Among my biggest design inspirations are hotels. When choosing a hotel, the first thing I consider is not the room rate or location, but how cool the décor is.
My love affair with hotel design started in the ’90s when, fresh out of college, I splurged on a New York vacation to stay at the Philippe Starck-designed Paramount Hotel on West 46th Street in Times Square. The moment I stepped into the hotel lobby, I felt the transformative power of interior design. Not only was every square inch of the hotel awesome to behold, the hip factor had rubbed off on me. Suddenly, I felt like a model in a Calvin Klein fragrance commercial — glamorous, mysterious and full of ennui. The only thing that could have made it better was a free breakfast buffet.
Now, whenever I stay at a boutique hotel, I take lots of photos that go into my inspiration file, and design elements from many of them have found their way into my own decorating.
Paramount Hotel,
New York City
Design inspiration: Upholstered headboard
My favorite part of the room at the Paramount was the giant upholstered headboard featuring a Vermeer painting. I had never thought that something as utilitarian as a headboard could be art — literally. I’ve since created framed, oversized headboards for clients that have depicted goldfish swimming around orchids, an angel sunbathing by the pool, and even a photograph of the exterior of Tiffany’s in Beverly Hills. (Sadly, the Paramount was sold to a hotel conglomerate in 2011, and the Philippe Starck décor is no more.)
Hotel Zeppelin, San Francisco
Design inspiration: Typography
Perhaps because I’m both a writer and a designer, I like the idea of decorating with words. Text is used quite whimsically in the rock ’n’ roll-themed Hotel Zeppelin in the Union Square district. The graphic wallpaper in the bathroom incorporates names of singers and bands in a retro font, giving new meaning to bathroom reading. And the overhead light above the bed surprises you with a message when you turn it on. Depending on your room, the word could be “love,” “peace” or “prosper.”
Hotel Max, Seattle
Design inspiration: Door murals
An artist-centric hotel, Hotel Max showcases the work of a different local photographer on each floor, covering the doors to each guest room with that photographer’s work. When I saw those doors, they really got my creative juices flowing, and I could not wait to do something similar. I got the chance when designing the Jewish Journal offices, and I needed to cover the dull wood doors that came with the space. I found vintage stock photos of reporters and newsrooms, had adhesive murals made of them and applied them to the doors. Walking down the hallway, it’s like a gallery.
Hotel Le Bellechasse, Paris
Design inspiration: Decorating the ceiling
Designed by Christian Lacroix, Le Bellechasse is a kaleidoscope of pattern and color squeezed into tiny rooms typical of Parisian quarters. Once you get over the puzzling fact that the bathtub is in the bedroom, you can appreciate the marvelous design details, like quirky wallpaper that extends across the ceiling. Lying in the bed and looking up, I truly appreciated the attention paid to the ceiling. It is valuable decorating space that is rarely used. Now, I always consider how to design above the eye line, whether it’s as simple as painting the ceiling or hanging an interesting light fixture.