The post Step Inside London’s Buzziest, Most Beautifully Designed New Hotel appeared first on Frederic Magazine.
]]>Strolling past One Sloane Gardens, a five-story red brick Victorian steps from Chelsea’s posh Sloane Square, you’d be forgiven for not realizing you’ve just walked by London’s buzziest new hotel. It wouldn’t be the first time: “When we opened, the first guests who entered asked if it was a private house,” recalls François-Joseph Graf, the lauded French designer behind its revitalized interiors. “They thought they had come to the wrong place!” In a sense, that’s just the way the team behind the 30-room gem intended: There’s no sign on the outside façade; the only hint you’ve reached the right spot is the numeral 1 above the arched door. “It doesn’t feel like a hotel,” adds Graf, “but like you’re being hosted in someone’s house.”
The intimate top-floor restaurant deftly projects Wiener Werkstätte, Neo-Grec, and Arts and Crafts motifs through the lens of Victorian England. The custom rug is based on a design by Austrian artist Koloman Moser.
Simon Brown
A roaring fire and red-drenched millwork create a moody backdrop in the bar. The hotel's light fixtures are a mix of original W.A.S. Benson pieces and reproductions.
Simon Brown
Inspired by James McNeill Whistler and Thomas Jeckyll’s famous Peacock Room, Graf filled Japanese-style carved shelves with ceramic vases he collected in Singapore.
Simon BrownOnce inside, you might also conclude that said house—originally built in 1888 by Edwin Thomas Hall, the architect behind the Liberty department store—had been painstakingly preserved over the past 130-or-so years, its original coffered ceilings and wainscoting, stained-glass windows, and marble mantels all restored to perfection. Wrong again. In reality, the building had been broken up into apartments and completely stripped of its Victorian charm by the time its current owner, Cadogan Estates, enlisted Graf and famed hotelier Jean-Louis Costes to transform it into a luxury hotel. “We tore everything out and rebuilt it from zero,” says Graf, who worked with a team of craftspeople to reintroduce authentic period details from boiserie panels to plaster cornices. “Everything from the proportions to the colors to the lights was carefully considered. The challenge was to create the idea that it was a real Victorian house that had always existed.”
In the lobby, carved ebony armchairs in the style of John Pollard Seddon add Neo-Gothic flavor to graphic tilework and leaded-glass doors.
Simon Brown
Sandstone mosaic tile floors repeat the neoclassical motifs.
Simon Brown
Ateliers Loire in Chartres, France, created the stained- and leaded-glass windows.
Simon BrownGraf’s vision of Victorian London, it should be noted, feels worlds away from the heavy, hackneyed decoration so often associated with the era. Instead, the dramatic palette of blacks and browns and reds is buoyed with swaths of creamy white in the manner of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the William Morris wallpaper is recolored in subdued tones, and the W.A.S. Benson light fixtures deployed to showcase their sculptural appeal. James McNeill Whistler and Thomas Jeckyll’s Peacock Room is reimagined within the hotel’s restaurant, its Japanese carved shelves replicated in white (Graf and his team even visited the original in Washington, D.C., to take measurements) and laden with shapely vessels, each hand-selected by Graf in Singapore. And while pattern abounds, there is nary an English rose in sight; the bespoke rugs are boldly graphic, echoing the geometries of Koloman Moser, while the luxuriously embroidered curtains are trimmed with Neo-Grec motifs à la Villa Kérylos.
The curtains, by Phelippeau Tapissier in Paris, are in a custom Pierre Frey printed fabric.
Simon Brown
The hotel’s pitch-perfect W.A.S. Benson light fixtures were reproduced from originals procured by antiques dealer Oscar Graf.
Simon BrownThe result, much like the work of the artists who inspired it, is that At Sloane feels at once deeply storied and decidedly modern. “Rooms were so dark in the Victorian period. Then Mackintosh went to Vienna to follow the Wiener Werkstätte, and all of a sudden, everything became white,” says Graf. “It was so new, so simple. It still feels extraordinary today.” Most of all, though, it feels like London. “Even with the curtains shut,” adds Graf, “you know where you are. And, to me, that is the future of hotels. People want to go back to something special.”
A strict color scheme unifies a guest room’s myriad patterns and prints (including William Morris’s Artichoke wallpaper), while white millwork and a Charles Rennie Mackintosh–style table create moments of calm.
Simon BrownTHIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN VOLUME 14 OF FREDERIC MAGAZINE. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE!
The post Step Inside London’s Buzziest, Most Beautifully Designed New Hotel appeared first on Frederic Magazine.
]]>The post The Design Lover’s Guide to Charlotte, North Carolina appeared first on Frederic Magazine.
]]>West of North Carolina’s famed Outer Banks and east of its heavenly Mountain Region lies buzzy Charlotte—the “Queen City,” as locals fondly call it. Beyond the flashing lights of its professional sports teams and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the city is home to world-class shopping, hidden-gem restaurants, and an emerging art and design scene (hello, new Schumacher boutique!). We called on some of Charlotte’s most fabulous style mavens— interior designer Barrie Benson, Peachy editor-in-chief Blair Farris, and Laura Vinroot Poole, founder of Capitol, Tabor, and Poole Shop—to show us why, as the saying goes, “Charlotte’s got a lot.”
SHOP
CAPITOL BOUTIQUE
“A stunning boutique from Laura Vinroot Poole. She has the best eye and you will not find a better curation of women’s fashion than at this shop.” —Barrie Benson
4010 Sharon Road
Open Monday–Saturday, shop-capitol.com
SCHUMACHER BOUTIQUE
“For interior design and home accessories, we may be a bit biased, but the new Schumacher boutique is fabulous!” —Barrie Benson
301 East Boulevard
Open Monday–Saturday, schumacherboutique.com
THIRTY-ONE JANE
“This mother and daughter team has thoughtfully curated looks from some of the best brands around.” —Blair Farris
908 Pecan Avenue
Open Tuesday–Sunday, thirtyonejane.com.
TABOR, SOCO GALLERY, and NOT JUST COFFEE
“Full disclosure, I do own part of [TABOR], but it is truly my favorite place to spend a Saturday afternoon. Not Just Coffee has the very best coffee on earth, and if you are over-caffeinated, men’s clothing shop Tabor makes their own beer! At Soco, my friend Chandra Johnson curates work from exciting and talented artists from around the globe, as well as the book selection of your dreams. Come for a coffee, then happily linger on the porch for the entire afternoon.” —Laura Vinroot Poole
421 Providence Road
Open Monday–Saturday, taborclt.com and socogallery.com
R. RUNBERG CURIOSITIES
“R. Runberg Curiosities is also a must. Ruth is bringing unusual, show-stopping artisan items from all over the world to Charlotte. There is always something in her showroom that catches my eye.” —Barrie Benson
2321 Crescent Avenue
Open by appointment, rrunberg.com. Email curious@rrunberg.com or call (980) 244-1042
PAPER SKYSCRAPER
“Shop Local” doesn’t get any better than this. A terrific store for cards, candles, books, and more. The perfect place to find the perfect gift.” —Blair Farris
330 East Boulevard and 101 South Tryon Street
Open daily, paperskyscraper.com
SEE
WING HAVEN and THE ELIZABETH LAWRENCE HOUSE & GARDEN
“This is an absolute treasure in Charlotte, hidden in plain sight. Wing Haven’s gardens and bird sanctuary are an oasis in the middle of historic Myers Park, but for a garden nerd like me, Elizabeth Lawrence’s home and garden are absolute nirvana. Highly recommended.” —Laura Vinroot Poole
260 Ridgewood Avenue
Open Wednesday–Sunday, winghavengardens.org
SIMPSON’S PRODUCE at KINGS DRIVE FARMERS MARKET
“Situated on Kings Drive in Myers Park, this locally owned farmers market is a must. Of course it has fruits and vegetables, but you can also get seafood, eggs, baked goods, and the most gorgeous flowers.” —Blair Farris
938 S. Kings Drive
Open Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from April to December; learn more here
THE MINT MUSEUM
“The Mint Museum was established in 1936 in an actual U.S. Mint by Mary Myers Dwelle and a group of women as North Carolina’s first art museum. The Uptown location houses their stellar craft and design collections, but I’ve always been partial to the Randolph location, two blocks from where I grew up and spent hours mesmerized by the historic fashion collection and the Delhom Gallery.” —Laura Vinroot Poole
2730 Randolph Road & 500 South Tryon Street
Open Tuesday–Sunday, mintmuseum.org
BECHTLER MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
“The Bechtler is an inspiring museum that has beautiful permanent collections as well as exciting shows throughout the year.” —Barrie Benson
420 South Tryon St.
Open Wednesday–Monday, bechtler.org
DINE
EVER ANDALO
“Ever Andalo, for their delicious cocktails and the cloud of parmesan you can order to pour over your favorite pasta dish.” —Barrie Benson
3116 North Davidson Street
Open Tuesday–Sunday, everandalo.com
LANG VAN
“The best Vietnamese food you didn’t know you wanted. Coming to Lang Van is like coming home for me. The owner Dan Nguyen will memorize your last order or even better, she’ll psychically read your mood and tell you what you want to eat… and she’s always right. For me, it’s Bánh Xèo with shrimp and tofu and a Vietnamese coffee.” —Laura Vinroot Poole
3019 Shamrock Drive
Open Tuesday–Sunday
AMELIE’S
“Coffee, baked goods, and more. The salted caramel brownie is sinful but worth it!” —Blair Farris
4321 Park Road and other locations
Open Tuesday–Sunday, ameliesfrenchbakery.com
RESTAURANT CONSTANCE
“I love this restaurant for their thoughtful, farm-fresh menu. I have loved every morsel I’ve ever had there.” —Barrie Benson
2200 Thrift Road
Open Tuesday–Saturday, yourfarmsyourtable.com
BEEF ’N BOTTLE
“Charlotte is a city that has been striving for more since its inception in 1755 as a trading hub between two rivers. With that ethos comes amazing progress, but it also means we knock down some of our favorite institutions in favor of innovation. Thankfully we’ve had the good sense to save some of our best, and Beef ’N Bottle tops this list. Since 1958, they have been serving the most delicious steaks and throwback cheese balls in a dining room with perfect lighting, straight out of Goodfellas.” —Laura Vinroot Poole
4538 South Boulevard
Open daily, beefandbottle.net
STAY
THE DUKE MANSION
“Doris Duke’s childhood home is a Colonial Revival architectural marvel tucked away in the middle of Myers Park. The hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, so that means that most of the bathrooms are (nearly) original and things like Mrs. Duke’s shoe closets will never be destroyed. The gardens are an oasis and a cool respite in the North Carolina humidity. Try to book a room with a screened porch, especially in the fall!” —Laura Vinroot Poole
400 Hermitage Road
For rates and availability, visit dukemansion.org
THE HYATT CENTRIC SOUTHPARK
“The perfect location if you are staying in SouthPark. Beautiful rooms and lovely rooftop restaurant.” —Blair Farris
3100 Apex Drive
For rates and availability, visit hyatt.com
The post The Design Lover’s Guide to Charlotte, North Carolina appeared first on Frederic Magazine.
]]>The post Discover the Modernist Haven of Columbus, Indiana appeared first on Frederic Magazine.
]]>Columbus, Indiana, is perhaps the most unlikely city in America. In the mid-20th century, when the small Midwestern town began its expansion, conventional wisdom—which remains all too prevalent today—had it that Modernism was a harsh and unfriendly style foisted on the public by egomaniacal architects and ruthless urban planners. Most municipal governments would take the path of least resistance, opting for the cheapest solutions when building. Developers and corporations cared only about return on investment, aesthetics be damned. And locals often considered modern architecture to be an affront to their traditional values.
Columbus proved all those assumptions wrong. More than 80 years after it unveiled its first Modernist building, this “Athens on the Prairie” remains a thriving community with a legacy of more than 90 innovative and beautiful structures that enrich the day-to-day life of its inhabitants while attracting thousands of architecture fans each year.
The office and printing plant of The Republic newspaper, designed by Myron Goldsmith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, was part of the master plan the firm developed for the town in the 1960s
EZRA STOLLER/ESTOThe town’s unique status is largely due to one man, J. Irwin Miller. Born in Columbus in 1909, Miller was in his mid-20s when he took over his struggling family business, Cummins Engine Company; following a stint in the Navy during World War II, he returned home to see his company flourish, becoming one of the country’s leading diesel engine manufacturers. But Miller wasn’t simply an astute businessman: He was also a civil rights leader, an active member of his church (at his suggestion, Elliel Saarinen was commissioned to design the town’s First Christian Church in 1942), and an ardent lover of modern architecture. In 1953, he and his wife, Xenia, commissioned rising star Eero Saarinen to design their house. Now considered one of the most iconic Modernist residences in America, the Miller House was renowned for its sleek glass walls and innovative sunken living room, Dan Kiley’s strikingly minimal garden design, and an interior that Alexander Girard filled with his own witty and colorful textiles and an array of furnishings and art from around the globe.
A loggia at the Miller House, designed by Eero Saarinen in 1953.
COURTESY OF INDIANAPOLIS MUSEUM OF ARTThe town, too, began to thrive in the postwar boom. But Miller was disenchanted by the way local leaders were handling its growth, which included the construction of two uninspired prefab school buildings. The businessman believed that his fellow townspeople deserved better, and that if Columbus took a more enlightened attitude to design, the town (and, by association, Cummins) could attract and retain the best people. So in 1957, he made a proposal: If the town would select the architect for any new public building from a list he provided, then the Cummins Foundation, which he had founded three years before, would pay the architect’s fees.
The First Baptist Church, 1965, by Harry Weese.
COURTESY OF THE GRAHAM FOUNDATIONThe Lillian C. Schmitt Elementary School, designed by Harry Weese, became the first of many projects underwritten by the Cummins Foundation. As Miller had hoped, other civic organizations and business leaders were inspired to follow suit: Throughout the 1960s and ’70s, top-tier architects were hired not only for schools, libraries, and fire stations, but also for banks, churches, offices, factories, and health care facilities. The list of renowned architects who worked in the town grew to include Saarinen and his father Eliel, Kevin Roche, Richard Meier, Robert Venturi, Harry Weese, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, James Stewart Polshek, and Deborah Berke, among numerous others.
The interior of the North Christian Church, commissioned from Eero Saarinen in 1959.
BALTHAZAR KORABOf course, no town is completely shaped by a single man. And the reverence for forward-thinking design that Miller helped to instill has continued even after his death in 2004. Community engagement, enlightened local government, and a willingness to invest in preservation and promotion have endowed the town of 51,000 with an unmatched array of architecturally significant buildings. Now, at a time when it is difficult to get even the most basic affordable housing built in many of our towns and cities, Columbus stands as an inspiration—and a challenge to the status quo.
The nave of the First Christian Church, designed in 1942 by Eliel Saarinen, and considered one of the first Modernist churches in the U.S.
TRAVIS STANSELTHIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN VOLUME 13 OF FREDERIC MAGAZINE. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE!
The post Discover the Modernist Haven of Columbus, Indiana appeared first on Frederic Magazine.
]]>