Hotel Vermont Attracting International Attention

We were pleased to see a wonderful review of the recently opened Hotel Vermont in this past weekend's Montreal Gazette. The hotel is gaining national and international attention as more people experience this unique, independent, Very Vermont hotel.

The Montreal Gazette calls it a "woodsy and trendy" hip venue. "An artisan project from furniture to food." The author was a guest of the hotel and goes on to write: "Burlington’s first contemporary boutique property, the Hotel Vermont opened this year with a singular dedication to regional products, individual craftsmanship and eco-consciousness."

You can read the whole Montreal Gazette article online.

Hotel Vermont was also earlier previewed in Lodging Magazine, the official magazine of the American Hotel + Lodging Association.

The May 2013 issue featured a rendering of the Deluxe King guestroom, released before the hotel opened. "A Vermont Vignette" provided a sneak peak of the guestroom with its custom bed and casework furnishings, overlooking Lake Champlain.

A longer article was published on the Lodging Magazine website: Hotel Vermont Opens as Burlington's First Independent Hotel.

Topnotch Resort Opens New Restaurant and Lobby

This is opening weekend for many of the new spaces at Topnotch Resort and Spa. TruexCullins has been working with the Stowe resort as they undertook a multimillion dollar renovation to transform many of the key places within the property.

A new exterior porte-cochere improves the arrival experience and now leads guests into the main lobby overlooking Mt Mansfield. The new lobby features a communal living room, café, and bar, and is home to The Roost, a refined but playful restaurant and lounge. In the center of the space sits a 16-foot custom designed shuffleboard table. A large banquet room provides additional seating.

 

 

TruexCullins Interiors also spearheaded a design overhaul on the Topnotch guestrooms. Renovations include a coordinating color palette with new furnishings and finishes.

We are excited for all the changes and hope to see many people enjoying the new Topnotch Resort on this opening weekend!

A View Inside Burlington's New Hotel Vermont

Another week and another TruexCullins project profiled on our local WCAX TV news.  In case you missed it, here is a copy of the video report of the new Hotel Vermont.

The hotel has been open for about a week now, and the initial feedback of the TruexCullins-designed interiors has been great.  Watch the video for a tour thru the lobby and guestrooms.

And because your Memorial Day barbeque will most likely be rained out this weekend, we suggest you change your plans and head over to Hotel Vermont for dinner or cocktails at Juniper bar!

WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-

You can also read the story from the WCAX webpage here.

Capturing Vermont in Metal and Wood

You've heard us say that the interiors of the new Hotel Vermont will be all about Vermont, reveling in all its funky, earthy, independent spirit. This is true both in style and execution.

Case in point: see if you can figure out what this is a photo of:

Stumped?  These are the legs of the lounge chairs that will grace the lobby in the new hotel.  We based our original design of these chair bases on the rails of a classic winter sled.

They are being made by our friends at Beekon Parsons, a woodshop run by a couple of talented furniture makers who have been creating fine wood furniture in Vermont for 30 years. We think you'll agree that the wood and metalwork on these chairs is coming out beautifully.

We have worked with Bruce and Jeff on many projects, and we are thrilled that their work will be featured in Hotel Vermont.  Here are a few more photos from their studio workshop in Shelburne where this furniture is taking shape:

A Sneak Preview of the Hotel Vermont guestrooms

We are counting down the days until the opening of Hotel Vermont.  As you may know from past posts, TruexCullins is designing the interiors for this LEED-certified hotel going up on Cherry Street in Burlington.  Last October we shared some renderings of the proposed bar at Juniper Lounge, located on the lobby level of the hotel. Check them out here if you missed it the first time.

Now we have new renderings of the hotel guestrooms, courtesy of our in-house digital wizards.  The rooms are all very modern and clean, with natural wood casegoods, dramatic lighting, and full-height doors and headboards.

In the Whirlpool King room, guests will enjoy a luxury bath that opens to the bedroom by a sliding glass door and an in-room fireplace facing the bed.

All of the guestrooms, including the Deluxe King, feature custom wood casegoods and furnishings.  The centerpoint of the room is the floor-to-ceiling headboard crafted from character-grade White Oak.  A built-in window seat makes maximum use of the space in front of the window and integrates seamlessly with the adjacent desk and dresser unit.

In this view, looking back towards the entrance, the guestroom bathroom is visible as a cube within the space.  Wood doors with translucent panels slide away on both sides of the bathroom so that when open, all the spaces flow continuously as one.

Some rooms have a larger entry, with a console unit as seen here.  A sliding door opens to the bathroom, with backlit mirror and vessel sink.

TruexCullins Interiors is responsible for the design and specification of most everything you see in these images, from the finishes and furnishings right down to the artwork and room accessories.

The Hotel Vermont guestrooms promise to be as unique as our state itself, and we can't wait to see the finished product!

Spur Grand Opening

Last summer we shared photos with you of the completed lounge at the Cascade restaurant at Teton Mountain Lodge in Jackson Hole.  This was Phase One of a two-part project, and the remaining work is now complete and open for business.  Rebranded as the Spur Restaurant and Bar, the new space recently opened its doors and held a grand opening celebration on December 21st.

TruexCullins designed a new restaurant dining room and bar that, like the lounge before it, is a warm and casual space that celebrates the western mountain aesthetic.  The design of the interior evokes the Jackson Hole qualities of rustic nature with a touch of contemporary flair.  Guests can relax by the fireplace or saddle up to the large bar.

Spur serves three meals a day and plays host to a lively après ski scene.  Executive Chef Kevin Humphreys is highly acclaimed in the area for his ability to elevate traditional mountain cuisine into distinctive dishes using regional and organic ingredients.  The opening party was a huge hit, with the restaurant filled with people enjoying the new space and the great food.

Hotel Vermont at the Vermont Expo

Visitors to the Vermont Business and Industry Expo last week had a chance to get a sneak preview of the interior design work we are developing for the new Hotel Vermont. We assisted the hotel with their booth at the Expo, with the arrangement of interior finishes that will grace the new boutique hotel in downtown Burlington.

The presentation of carpets, fabrics and greenery gave visitors to the Expo a sense of what the new hotel lobby and lounge will feel like. 'Stay Natural' is the tagline of the new hotel, and the interior design will deliver on this promise, with local, natural and healthy materials.

Some of our 3D renderings of the first floor lobby and lounge were also on display, along with this video from the groundbreaking ceremony featuring the owners and designers explaining the project.

The Vermont Business & Industry Expo is the region's largest business-to-business trade show and is hosted by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. An estimated 3,000 people attended the two-day show held at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington.

Restaurant Week Part 3: Sugar Hill Inn

We love working on restaurant design projects that allow us to create environments that support and promote the enjoyment of food. Today’s project is in northern New Hampshire at the Sugar Hill Inn.

The Sugar Hill Inn is located near Franconia Notch state park and a number of New Hampshire ski areas, such as Bretton Woods, Cannon Mountain, and Loon. It is a charming, romantic getaway in a beautiful corner of the state and well worth the trip.

The Inn features an award-winning restaurant that offers a unique four-course meal in a romantic setting. As stated on the Sugar Hill website: “We have a European philosophy about dining. The table is yours for the evening. Take your time to enjoy the candlelight, cozy fire and amazing views with the combination of great food, wine and conversation … Our four course menu offers a well-balanced symphony of flavors and leads guests through a leisurely, romantic and artistic culinary experience.”

TruexCullins recently assisted the innkeepers of the Sugar Hill Inn with the renovations to their restaurant. The completely refurbished dining room includes wing-back chairs and a flexible central table. A custom casework display cabinet holds the Inn’s wine collection while screening the service area behind.

The restaurant is open to both Inn guests and the general public. For more info and to make reservations, visit sugarhillinn.com.

Working Fireplaces

Yesterday we looked at some of our favorite fireplaces from a few of our recent residential projects. At this time of year, we are reminded that a fireplace can be both the physical and emotional center of a home, providing warmth for the building and the soul.

But our fireplace designs show up in our other studios as well: workplace, education and resort projects. 

You wouldn't normally expect to see a large custom fireplace in an office space, but at many of the workspaces we've designed, you would see just that. The fireplace provides an opportunity to set a company apart from the rest. It can reinforce a brand identity that – especially in Vermont - may be focused on a natural, outdoor lifestyle. Or it may simply be a way to promote more social interaction, both internally among employees but also with customers and guests.

At the Burton headquarters here in Burlington, a curved stone fireplace with an integrated tall stack of firewood is the dominant feature in the main entrance lobby, wrapping the entire side of the room. This is what guests experience when they first enter the space. The fireplace instantly sets the mood for this edgy company that fully celebrates winter.

Our biggest custom fireplace project in recent history is probably the Lake Placid Lodge. The original lodge was built in 1882 and was destroyed (ironically, by fire) in 2005. TruexCullins designed a new lodge in a style true to the original Adirondack heritage. There are 35 guest suites in the main Inn, each one with a unique stone fireplace that adds to the rustic elegance and mountain feel. Exterior fireplaces also occupy spaces around the building, at sitting areas that overlook the Lake, such as this one:

Notice the impressive stonework, all laid by hand. We were very pleased with the work of the local craftspeople on the job. Each of the fireplaces were finished with uniquely designed stone surrounds, mantles and hearths. Our design drawings –also individually crafted by hand – communicated this design intent to the builders in fairly specific detail.

The last project we want to share is a completely different aesthetic than the rustic Adirondack feel of the Lake Placid Lodge. Our Interiors department designed these fireplaces for the Portland Harbor Hotel in a soothing contemporary style befitting this oceanside property.

Six new suites were added to the hotel in a four-story contemporary wing served by a private elevator. In the Executive King Suite, the room is split into separate sitting and sleeping zones with a see-thru double-sided glass fireplace. This is a gas fireplace by Town and Country, with the "Tranquility Burner" of river rocks and white sand for a very clean and contemporary look. The fireplace is built into a custom wood casepiece of golden walnut wood paneling.

Downstairs, the in-house restaurant Eve's on the Garden was completely reconfigured to improve service for all three meals of the day. Our design for the new dining room included the addition of another new fireplace in the center of the space. This is also a double-sided, see-thru unit, facing the entrance to the restaurant, with the main bar behind. Similar wood paneling was used at the surround, but with more traditional detailing and a nod to the nautical spirit of the Portland coast. Here, the surround is tiled with a tumbled mosaic Mexican limestone, and a replica Schooner is perched on the mantle to complete the look.

A proper fireplace does more than just provide heat. It is often the physical and indeed, spiritual center of the home (or business). A warm fire brings people together, but can also be a vehicle for personal reflection. A well-designed fireplace provides comfort, therapy and peace.

Join us at the Hotel Vermont Ice Bar

Now that winter has arrived in full force, we are getting ready for the biggest event of the season here in our hometown: the Burlington Winter Festival, coming up on Saturday February 4th. Highlights include a snow-carving competition, the family expo at the ECHO center, and the adrenaline-pumping Penguin Plunge.

But the newest event this year at the Winter Festival is being hosted by our friends at the Hotel Vermont (one of our current projects). This would be the Hotel Vermont ICE BAR. Held outside the Courtyard Marriott at 25 Cherry Street, site of the future Hotel Vermont, the Ice Bar is a unique experience with impressive ice sculptures, great food, and Vermont crafted cocktails.

The Ice Bar will be open for two nights, February 3rd and 4th, from 6 to 9pm. Tickets are needed in advance and cost $20 per person. You know you want to go, so head over to this site and buy your tickets now.

This will be a new experience for Burlington, but there have been plenty of successful Ice Bar events in some of our neighboring cities. Last year the event was held at another TruexCullins project: the Portland Harbor Hotel in Portland, Maine. Check out the scene at the Portland Ice Bar from 2010:

Hillside Hideaway

Our work at the Spa at the Casa Madrona Hotel graces the cover of this month's American Spa magazine.

In "Hillside Hideaway", writer Heather Mikesell explains how "a charming Bay area hotel and spa reinvents itself once again to tempt guests with ocean-inspired bliss."

Click the pages below to view the 3-page spread, or go to spatrade.com to read the article online.

Interior Design for the Undead

This Halloween, we have reason to be a little more frightened than normal.  You see, TruexCullins Interiors has been tasked with renovating a haunted mansion.

The property that is the focus of our attention is a hotel that features a Victorian mansion dating to 1885.  So as not to scare the tourists (and to keep the search engines away), we won’t mention the specific name of this hotel, but if you follow our work, you can probably figure it out.

As legend has it, a young girl who lived in the house during the 1800s died unexpectedly from an illness.  Her spirit now resides in room 317.  The former owners of the hotel brought in professional ghost hunters and confirmed the presence of supernatural spirits.  (They then proceeded to offer a “spooky package” to their guests, complete with Ouija Board.)

When we were there, old photos of the original residents still hung on the walls, showing the family before the tragic accident.  If you’re a believer, don’t fret: there are plenty of other beautiful, non-haunted rooms of the hotel that you can book for your next stay.

The former owner of the property produced the following video that tells the story of the haunted hotel room.  His account of the ghost starts at 1:38.

The program for the renovated mansion is still being worked out, but regardless of what the exact function turns out to be, you can be sure it will be a magnificently unique space, a crown jewel for the hotel with so much history and meaning.

And we will be sure to specify a full spirit abatement program with the renovation work.

Announcing Hotel Vermont

Last night we were thrilled to join Governor Peter Shumlin, Commerce Secretary Lawrence Miller, and local developers Jay Canning and Chuck DesLauriers as they announced the start of construction for the new 126-room Hotel Vermont.

Kim Deetjen and the TruexCullins Interiors studio has teamed up with Israel Smith of Smith Buckley Architects to design the new hotel, named after the original Hotel Vermont that first opened its doors to guests on the corner of Main Street and St. Paul Street.

The new Hotel Vermont is located on Cherry Street, halfway between the Church Street Marketplace and the Burlington waterfront.  The hotel is being built with the goal of LEED Silver certification, and will be Burlington’s first LEED certified hotel.

The hotel lobby features a wood-burning fireplace, a granite-clad central core, and natural materials such as reclaimed antique red oak flooring.  From here, you can step up to Juniper Lounge, which will serve coffee, cocktails, and small plates throughout the day.  The bar opens to an outdoor terrace with an open hearth, overlooking the Burlington waterfront and a green roof garden.

The ground floor will also include a new Hen of the Wood Restaurant, featuring the farm-to-table cuisine of chef Eric Warnstedt.  Chef Warnstedt is the executive chef and co-owner of the current Hen of the Wood Restaurant in Waterbury, widely regarded as one of the best restaurants in the state.

Calling last night’s event a groundbreaking ceremony would be a little inaccurate, as not a shovel was in sight. We do things a little differently in Vermont, so instead of tossing a small mound of dirt for the cameras, the Governor performed a ritual watering of a Cherry tree to signify the commercial growth that the hotel will bring to Cherry Street.

The stars that really stole the evening, however, were Mortimer and Mauve, the 2 pigs who go by the title of “Senior Global Brand Ambassadors”.  Mortimer and Mauve are the company mascots of WhistlePig Farm Distillery, makers of 100 proof WhistlePig Straight Rye Whiskey.  WhistlePig Whiskey is bottled by hand at WhistlePig Farm right here in Vermont’s Champlain Valley and available in select markets in New York, Illinois, and California.  At last night’s event it was served up in “carbon negative” cocktails with ingredients that balance our carbon footprint. 

The pigs milling among the crowd were a great reminder of what can be expected from Hotel Vermont when it opens for business in April 2013: employing world-renowned Vermont companies and artisans; using made-in-Vermont materials and products; and serving locally grown and produced food and beverages to tell the Hotel Vermont story.  It will be a place for travelers that provides a truly unique and authentic “Vermont” experience, exuding comfort and casual warmth.

Stay tuned for more details as the project develops over the coming year!

Casa Madrona Cottages Now Open

TruexCullins Interiors has been working with the Terra Resort Group on the complete interior renovation of this historic resort in Sausalito, California.  This winter, the Casa Madrona opened their new street-level lobby, expanded and reconfigured to better welcome guests and introduce them to all the rich flavors of the property.  (See photos of the Lobby in our January blog post)

Now, the Casa Madrona is celebrating their next major milestone with the grand opening of the 22 renovated cottage rooms and suites, situated along the hillside overlooking San Francisco Bay.

Previously, each of the individual cottages had been decorated in wildly divergent themes:  an impressive array of styles including the “Renoir Room”, “Lilac and Lace”, “Bridgeway to Hollywood”, and “Kathmandu” (complete with Indian elephants and tribal patterns). While there was certainly never an argument for lack of character, our charge with the renovations was to provide a more consistent overall experience for the guest, no matter what part of the property they were staying in.  At the same time, the design allows for the celebration of the individual moments that occur within each of the uniquely positioned cottages. 

We wanted to refocus attention on the things that really make this resort special: the amazing hillside location with panoramic views of San Francisco Bay; the creative and independent spirit of the community of Sausalito, with its rich nautical history; and the historic significance of the resort itself, anchored by a grand Victorian mansion dating to 1885.

And now we have new photos to share of the completed cottages, thanks to photographer Cameron Neilson:

The beds are a prime feature in the rooms, with mahogany posts and decorative glass inlays.  Each suite also typically includes a casual seating area, a work desk, a fireplace, and an exterior terrace.  Unique elements from the cottages’ previous life such as stained glass windows were retained and integrated into the new design.

The guest bathrooms in each of the 22 cottages are all unique in their size and configuration, but they are each finished with the same palette of materials and finishes.  A glass shelf continues from behind the vanity into the shower, with alternating bands of matte and polished porcelain tile.  The vanities pick up on the seaside influence with nautical pull and rod details, and they are uniquely scaled to fit into each bathroom, maximizing the space available.

All of the guestroom furniture pieces and bathroom vanities are custom designed by TruexCullins Interiors and built by Sorrentino Marriani.  The beds, tables, desks and vanities establish a consistent, coordinated palette that includes mahogany wood with English dove tails, contrasting painted crème surfaces, and clear glass knobs.  It is a classic urban look with a distinctively nautical influence.  You can see the entire “Sausalito Collection” at smfurniture.com

The full-service spa was also completely overhauled with new finishes, furnishings, and lighting.  In this view, one of the showers is visible on the left, and the steam room is on the right, with porcelain tile and LED lighting:

The new Casa Madrona is beginning to attract some good attention.  The popular Bay Area blog 7x7.com was so impressed with the makeover that they recently implored its readers to “Take a Staycation at the Revamped Casa Madrona in Sausalito”.

TruexCullins continues to work with the Terra Resort Group on the remaining Upper Cottages, with construction planned imminently.  And then, we look forward to the grand finale of the renovation project: the 125-year-old Victorian mansion which will be refreshed and renewed as a fitting focal point to the resort.

Future Furnishings: The Best and Worst of NeoCon 2011

posted by Matthew Bushey

Last week a couple of us from the office travelled to the fantastic city of Chicago for NeoCon, the largest contract furnishings trade show in North America.

Unlike most other architecture and design trade shows, NeoCon does not take place in a large convention center, with vendors setting up temporary booths to display their wares.  It is held every year at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, up until recently the largest commercial building in the world with 4.2 million square feet spread across 25 stories, 50% of which is occupied by the wholesale showrooms that open their doors for this trade show that attracts 50,000 people.

This is the event that most contract furnishings manufacturers use to roll out their new products for the year.  You can also find lighting, flooring, fixtures, and finishes throughout the Mart, but furnishings are really the main attraction for this 3-day show.  Here is our short list of the best and worst of NeoCon 2011:

Aloft Lounge by Arcadia

design by Qdesign

First up: the Aloft Lounge chair by Arcadia.  I love that this is totally different, very unique, but still comfortably sensible.  The lightweight steel base delicately holds up a folded wood frame with a comfortable upholstered seat.  The three elements come together – and complement each other – rather nicely.  The series also includes a love seat, occasional tables and benches.  I think the elongated length of the love seat is a bit too much for the scale of the frame, but I do really like the tables: substituting a glass top for the upholstered seat as the third element in the composition.

OMHU desk for Linak U.S.

design by Rie Norregaard

This table is one that I could easily imagine at home in one of our Vermont projects.  Rie Norregaard is the creative director of Omhu, a product design firm guided by Scandinavian influences.  For NeoCon, she designed this table for Linak, a company that makes electric linear actuators.  (Those are the devices that make the table move up and down at the push of a button)  But this table is all about the natural wood top.  Norregaard took a 200-year old slab of ash wood and had it sandblasted, resulting in an extreme texture of woodgrain that pops right off the surface.  The simplicity of the design allows the natural materials to be fully appreciated, but the treatment of the wood is also very unique.

Sketch chair by Davis

design by Burkhard Vogtherr & Jonathan Prestwich

 

I was really impressed with the Davis showroom.  Bent plywood frames, duo-tones and textures, and supple upholstery.  The Sketch Chair series is one of eight new collections that Davis introduced at this year’s NeoCon.  The Sketch is a conference or side chair that looks and feels just right.  It has a small footprint, with slender base designs and an upholstered seat that wraps around you just enough.  The horizontal stitch across the back gives it just the right amount of definition and interest.  It’s not a large chair, but in its form and detailing it projects a refined elegance.

Breathe Living Wall by DIRTT

One of the best showroom experiences we had was the hour we spent at the DIRTT showroom, at their “Green Learning Center” across the street from the Mart.  DIRTT is a company that was formed about 7 years ago to address the shortcomings in the marketplace at that time for modular, demountable wall systems.  They make factory-built walls that offer many benefits over conventional drywall construction, literally spelled out with one of my favorite acronyms: Doing It Right This Time.

 

DIRTT introduced a number of new products at NeoCon this year, including this one we liked best: the Breathe Living Wall.  Breathe is not a modular wall system but is actually an accessory item that can be mounted to any DIRTT wall, or to any standard wall surface: be it gypsum, stone, or concrete.  I was a bit surprised to realize that DIRTT had more to offer than just modular walls, and Breathe seems to reinforce this fact that they are now expanding beyond their core product.

The Breathe system is composed of a series of modular pots that fit into a slat-wall system to create a living wall.  There is a built-in gravity-fed water irrigation line that runs along the entire installation, separate from the individual pots, providing water to each plant through special devices in the bottom of each pot.  It is low-mess and low-mantenance, and is an opportunity to bring a living wall indoors where before it just wasn’t practical.

Proximus casegoods workwall by Halcon 

design by David Grout and Donna Corbat for Gary Lee Studios

 

This is a product that was actually released at last year’s show, winning a Best of NeoCon Gold award, but still held a prominent spot at NeoCon 2011.  The Proximus casegoods collection by Halcon is a private office workwall that really works.  Each component of the system is built up to maximize function, with storage, filing, and stacking relocated at eye level, not hidden beneath the worksurface.  Huge panels slide across the entire wall, concealing what you might not want to see or revealing what you do.  The panels are finished with stunning wood veneers that coordinate beautifully with the primary desk and all parts of the Proximus family.

 

 

Occhio chair by Martin Brattrud

design by Jeffrey Hollander, Guy Painchaud, Lee Pasteris, Banning Rowles

Martin Brattrud is known for upholstered seating, but this is one piece that stands out from their regular collection of standards.  The Occhio lounge chair has a distinctive wood back, kind of a weave pattern of wood veneers, with an angular wood base and arms.  The chair looks lower than it feels, thanks to a comfortably thick seat cushion.  So often, the backs of chairs are not something we want to look at, but this chair would be perfect for locations where you see it from all sides: the back is its best side.

I did say this was my Best and Worst list of NeoCon 2011, so let me wrap up with what I thought was the biggest bomb at the show:

The Chakra Chair by Karim Rashid 

for Raynor Contract

The 7^th floor of the Merchandise Mart is full of booths by smaller companies, so you can usually find a few surprises.  I did a double-take when I came across this chair by Karim Rashid.  Rashid is, of course, a popular industrial and interior designer who you are probably familiar with through his work with Umbra and Target.  I’ve got to say, I’ve never been a big fan of Karim Rashid.  Let’s just say there are a few too many gratuitous curves in his palette for my tastes.

This is his latest chair, the Chakra, which he designed for Raynor Contract.  Chakra is the Hindi term for the body’s power centers, and the design of this chair is based on these pressure points.  It is a comfortable chair, but I wouldn’t say it’s relaxing.  It definitely has a very unique form, but it’s not one that I find inviting.  More alien than anthropometric, this chair is something that subjects you to its grip, ready to receive each muscle independently for what could be a traumatic experience.  As one online reader put it: “Finally, a chair that supports my kidneys!”

This is not a chair for sitting.  It is more of a device for holding humans. 

There’s something for everyone at NeoCon.