later at The Lobby Bar (a couple blocks away) for nightcaps. Both are captivating local spots more than capable of luring us out of even the coziest corners. And so, after enjoying our champagne on the balcony perch above the town, we leave our haven for a night out. At The Friendly Society we’re greeted warmly by staff eager to hear our first impressions of the enticing new place down the street. The hotel’s been the talk of Elora ever since local resident Kat Florence — the globally acclaimed jeweler turned hotelier — and her husband Don Kogen purchased the nineteenth-century building in March 2021 and began its restoration in May 2023. Originally constructed in 1848 as the Commercial Hotel and known more recently as the beloved Gorge Cinema (which still operates — now beautifully renovated — in the hotel, alongside a new outpost of local grocer Dar’s), the storied stone building was in dire need of attention. And so Kat and Don gave it just that.
With help from Kitchener-based architects Martin Simmons Sweers, Guelph’s Thirteen Design Studio, Arthur-based BEN Stoneworks Ltd, Waterloo’s Chervin Kitchen & Bath, Guelph lifestyle boutique Rug & Weave, and a host of other local firms, the hotel was ready to open by late 2024. Over its inaugural winter — usually a quiet season for visitors to Elora — bookings remained strong. And now it’s spring. And I’m ever so thankful for Kat’s ambitious vision. This is a place I can’t wait to get back to. But first — dinner and drinks.
Once we are settled in at The Friendly Society Liz and I share the tasty ‘Fried Calamari’ (sriracha aioli, crispy basil), the hearty ‘Shrimp Taco Bowl’ (shrimp, lettuce, chipotle aioli, red beans, cherry tomato, red onion, roasted peppers, guacamole, corn, lime, cilantro, tortilla chips), the ‘Warm Mediterranean Bocconcini’ (sauteed tomatoes, mixed olives, olive oil, parsley, focaccia), and the utterly decadent ‘Mushroom Agnolotti Pasta’ (chives, parmesan, creamy truffle mushroom sauce, truffle aioli). We pair the dishes with a few of the restaurant’s ever-changing (and always on-point) cocktails and chat with regulars about the latest goings-on around town. Then it’s off to the swanky Lobby Bar for ‘Tuna Tataki’ (seared tuna, edamame, cress, sesame, yuzu dressing) and nightcaps from the new drink menu: the flaming ‘Lobby Mai Thai’, the tart ‘White Linen’, and the dessert-like ‘Pineapple Vanilla Sour.’ The food and drink hit perfectly. As they always do at these Elora staples. By the time Liz and I arrive back at our suite it has begun to rain. We settle onto the large covered balcony — the perfect venue from which to watch the deluge and smell the spring in the air — and wile away the next hour or two with tidy espressos from the kitchen before retreating to our bedroom haven. At nighttime the suite takes on an entirely different personality. The natural light from the windows is replaced by subdued yellow tones cast by elegant lamps and strategic underlighting. The dancing flames from the fireplace create the coziest vibes. Even the elegant bathroom lighting projects a subtle flicker — simulating a candle lit somewhere in the refined space. I can’t imagine a more restful environment in which to lay my head.
A few hours pass, and morning arrives with a quiet brightness. Light pours through the oversized windows, casting long, golden streaks across the coffered ceiling and wooden floors. The suite feels alive with the gentle rhythm of a new day. There’s an invigorating clarity to the space in the morning light. The soft palette of natural textures and the thoughtful interplay of wood, stone, and glass all feel intentional, harmonious, and deeply calming. Even the smallest details sing: steam rising from freshly-brewed coffee, the satisfying weight of my ceramic mug, open pages of the coffee table books, the sounds of Elora waking up through the open balcony doors.
Kat Florence Hotels is not just a beautiful space — it’s an oasis that shapes your mood, sharpens your senses, and quietly sets the tone for the day ahead. And I never want to leave.
KAT FLORENCE HOTELS
43 MILL ST W, ELORA ON
katflorencehotels.com
