Boutique Design - June 2018 - 10

BY CHRISTINA GREEN

STACI PATTON
DLR GROUP

boutiquedesign.com june 2018

Listen up. Guests traveling to scenic secondary destinations want more than a pretty picture. They crave experiences that appeal to all five senses. That's why Staci
Patton, hospitality leader and principal with DLR Group,
didn't just envision a local look for The Elizabeth Hotel in
Fort Collins, Colorado; she channeled its community's love
of music into a concept guests could hear.
DLR's interiors team fine-tuned its acoustic solutions
for the 116,643-sq.-ft. Autograph Collection hotel, creating
highly detailed spaces where guests can experience music
in a way that feels like wearing headphones-without
harsh reverberation. "It was like being a conductor of an
orchestra-literally-as we harmonized acoustics, brand
identity, budget and interior design," says Patton.
High-end acoustic products throughout the property,
including ceiling elements, wall materials and window
drapery, reduce excess noise and enhance the audio. This is
especially apparent in the hotel's F&B venues, such as
Magic Rat (shown). Created in collaboration with New Yorkbased hospitality studio dash design, the indoor-outdoor
lounge space takes notes from the exuberance of an old
neighborhood theater, as well as open-air music venues,
with finishes reminiscent of movie palaces, velvet upholstery, chandelier lighting and a rich color palette. That
aesthetic is juxtaposed with raw elements that bring the
outdoors inside-hand-fired tiles, wood beams and ceiling
lights that suggest the look of a constellation in the night
sky. "Furniture was chosen to evoke class and comfort," says
Patton. "Some pieces are tufted like that of an old theater

seat, while others are more pragmatic or have a handcrafted
quality, such as the outdoor wooden and metal pieces."
Patton says that Colorado-based hotel operator Sage
Hospitality's philanthropic DNA and commitment to
driving context in a way that supports regional artisans
heavily influenced the hotel's art program. Curator NINE
dot ARTS chose oil-on-canvas expressionist painting
"Picnic" by Denver artist Kevin Sloan as a focal point behind
the front desk. That piece depicts a grizzly bear, a raccoon
and a ram (an homage to Colorado State University) having
an alfresco tea party and features a subtle overlay of sheet
music to the state song, "Where the Columbines Grow."
"Much like the hotel's authentic and raw materiality
juxtaposed by soft white colors and filigree, this art piece
is raw. It's in a natural forest setting, but includes hints of
elegance and whimsy introduced by vibrant color and
content," says Patton. "[It also] reinforces music and sound
harmonies as playing a major role in the guest experience."
Each of the five-story hotel's 164 guestrooms-
including three signature suites designed to embody Fort
Collins' culture, The Beer & Bike Suite, The Music Suite
and The Ram Suite-is home to a record player accompanied by LPs on vinyl. But nothing amplifies the hotel's
music-centric melody like the lending library, where travelers can check out musical instruments, amps and equipment, as well as records. "Guests can jam in the lobby, at
the beer garden or on the roof terrace, wherever they truly
feel at home," says Patton. So when it comes to Rocky
Mountain hospitality, ditch the ear plugs and riff on.

A N D R E W B O R D W I N S T U D I O I N C . ( T H E E L I Z A B E T H H O T E L ) ; C O U R T E S Y O F D L R G R O U P ( PAT T O N )

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Boutique Design - June 2018

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