Boutique Design - December 2019 - 14

2 0 19 G O L D K E Y AWA R D S

BEST LOBBY MIDSCALE
WINNER

THE ELIZA JANE, THE
UNBOUND COLLECTION BY HYATT
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

THE DESIGN FIRM: Stonehill Taylor, New York
THE MUSE: A much-needed breath of clean, fresh

air as you step into a greenhouse. A monochromatic
color scheme throughout the hotel helps the design
tell the property's many different tales (seven, to be
exact). And the lobby is no different with a palette of-
you guessed it-greens, to follow suit. A 60-ft.-high
atrium space welcomes guests with evergreen-paneled
walls, accented by a large format hex-tiled floor. "A
large skylight and lush greenery soften the original
exposed brick and slate-colored plaster walls, which,
together with the foliage-entrenched canopy glass
bar, create the sense of a greenhouse or conservatory,"
says Michael Suomi, former principal, Stonehill Taylor.
(Suomi recently founded Suomi Design Works where
he serves as president.) The marble-topped lobby bar is
surrounded by green, crocodile-embossed leather bar
stools. Reaching out further, the lounge invites guests
to plop down on mismatched, velvet seating of varying
jewel tones, all polished off with antique oriental rugs
below and an eclectic collection of decorative lamps
with brass accents dotted throughout.

THE MAVERICK MOVE: A bar back that mimics an
open garage is striking yet also achieves a cohesive
thread from one space to another (guests are greeted
by a similar fluted glass "closed" storefront partition
that separates the lounge seating area from the main
public space).
THE MESSAGE: Let guests peel the layers back on their
own, but inject elements that take their hand. A deep
cranberry color on the bar front continues onto paneled
walls and bookshelves in The Press Room-a livingroom-inspired lobby lounge with a marble fireplace,
sourced antiques and most appropriately, typewriters.
14

boutiquedesign.com DECEMBER 2019

SOURCES
OWNER: Rockbridge, Columbus, Ohio; HRI Properties, New Orleans; OPERATOR: HRI Lodging,
New Orleans; DESIGN FIRM: Stonehill Taylor, New York: Michael Suomi, (former) principal;
Sherry Dennis, senior interiors associate; Bethany Gale, interiors associate; Tory Knoph, senior
interior designer; Rena Ok, Marinda Thomas, interior designers; ARCHITECT: HCI Construction;
PURCHASING COMPANY: Benjamin West, Louisville, Colorado; GENERAL CONTRACTOR:
Palmisano, New Orleans; DESIGN CONSULTANTS: Pontchartrain Partners, New Orleans (civil
engineer); Mullin, St. Rose, Louisiana (landscape design); Studio E Lighting, Dallas (lighting);
Custom Cabinet Specialties, Harahan, Louisiana (cabinetry); Forstall Interiorscapes, New Orleans
(indoor interior planting); Octavia Art Gallery, New Orleans (public space art consultant); ART &
ACCESSORIES: Indie Walls; BATH & SPA: Kohler; FABRICS: Demar Leather; Designtex; Mayer;
Pallas; P/Kauffman; Valley Forge Fabrics; FLOORCOVERINGS: Daltile; Havwood; Scoffield; Shaw;
Tailor-Made Textiles; FURNITURE: Amtrend; Bryan Ashley; Cisco Brothers; Global Allies; ISA;
Made Goods; Prince Seating; RH Contract Royal Customs; Shawn Austin; Studio Tag; Stellarworks;
Woodard; LIGHTING: Circa; Feiss; Rejuvenation; Restoration Hardware (retail); Trinity Lighting;
WALLCOVERINGS: IndieWalls; Tri-Kes

COURTESY OF THE ELIZ A JANE

THE MAGIC: Seven (yes, seven) historic warehouses
had to be internally conjoined to create the 196-room
hotel and a 2,000-sq.-ft. open-air courtyard. "While
it was important to honor the building's past, the
designers also wanted to make sure they achieved a
sophisticated and contemporary aesthetic. A solution
was to restore and paint the existing metal work black
in order to pop against the jewel tone color scheme
throughout the lobby," Suomi explains.
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