Hotel Chic

Design Ideas from The Public in Chicago

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Sara Bliss

I have to admit when The Public hotel in Chicago launched last year I didn’t rush to write about it mainly because the all-white (or cream in this case) rooms seemed to be more of the same for hotelier Ian Schrager. He’s done the all-white thing in almost every hotel from the Royalton to his Marriott co-brand Edition). However, a friend who stayed there recently sent me her snaps, and I realized I had missed out on how many clever and inspired design ideas there were. The lobby’s beams lined with salvaged wood planks, inspired a trendspotting post last week. So this week, I thought I would do a whole post on the many easy-to-crib-at-home ideas from the Public. I am a little obsessed.

The man who invented the very concept of hip hotels, Ian Schrager, designed the launch of his Public hotel brand in Chicago to have only what he believes the modern traveler needs, and nothing that will drive the price of a room up. His new concept is all about accessibility, hence the name. Yes to bringing up your own bags, and no to having to tip a bellman. Yes to an edited minibar with your favorites and no to cheapo candy and soda. Yes to understated, comfortable rooms that start at $135 a night, and no to $15,000 -per-night suites decked out in marble, pricey fabrics, or antique furniture. While, I do think his all-white hotel room concept is a little played out, there is something soothing about it. There is no doubt that Schrager and his in-house designer Anda Andrei know what works, and how to design a great room without spending a fortune. Amazing design ideas here with the bonus that you will have enough left over to book a vacation at one of his new accessibly-priced hotels.

The 500 interconnected resin lights in the Pump room are amazing. They give the space a completely signature look. While these are custom, you can go for a similar vibe with the Glass Orb chandeliers from West Elm (currently on sale). They feature 7 adjustable globes in each chandelier. They would obviously be amazing over a dining table, but what about hanging several in a dark library with leather sofas and dark green walls for a Pump room inspired space in your own pad?

I am a little obsessed with these faux fur covered chairs in the lounge. Especially if you live in a cold climate, these would be perfect set up by a fireplace. Love the look? You have a couple of options:

The Cutie chair from Munna Design for design lovers.

PB Teen’s Furlicious Butterfly Chair provides a wallet-friendly option at $49

An easy way to get that cozy, winter chic vibe in your own living room is the faux fur throw. Every February retailers put these on sale so it is a great time to stock up and pull them out for the colder months. Notice these are cream linen sofas at The Public, what takes the lounge from basic to nordic glam are these artfully draped throws.

Madura’s faux fur pillows and throws are all 15% off right now…

Pottery Barn’s faux fur offerings come in a range of colors and are currently $99

Fashion photogapher Jean Baptiste Mondino‘s quirky hat-wearing cow photos provide the art in the understated rooms. If you want some bovine images for your pad, Sharon Montrose’s prints below, start at $25 and up…

Sharon’s cows don’t have hats, but they are cool….She also as great images of dozens of animals from iguanas to giraffes.

I LOVE THIS IDEA because it is so damn easy. Draping a sheepskin over any basic armchair gives it an instant update. Any chair becomes instantly that much cooler. Without it, this would just be a blah workspace, but with it….you have a hip workspace.

IKEA’s Rens sheepskin is just $29.99.

The Public features the Thonet B9 chair which is also available at DWR.

Of course, this wouldn’t be an Ian Schrager space without a killer bar. Not surprisingly, it is a total hotspot–I don’t think he’s ever designed a space that wasn’t. When it comes to creating buzz, Schrager knows what works.

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Stealing Cool Hotel Design Ideas: Walls Lined with Salvaged Wood Planks

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Sara Bliss

Check out these columns lined with salvaged wood planks at The Public in Chicago. Imagine if these columns were simply white, the space would feel much more conventional. However, the vintage wood gives the room an edge, bringing a more rugged, masculine energy. If you’ve got a space that is lacking in architectural detail, or a room that needs something more exciting than paint, and cooler than moldings and trim, this might be a good design choice for you. I’ve gathered a few examples of salvaged wood walls at a few hotels for inspiration, along with images of wood planks used to make home spaces that much more intriguing. Another example of hotels being great sources for trendsetting design ideas.

At the Olive Exclusive in Namibia, they used rectangular blocks of wood to inset a TV and add architectural depth to a space. With the desk there, it creates this functional and interesting space out of a nothing wall.

Love the birch plywood lining the walls of this sleeping nook at the Ace Hotel in Portland. Just covering one wall of this space instantly gives it character and cool. This picture also shows how using different types of wood can set a different tone. The weathered birch plywood has a much edgier look. The key is using salvaged wood however. New wood would give off a bad 70s vibe.

This bedroom at the Olive Exclusive, shows that you don’t need to cover the entire wall with wood to create an impact. Simply faming the bed creates a focal point for the room. Below is an example of how you could take the look of the Olive Exclusive and make it your own…..

I love this idea. A canopy crafted from salvaged wood planks absolutely makes the space.

This is a great look for a room without a lot of architectural detail–cookie cutter spaces like basements, mudrooms, and dens would be ideal. Definitely put would planks on only one wall, covering all 4 walls in a room wouldn’t work.

Lining one wall in a bedroom is ideal for a teen or little boy’s room. Again, imagine if this room was just paint, it would really be nothing exciting. However, the wood detail has this wow effect that I love.

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Posted in Design Lessons, Uncategorized | Tagged Ace Hotel Portland, Olive Exclusive hotel, Salvaged wood planks on walls, The Public | 1 Comment

Get the Look: The Lowell Hotel

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Sara Bliss

As promised, here’s the Get The Look for the lovely Upper East side hotel The Lowell. Here are a few reminder pics of my recent post, followed by a few ideas to get a similar look at home. There are even a few finds from Lowe’s and Amazon.com proving you can definitely crib the look for less. Enjoy!

In the Lowell’s Garden Suite, the floral 18th- century Chinese inspired wallpaper is Oplontis by DeGournay, which is handpainted and incredibly pricey (but beyond beautiful). If you like the look, Ralph Lauren’s Marlowe Gold as a similar chinoiserie floral glamour at a lower price.

Maison Bed from Restoration Hardware

Pair of Louis XVI Armchairs from 1stDibs

Landry & Acari vintage carpet

6 by 12 Carrera Subway Tile through Amazon.com

Quatrefoil mirror from Lowe’s retails for $65

To crib the look of the Lowell chair add a 2 inch ribbon to the bottom of this wing chair slipcover from SureFit. The border of the chair at the Lowell is black, but you can make it your own by choosing your own color.

Louis armchair from Ballard Designs

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Posted in Get The Look, Uncategorized | Tagged Copy of deGournay paper, Get the Look for Less, The Lowell Hotel, Upper East Side Hotels, Upper East Side style | 2 Comments

Hotelier Antonio Sersale checks into The Lowell

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Sara Bliss

Antonio Sersale the owner of Le Sirenuse Hotel

The view from Le Sirenuse in Positano

Le Sirenuse, perched cliffside in Positano is a cult favorite for in-the-know travelers who rave about the gorgeous views, lively restaurant, and intimate feel. The property was once the summer home of the Sersale family who turned their antiques-filled mansion into a hotel in 1951. Beautifully designed, the rooms are individually decorated with unique antiques, art, and local tiles, maintaining the sense for guests that they are staying in a beyond fabulous Italian home.

Jeweler Tito Pedrini and art dealer Blair Clarke were the first to let me know about Le Sirenuse and introduce me to the charming owner Antonio Sersale. Antonio recently visited NYC and I was curious where the hotelier would chose to stay in the city. I wasn’t surprised when he told me he always checks into The Lowell on East 63rd Street. The Lowell shares that same sophisticated, intimate sensibility as Le Sirenuse. The Lowell’s rooms boast classic furniture, English antiques, and fantastic art giving the spaces the feel of a chic Upper East Side apartment. The suites were done by Michael S. Smith, who is most famous for designing the Obama family’s private White House quarters. I decided to use my interview with Antonio about the Lowell as an opportunity to check out the hotel myself. Even though I’m a native New Yorker, the Lowell is always one of those places I’ve walked by, but never been inside. It was even lovelier than I could have imagined, especially the Garden Suite. I’ve posted a few of my own photographs along with the hotel’s pictures to accompany my interview with Antonio about why he loves The Lowell.

As a hotelier, what is important to you when you stay at a hotel other than your own?

ANTONIO: I love charm in a hotel. It has to have a personal touch and an interesting decor. Service is essential. An ironing board and iron are not!

Why do you always stay at the Lowell when you are in Manhattan?

I love the charming quaint atmosphere. It reminds me of being in a private home or an intimate club.

What d0 you love about the experience of staying at The Lowell?

The excellent service, attentive staff, and bright airy rooms.

What was your room like? What was your favorite aspect?

My room was wonderful. Large spacious with hard wood floors covered by an antique Persian carpet. Wonderful bathroom as well in white Italian marble, which is my favorite.

What is your favorite space in the hotel? Why?

What I love in The Lowell is that their common areas are very small although very elegant. This creates a quaint, intimate and uncrowded atmosphere. After all, the Hotel is surrounded by wonderful places to entertain.

Is there anything about your experience at The Lowell that gave you ideas for Le Sirenuse? Yes a wonderful vanity stand in the bathroom which makes it easy to arrange toiletries.

If The Lowell was your hotel, is there anything you would do differently? Yes, I would change the Amenity Line with our own “Eau d’Italie” which we use at Le Sirenuse and is made by us!

A room key from The Lowell

Images courtesy of The Lowell and Sara Bliss

Posted in Antonio Sersale | Tagged Boutique hotels in Positano, Boutique Upper East Side Hotels, Le Sirenuse, Michael S. Smith, The Garden Suite at The Lowell, The Lowell | Leave a comment

Get The Look: Cecconi’s Lights at Soho Beach House

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Sara Bliss

A while back I wrote about the design at Cecconi’s, the hotspot restaurant at Soho Beach House. With silver buttonwood trees, twinkling lights and long George Smith Chesterfield sofas for lounging over dinner, designer Vicky Charles did a wonderful job of creating a dreamy, relaxed vibe. Cecconi’s provides so much design inspiration, from pulling up a sofa to your dining table to these great pendant lights that would look great indoors or out. When I initially posted, I talked about how you could DIY the pendant lights that are made from vintage glass jars fitted with filament bulbs. However, I just saw that West Elm just started selling several different versions that look identical to the lights at Cecconi’s, (see, everyone is inspired by hotel design these days!) The green, gray, and clear glass jars come in a few different sizes and are sold individually or as three and five jar chandeliers. If you’re lucky enough to have a covered terrace or a porch these lights would look amazing in hung in groups over a table or above seating areas. Lighting really sets the tone of a space, and these provide a beautiful glow. More photos of Cecconi’s below along with the West Elm lights. Cheers!