Boutique Design - September 2014 - 20

5 This cool-as-ice reception/relaxation/retail
space in the spa at the
Mondrian London at
Sea Containers, which
opens later this fall,
is a case-in-point
example of why clients
prioritize design firms
with a do-it-all skill set.

PROJECT PARTICIPANTS
PROJECT

GENERAL CONTRACTOR

CLIENT

ACOUSTICS

DESIGN

MECHANICALS, ELECTRICAL
PLUMBING

Trump Hotel Rio de Janeiro
LSH Barra Empreendimentos
Imobiliários S/A.

Rakhlin needs to see that the firm knows the
brand's mission statement and how that translates
into its physical plants and its marketing message. "As
the next generation of luxury, our hotels aim to create
a lifestyle where guests can do more, experience more
and live without limits or compromise," she says. "To
do that, we have to ensure we don't transport the
same concepts from one project to another. The
presentation has to show me that the designer understands that our style is contextual, that it delivers a
luxury aesthetic that is true to the local environment
and offers an authentic sense of place. During that
session, the design firm has to convince me the team
is receptive to our suggestions and opinions, flexible
enough to incorporate our operational needs and
visionary enough to add value to the project." So, cut
the clutter to make room for an in-room yoga session
or massage. Remember the telescope for star-gazing.
Consider adding therapy functions to the shower.
THE TWIST: Pull out all the creative stops. "Our exec-

utives expect to see fully rendered, photo-realistic
designs and FF&E boards at the initial design
presentation," says Spran. "Years ago, hand renderings were preferred. But, with the advancements in
Sketch up, Photoshop and other computer
programs, the level of the presentation quality has
risen." Another very basic do: Involve the firm's
leadership. "It sounds like common sense that the
owner or principal should be at the presentation,
but that doesn't always happen," says Spran.
4. 20/20 FUTURE VISION. Since most projects won't

be completed for some time-from a matter of
months for a softgoods renovation to seven- to
10-years for a complex luxury hotel in a mixed-use
setting-designers need to offer concepts that can
20

boutiquedesign.com september 2014

anticipate what guests of the future will want from
that particular hotel or brand. "Consumer tastes
are always changing, and now they're shifting
quicker than ever. That is forcing brands to try to
be predictive of what people will want once the
project comes to fruition rather than right now,"
says Philips. "That increases the risk factor. It
makes design less profitable, but more creative,
because you need to be more creative to stand out."
In their comments for this story and in the Gold
Key judging, these hoteliers favored designers who
weren't afraid to make bold statements. In some
cases, it was the concept. But, more often it was a
detail: a mural at the end of a corridor; a chandelier
that snaked the length of a restaurant or a shot of
orange upholstery in an otherwise industrial space.
Both Philips and Spran pointed out that some
clients' conservatism can be a stumbling block for
designers who think outside the box. "But that's rare,"
says Spran. "If a designer has a good story to tell and
can explain the reasons for the concept and how the
budget is being invested, clients get the message."

Rockwell Group: Greg Keffer,
principal and studio leader;
Michael Siporin, project
designer and project manager
LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Whitkin Hults Design Group
PURCHASING COMPANY

The Parker Co.
ARCHITECTS

WATG, Irvine, Calif. (concept
architect)/ S&W Arquitetos
Associados LTDA.
GENERAL CONTRACTOR

LAFEM

ART CONSULTANT

Öko Gallery

*Suppliers to be determined
PROJECT

Mondrian London at Sea
Containers
CLIENT

Morgans Hotel Group
DESIGN

Design Research Studio (under
the direction of Tom Dixon)
ARCHITECT

EPR, London
GENERAL CONTRACTOR

Byrne Group
PROJECT

The Knickerbocker

Cerami

Thomas Polise Consulting
Engineer, P.C
AUDIO/VISUAL

AV&C
Peerless

BATH/PLUMBING FIXTURES

IMSS
Waterwork Design
Evans & Paul
Laufen
Lacava

BED COVERINGS/LINENS

Miceli Drapery
CASEGOODS

HF Collection
FABRICS

Guest rooms
Jim Thompson
Fil Doux Inc.
Valley Forge Fabrics
Carnegie Fabrics
Demar Leather Co.
Rooftop
Holly Hunt
Cortina Leathers
Luna Textiles
DesignTex
Larsen
Majilite
Perennials
Collezioni Cesaro
FLOORCOVERINGS

DESIGN

THE TWIST: Anticipate change. Several Gold Key

finalists showed off intricate, wall-mounted
molding instead of the traditional headboard. It
looks totally fresh now. But if it becomes overexposed, a claw hammer and a coat of paint will be
all that's needed to provide the canvas for a new
look. Technology is opening the way for digitized
visuals that can re-invent a hotel's interior and
exterior image from moment to moment. Some
other trends owners like: small surprises, like an
ultra-modern lamp in a classically elegant guest
room, and big statements, like a double-height
lobby sculpture with vibrant back-lighting. "I want
design I can't forget," says McMullen. 

Highgate Hotels

Signature Hospitality Carpets
Robin Reigi
Rode Bros (cast nickel wood
floors)
FURNITURE

OWNER

FelCor Lodging Trust
OPERATOR

Gabellini Sheppard Associates:
Michael Gabellini and Kimberly
Sheppard, design partners;
Daniel Garbowit, managing
partner; Ozlem Akcay,
associate, senior designer
& project manager; Gianni
Seinfeld, Courtney Adams,
Tomoko Hirose, Tomomi
Narita, Theresa Bienenstein,
Natasha Klyueva, Karen
Brenner, David Koons and
Kyunghwa Yim, design team

Dedon International
JL Furnishings division of
JLF Lone Meadow
Cheng Meng Furniture
HF Collection
Lily Jack
Flexsteel Industries

PURCHASING

Electric Mirror

Benjamin West
LIGHTING

Tillotson Design Associates
LANDMARKS

Higgins Quasebarth
ARCHITECT

Peter Poon Architect

LIGHTING

Tom Dixon
Chapman Hospitality Lighting
MIRRORS

DRAPERY

Miceli Drapery Co.
WALLCOVERINGS

Surface Materials
US Vinyl
Carnegie Fabrics

MORGANS HOTEL GROUP

Magnetic Construction Co.

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Boutique Design - September 2014

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