Boutique Design - April 2017 - 84

2 This "glass jewel
box" dining atrium's
exposed brick wall was
painted black to imbue
intimacy and human
scale. Internally illuminated, hand-spun brass
bowls draw inspiration
from a necklace.

PROJECT
PARTICIPANTS
OWNER

Guy van Rooyen, president
and ceo, The Salyers Group
OPERATOR

Aparium Hotel Group
DESIGN FIRM

Plume: Amanda Bennett,
principal, lighting designer;
Corey Rineair, senior interior
designer; Erika Jones, project
coordinator
ARCHITECT

Hub+Weber Architects PLC
DESIGN CONSULTANTS

Stillpass Studio (lighting
design/fabricators)
GENERAL CONTRACTOR

Century Construction Inc.
PURCHASING COMPANY

Neil Locke & Associates
ART

David Buetsche
Guy van Rooyen
BATH FIXTURES

Kohler

aesthetic. At the front reception desk, an open, retail-inspired
display references goods once sold in the former store, such as
hats, shoes, gloves, bow ties, scarves and brooches.
The building's bones offered two major pros: expansive
windows, some of which overlook the nearby Cincinnati skyline,
and soaring ceilings ranging from 12 to 18 ft. "The window bays in
the lobby were integral to our space planning," says Amanda
Bennett, principal and lighting designer at Plume. "They created
natural seating groups, each of which we felt deserved its own
oversized chandelier."
Shedding further light on the property's origin, a linear chandelier illuminated by a series of hanging globe-like pendants
highlights the hotel's bar. Bennett says the bar and restaurant
fixtures, crafted in collaboration with a local lighting studio to
reflect the sparkling jewelry once offered at Coppin's retail counters, add drama and regional relevance.
Channeling the property's past into the public areas also
meant embracing its flaws. For starters, the ground floor
presented a 2-ft. slope from the front façade to the back of the
building. "This was a huge challenge to overcome since we
couldn't fully level the floor due to the weight of the concrete,"
explains Rineair. "After weeks of fighting the slope, we decided to
embrace it and give bartenders a fun fact to fascinate guests."
One end of the 17-seat bar is 42 in. high. The other? Only 36 in.
While reviving the building's heritage was key to the creative
brief, welcoming the community was paramount to the property's
owner, Guy van Rooyen of The Salyers Group, as well as the hotel's
operator, Aparium Hotel Group. "Our client wanted the first floor
to be approachable," recalls Rineair. "It was important for the space
84

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to feel upscale and boutique, but not like it was hands-off to the
local community. Some of the design descriptors the client
requested included progressive, thoughtful, local and urban."
Creating an inviting, unpretentious environment for guests
and locals alike meant finishes couldn't be too polished and
details couldn't feel manufactured. "Covington has a beautiful
grittiness, and we were careful not to incorporate anything too
shiny," explains Rineair. "You won't find any chrome or brushed
nickel here. While we couldn't necessarily tell from the black and
white photos, we felt Coppin's would have had brass finishes. So
we went with an unlacquered brass to dull the shine and maintain contemporary relevance."
But Hotel Covington's translocal vibe is a direct result of the
involvement of area craftsmen and creatives. Local artist and
teacher David Buetsche, a friend of the client, created more than
150 custom works for the hotel. Similarly, a large wine barrel
installation in the lobby features a locally fabricated steel framework, which was welded together and blackened to mimic ironwork throughout the city.
In fact, the entire design and construction team was "home
grown." "We wanted as many local artisans and manufacturers
on the job as possible," notes Bennett and Rineair. "We were lucky
that the hotel is located in a community of makers."
Without the parameters of mega-brand design platforms,
Plume's team had ample leeway when it came to details. From
custom guest room finishes that evoke the oil spill stains found
throughout the streets of Covington to a couture-inspired gift
shop showcasing works from local makers and brewers-every
facet is truly tailor fit. 

BED COVERINGS/LINENS

Donna Salyers'
Fabulous-Furs
CASEGOODS

American Woodworking
Bernhardt Hospitality
Samuel Lawrence Hospitality
FABRICS

ABC Home
Brentano
Conneaut Leather
Donna Salyers' FabulousFurs
Fabricut Contract
FLOORCOVERINGS AND
MATERIALS

Atlas Concorde
Daltile
Mansion Hill Custom Floors
Mission Stone & Tile
Shaw Hospitality
Tabarka Studio
FURNITURE AND SEATING

American Woodworking
Anthropologie
Bernhardt Hospitality
CIX Direct
Orange Chair
Samuel Lawrence Hospitality
LIGHTING

Bloom Lighting Group
Curry and Co.
Juno Lighting Group
Ketra
RH Modern
Stillpass Studio
MIRRORS

Artonomy
Uttermost
TABLES

American Woodworking
Bernhardt Hospitality
M Bohlke Veneer Corp.
West Elm Hospitality

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Boutique Design - April 2017

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