Hospitality Design - March 2012 - 14

from the editor

classic beauty
Editorial and Executive Of ces: 770 Broadway, New York, New York 10003 646.654.4410
MICHAEL ADAMS Editor in Chief 646.654.7621 madams@hospitalitydesign.com JONATHAN MARSLAND Creative Director 646.654.4472 jmarsland@hospitalitydesign.com STACY SHOEMAKER RAUEN Executive Editor 646.654.4411 sshoemaker@hospitalitydesign.com ALIA AKKAM Managing Editor 646.654.4419 aakkam@hdmag.com ASHLEIGH VANHOUTEN Associate Editor 646.654.4410 avanhouten@hdmag.com GRACE CASEY Production Manager 646.654.7293 grace.casey@nielsen.com DOUG HOPE Vice President/Content 770.291.5453 doug.hope@nielsen.com JOE RANDALL Senior Vice President joe.randall@nielsen.com SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES 800.697.8859; Fax 847.291.4816 nhd@omeda.com For reprints contact the YGS Group: 800.290.5460 x136 HD@theygsgroup.com BACK ISSUES 800.697.8859 LIST RENTAL Bart Piccirillo 845.731.2768 bart.piccirillo@eraepd.com ADVERTISING PAUL BIENKOWSKI Publisher 860.644.3861; Fax 860.644.0700 pbienkowski@cox.net MELANI BEATTIE Marketing Manager/Midwest and West 312.218.5691; Fax 781.431.1968 melani.beattie@gmail.com PHYLLIS VISCIDI Marketing Manager/East 781.431.1320; Fax 781.431.1968 phyllis@viscidi.com LILIANA CONNOLLY Marketing Representative/East 781.431.1320; Fax 781.431.1968 lil@viscidi.com

Trends and fads come and go, but luxury endures, as we prove every time we devote an issue to the subject of high-end projects, products, and people. Luxury implies a style that is rich, classic, and timeless, as beautiful decades from now as it is today. “Understated but luxurious” is the phrase Edward Davies of GA Design International, one of the creators of the London spa, ESPA Life at Corinthia, uses in describing the inspiration for the project, the House of Chanel. Understated may well be appropriately applied to Stephen Starr’s new restaurants, certainly in comparison with some of his ultra-ﬂashy spots in New York. As managing editor Alia Akkam reports in her article on the state of ﬁne dining on page 47, “casual comfort” reigns today in restaurant design, even at the most luxe spots, as overseen by such arbiters of good taste—literally—as Wolfgang Puck, Eric Ripert, and Michael Mina. Ripert uses phrases like “contemporary but timeless” and “convivial and sexy,” none of which evoke the haughty stiffness of a Downton Abbey formal feast. (Although Maggie Smith would be welcome anywhere I dine.) As usual with this issue, we suffuse the pages with the theme. The Products section teems with luxurious furniture and fabric, and our interviews Photo by Clodagh reveal what makes the luxury-minded mind tick. (Sir Rocco Forte likes “understated opulence” but also simplicity of service; his designing sister Olga Polizzi just wants the peace of a secluded beach.) And our Backspace page features Jan Wilson of RPW Design in London, who, despite creating some of the most beautiful upscale hotels on earth, ﬁnds simple pleasures in South Park and Emmylou Harris—plus a good foot massage. She’s my kind of luxury connoisseur. Enjoy luxuriating…but also take time to check out the previews of HD Expo, coming up (all too fast!) in May. On page 84, you’ll ﬁnd a preview of the terriﬁc products you’ll ﬁnd there. And while at the show, don’t miss our increasingly popular ISHP/HD Owners’ Roundtable. That event is a busy, noisy thinktank where designers have an opportunity to meet the movers and shakers of the industry for advice, counsel, and forecasts. Spending quality time with owners and developers as a captive audience? Now that’s luxury, as I’m sure you’ll agree.

Michael Adams Editor in Chief madams@hospitalitydesign.com

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospitality Design - March 2012
