The Owner’s Suite at the new Drake Devonshire in Wellington, Ontario paired with Tsumori Chisato Jacquard Batwing Dress.

A Toronto stopover led to a love affair with the Drake, a hotel rich with personality in the artsy Queen West district. From afar, I continue to adore all things Drake, from its stellar concert roster and urban art focus to its do-no-wrong General Store.

And now this: the Drake Devonshire in Prince Edward County, hotelier Jeff Stober’s transformation of a 1800s foundry into a rustic-chic outpost on Lake Ontario, a 2.5 hour drive from Toronto. A hip hodgepodge of old and new, the 2-year project required restoring the original inn – a ramshackle heap upon purchase – and then weaving in modern additions like the new dining room, cantilevered over a creek and devoted to lake-to-table fare. Quintessential of the quirky vibe is the owner’s suite, a spacious studio tucked in an A-frame, colored by an eclectic mix of antique and vintage pieces, and a meticulous collection of original art.

Only six days into its extended preview, the Drake Devonshire officially opens next April, but I want to get in on the good times early with a harvest itinerary of wine tasting, fly fishing, leaf peeping and beachcombing. And lazing: I picture a perfect Sunday spent in the owner’s suite, starting with a cozy morning by the fireplace, followed by afternoon sunbathing on the private patio overlooking the lake, blanketed in this poncho dress, engrossed in shelter pubs. Yes please.