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!

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.

Restaurant Week Part 5: Norma’s

If you’ve been following us this week you know that we’re on a restaurant kick, with a new culinary design project posted each day. With summer right around the corner, we can’t think of a better way to enjoy a meal than sitting poolside with the Vermont mountain landscape opening around you. So today we are closing out our own Restaurant Week by coming back to Vermont and the Topnotch Resort in Stowe.

Norma’s is the signature restaurant of this four-diamond resort near the top of the Mountain Road. Opening in 2006, the restaurant serves up casual alfresco dining at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The restaurant pavilion maintains a low profile, with a sweeping roofline and radial plan that allows for maximum views. TruexCullins collaborated with Belle Maison Interiors on this project, which has a contemporary interior and natural earth tones. An open kitchen opens onto the dining room.

The entire west wall of the restaurant is lined with a broad bank of mahogany-framed sliding glass doors that open onto a pair of sparkling pools. Outdoor tables provide more seating on the stone-paved terrace. And on a warm summer evening, the firepit on the patio becomes the source for a refined roast-your-own S’mores experience sure to please the whole family.

To view the menu and make a reservation, visit Norma’s Restaurant online at topnotchresort.com/dining-normas.php.

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.

Grutchfield and Nelson Rise to New Leadership Positions

We are pleased to announce our newest staff promotions.

Lee Grutchfield, AIA, of Marshfield has been named the newest Principal at TruexCullins. Lee joined TruexCullins in 2000 and now leads the firm’s Home Studio. He has over 30 years of experience working on a wide range of projects in Vermont and San Francisco. After first working for 14 years as a builder, Lee has continued to pursue his passion for building design and construction as an award-winning architect. Lee’s recent projects include South Farm Homes, a development of six net-zero energy homes located in Hinesburg, Vermont, and six other net-zero and low-energy homes located throughout Vermont and New York.

Keith Nelson, LEED AP, of Underhill Center has also been named an Associate in the firm. Keith joined TruexCullins in 2002 and has over 15 years of experience in commercial and residential architecture, as well as in interior architectural design. As project manager and designer at TruexCullins, Keith’s noted work includes 4 Currier Place, a LEED Silver certified building, and the La Bella Vita Restaurant and Spa at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine. Current projects include the West Street Hotel in Bar Harbor, Maine and a new guest wing at the Topnotch Resort in Stowe, Vermont.

Lee and Keith are joining Principals Rolf Kielman, David Epstein, Richard Deane, Kim Deetjen, Robert “Sparky” Millikin and associate, Matthew Bushey, as the leadership team at TruexCullins. Congratulations to Lee and Keith!

Samoset Construction Update

 

The construction at the Samoset Resort is nearing completion and we are anxiously awaiting the grand opening of the new lobby, restaurant, and spa. The Samoset is a 230-acre waterfront resort at the edge of Penobscot Bay on the Maine coast. Truexcullins has designed the interior renovations and exterior additions that will strengthen the connection to the ocean, update and expand the dining and lounge facilities, and introduce new guest amenities. Kim and Keith flew out to the project site recently to check in on the progress. Here are some renderings that show a taste of what's to come:

Bar & Lounge:

A new open stair leads down to the Restaurant and Bar from the hotel lobby above, inviting guests to experience the vibrant activity as soon as they step into the building. The sound of the ocean combines with the pleasant aroma of the restaurant for an engaging sensory experience, all driven by the food as the main ingredient. There are a variety of lounge and sitting areas, including fireside seating, a communal table, and club chairs overlooking the ocean. The exposed wood structure defines the space and frames a series of views.

Restaurant:

When the renovations are complete, The Samoset will debut a brand-new Italian restaurant called La Bella Vita Restaurant. La Bella Vita will feature an authentic antipasto Bar, a wood-fired oven and marketplace for Italian specialty foods. Interior finishes and materials reflect those commonly found in domestic Italian kitchens, such as marble, wood, and iron. Changes have also been made to the space to allow for a more direct view from the dining area to the ocean beyond.

Spa:

The project includes the addition of a full-service seaside spa, a first for the Samoset. This view shows the glass entry and retail space, where guests are greeted by a spa receptionist and invited into one of the five private treatment rooms. A private lounge and patio for spa guests overlooks the golf course and ocean. Materials and furnishings are used that reflect the Maine seaside aesthetic, and the whole spa experience is a celebration of the serenity of the surrounding coastal landscape.

 

To read more about the ongoing improvements to the property, check out the project overview on the Samoset Resort website, or read this Renovation Update, posted last month, to the Samoset News & Events Blog.

Not Over Yet

If you love skiing and riding, you know it's been an amazing winter. And while it may feel like a warm, wet spring where you live, the ski season is not quite over yet. Yes, it's true: our friends at Jay Peak are running the lifts again this weekend, May 7^th and 8^th.

It's been quite a year up at Jay, with close to 400 inches of snow for the season. They are also wrapping up a great winter season for the brand-new Tram Haus Lodge. TruexCullins Interiors was pleased to be involved in the interior design of the 57 Lodge guestrooms, suites, and main lobby. In keeping with Jay Peak's rugged nature and proudly offbeat attitude, we incorporated touches of local flavor and whimsy throughout the guestrooms, including locally sourced wood furniture, linens, and accessories.

You can check out the new lodge and get in one more weekend of spring skiing before the season wraps up for good. Check out the Jay Peak website for details on a special package deal that includes a night at the Tram Haus Lodge, lift tickets, and a Mother's Day brunch for $79.

Coincidentally, we just received these new photos of our work at the Tram Haus Lodge. Our thanks to Susan Teare for her super photography once again!

Casa Madrona, Phase 1

We just received these photos of our work at the Casa Madrona Resort in Sausalito, California.

This is phase one of the renovation, which  was recently completed and included a complete overhaul of the street-level lobby.  A towering bookcase, stone fireplace, and deep blue wing chairs now invite you in from the street and orient you to a truly unique guestroom experience that lies ahead:  the accommodations include three floors of contemporary guestrooms directly abutting Bridgeway Boulevard; an 1885 Victorian Mansion listed on the National Register of Historic Places; and 22 cottage rooms and suites that cascade down the picturesque hillside.  The challenge for the lobby was to craft a space that was appropriate to all three of these differing aesthetic languages.  Neither strictly modern nor traditional, the solution lies in the integration of key historic elements into a singular language of modern sensibilities.

The cottage rooms are currently under construction, and the Mansion suites will follow after that.  We're also working with the Terra Resort Group to renovate their full-service spa.  Here are the shots of the completed lobby:  Click to enlarge.

A fortuny pendant hangs in the main lobby:

 

Top Five: Hotels

posted by Matthew Bushey, AIA

Just in time for your summer vacation plans, this week we look at five of our top hotels for interior design.  All of these are places that we have experienced firsthand, and have walked away with a strong impression.  We tried to mix it up so that no matter what kind of vacation you’re planning, or which corner of the country you’re visiting, there is something here for everyone.

We know hotel design, both in our architectural practice and our interior design studio.  But I should mention that we excluded any of our own projects from this list of five.  Instead, this is our unbiased look at the work of other design firms, taking note of where we find inspiration.

1.  HOTEL TERRA, Teton Village, WY

One of our favorite places to stay when traveling out west is the Hotel Terra, located at the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and just one mile from the Grand Teton National Park.  Some of the best skiing in the country is right at your door, and you’re just steps from some of the most beautiful expanses of national wilderness you will ever see.  TruexCullins has worked in the neighborhood, on both the Teton Mountain Lodge and Teton Springs Resort, so we’re familiar with the area and all it has to offer.

But beyond the desirable locale, we love the Hotel Terra for its ‘modern mountain’ aesthetic and environmentally-focused design.  The Terra was one of the first LEED-certified hotels when it opened a few years ago.  It is now charting new ground for the whole hospitality industry, proving that sustainability and luxury can peacefully coexist.  In fact, at the Hotel Terra, we would say its environmental amenities actually define the guest experience: natural, healthy, and luxurious.

2.  THE LIBERTY HOTEL, Boston, MA

The Charles Street Jail was built in 1851 on the edge of Beacon Hill, overlooking the Charles River.  After closing in 1990 due to deteriorating conditions, the historic building was transformed into a modern luxury hotel that retains the feel of the century-old prison.  Dubbed the Liberty Hotel, this is our #2 pick for its clever integration of old and new.

The large historic windows have been beautifully preserved, along with the original stone and brick masonry and the prison cell iron bars.  The jail’s central atrium soars 90 feet and forms the core of the hotel lobby, encircled by the catwalks once used by prison guards.  18 of the guestrooms are housed in the original jail, with the remaining 280 rooms located in a new 16-story tower connected to the main building.  Stay in this hotel and you will truly feel like a pampered prisoner.

3.  ARIA, Las Vegas, NV

The Aria Resort is the largest hotel of the $8.5 billion CityCenter mega-development in the heart of the Las Vegas strip.  As with all things Vegas, the scale is impressive, with over 4,000 guestrooms, 16 restaurants, and a dedicated mass-transit system to bring you from one end of the property to the other. CityCenter is the largest private development in US history and takes up 67 acres of real estate in the middle of the Las Vegas desert.  Yet in spite of this massive scale, the hotel has received LEED-Gold certification.

Even more than its scale or sustainability, Aria’s most notable feature is the fact that it represents a radical departure from the themed approach of Las Vegas’ recent past.  Instead of reconstructed Italian piazzas or Egyptian tombs, the architecture of Aria is firmly based on unadorned modernism.  This is its strategy for achieving authenticity: it is not trying to be anything that it’s not.

CityCenter has been called a referendum on modernism itself.  When we were there, just 5 months after it opened in December 2009, the crowds seemed healthy but not overwhelming.  Guestroom occupancy rates are down, and sales of the neighboring residential units are even worse.  Still, the verdict is out whether the masses will embrace this new chapter in the continual reinvention of Las Vegas.

4.  HOTEL AT THE THREE STORKS, Prague, Czech Republic

This is a good time for a trip to Europe, with the American dollar so strong against the Euro.  If your travels take you to the Czech Republic, you should check into the Hotel at the Three Storks. This 5-star luxury boutique hotel is located in the historic center of the city in a recently renovated historic house.  The Renaissance building has been sensitively but unabashedly updated with an unconventional, modern interior.  We especially love the dramatic use of indirect lighting, in the guestrooms and the public spaces.  Light flows from behind objects and around corners, casting a soft glow over the space and accenting key features.

5. ICE HOTEL, Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier, Quebec

Just north of the border, about 30 minutes from Quebec City, lies a hotel made entirely of ice.  It is actually rebuilt every winter, and open for a few short months during the coldest season.  The Ice Hotel, or Hotel de Glace, changes and grows each year.  It is now up to 36 guestrooms and suites, each with unique ice carvings and some with fireplaces.  Multiple layers of animal pelts keep you warm at night, and you can take a dip in one of the open-air hot tubs to warm up.  The Ice Bar is the center of the action, where the house specialty is Vodka, of course (served in an ice glass).  There is also a chapel that’s popular for weddings.

I was there in 2002, one year after its inaugural season.  It has been rebuilt every year since, and this winter the Ice Hotel celebrated its 10th anniversary.  For the first time this March, it had to close 2 weeks early due to a record warm winter, (another consequence of global warming).  But for those 10 weeks of winter we still have, the Ice Hotel is one of the most memorable hotels you will encounter.

Have you discovered a great hotel?  Leave a comment and share your favorite.

Lake Placid Lodge Featured in ForbesLife Magazine

Our friend and colleague, and former TC Associate, Cleary O. Buckley, AIA, just passed along this recent article in ForbesLife Magazine featuring one of our Resort Studio projects the Lake Placid Lodge.

Weekend in the Country

Lorraine Cademartori, 10.17.09, 09:30 AM EDT ForbesLife Magazine dated November 02, 2009

Photos: Gary Hall Photography

Falling for Lake Placid Lodge

The sense of tranquility that pervades the Lake Placid Lodge is palpable. When I arrived late on a sun-drenched Friday afternoon in June, the place was a hub of inactivity: I met a foursome whose ambitions for the evening extended to gin-and-tonics taken in Adirondack chairs on the patio, and two other guests who were wrapping up a few hours of quiet fishing from the dock. Yes, the clientele may have arrived with the intention of swimming, hiking, golfing, or, in the winter, skiing, but the property's magnificent, four-acre lakeside setting has an almost narcotic effect. The scene has a way of lulling guests into a pleasant inertia.

Read more...

TruexCullins Interiors to Design Renovation of Historic Sausalito Hotel

TruexCullins Interiors Studio has been hired by Terra Resort Group to design the renovations of the historic Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa located in Sausalito, California. The Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa is an iconic resort perched on the picturesque hillside of Sausalito overlooking the San Francisco Bay. The hotel is comprised of a wide array of buildings and room types, including the historic guestrooms of an 1885 Victorian Mansion; 21 cottage rooms and suites built along the Sausalito hillside and connected with brick walkways and stairs; and 31 contemporary rooms occupying an adjacent 4-story building.

The hotel has recently come under new ownership and is now being managed and operated by the Terra Resort Group, a team of hospitality professionals operating and developing a collection of dynamic hotels and resorts, including the highly acclaimed Hotel Terra in Jackson Hole, WY.  A few years ago,  TruexCullins Architects designed the Teton Mountain Lodge, another Terra Resort Group property.

The Casa Madrona is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a celebrated landmark for visitors and residents alike. A major interior renovation is poised to reposition the hotel as a premier 4-diamond resort, preserving the historic charm of the 125-year old mansion, while providing a new level of modern amenities and services.

The design being developed by Truexcullins Interiors introduces a singular language that integrates modern sensibilities while retaining key historic elements. The result will provide a consistent overall experience for guests that celebrates the individual moments that occur within a resort that has been a cherished part of the community for over a century.

Here are a few snaps of TC designers Kim Deetjen and Matt Bushey from a recent trip to Casa Madrona.

Tram Haus Lodge @ Jay Peak - Installation Day

This past December during a driving snowstorm, a group of hardy Vermonters gathered together to deliver and install the furnishings for the new Tram Haus Lodge at Jay Peak Resort in time for opening Christmas week. The Tram Haus is the first major piece of construction in the resort’s expansion and development project. TruexCullins was brought in to design custom furnishings and finishes for the interiors of the 57 studio, 1, 2, and 3-bedroom guest suites and the hotel lobby.

In keeping with Jay Peak’s rugged nature and proudly offbeat attitude, touches of local flavor and whimsy were added throughout, including locally sourced wood furniture, linens, and accessories. Handcrafted LED light fixtures and recycled tram cable adorn the lobby, alongside furniture and artwork that evokes the backcountry spirit of the Northeast Kingdom.

As local artisans unwrapped packages and boxes, they unveiled beautifully crafted items including a custom black walnut concierge desk and central banquette, a tram cable thistle sculpture with hand blown glass globes and LED lamps encased in crystal, a patinated copper mirror, hand forged iron lamps with twisted tram cable and red birch bent shades, genuine Jay Peak “photo of the day” photography, red birch platform beds, and iron and red concrete bedside tables. Working in concert with our Interiors Studio team, everything was arranged according to plan, knowing that opening day had arrived and timing was critical.

Echoing Jay Peak’s mission of creating an authentic Vermont experience for visitors and guests, TruexCullins relied on the participation of the talented local craftspeople that we work with everyday. We rely on them for their creativity, ingenuity, and in the end, their ability to deliver on installation day. Frankly, it’s one of the most enjoyable facets of our work. Not only that, but working with local people who use local materials keeps the dollars right here in Vermont. By collaborating with over a dozen Vermont artisans, we helped Jay Peak support our local economy, a key objective of the resort. Jay Peak’s commitment to keeping it local is clearly illustrated throughout the Tram Haus with the quality design and craftsmanship that is synonymous with the Made in Vermont moniker.

Our sincere thanks to:

Dave Allard - Lyndon Furniture

Robin Chase of Maple Corner Woodworks

Brian Jones Woodworking

Marc Lemire Upholstering

Stephen Conant - Conant Metal & Light

Church + Maple Glass Studio

Richard Spreda - Blacksmith

Caryn Long - The Window Works

Homer Wells - Sign Language

Jordan Wilson and Todd Sarandos - Red Concrete

Beeken Parsons - Consulting
Photos - Susan Teare

And, of course, Jay Peak Resort

So the next time you’re up at Jay Peak, stop by the new Tram Haus Lodge and see what’s happening on the mountain.

Office Field Trip

posted by Matthew Bushey

Each year, the entire office embarks on a day-long field trip to see examples of great architecture and interiors projects in our area. The purpose of the trip is to get out of the office to experience new work firsthand, learning from some of the great examples of design that are right in our backyard. It’s also a chance for us to share some quality time on a chartered bus.

Recent trips have included visits to the Exeter Library by Louis Kahn, the Forest Conservation Center in Concord, NH, and the new music building at McGill University in Montreal. This year, we visited two of our own projects.

We first toured a residence in Shelburne that we recently completed with our landscape architect, H. Keith Wagner Partnership. The owners graciously opened their new home to us, and Lee Grutchfield led the group on a guided tour of the building and site.

The project is actually two homes, connected with a common entry. The larger of the two is the home of the children and grandchildren, while the smaller is for the grandparents. The building sits comfortably in the landscape, receiving light and solar energy from the south, and framing views of Lake Champlain to the north. The home features passive solar heating, a geothermal well, and sugar maple and oak wood harvested from the site that is used throughout.

The whole experience of moving through the house is thoughtfully planned, from the initial arrival, to the conscious movement through the house, and finally to the views and curved boardwalk leading to the lake beyond.

The bus then boarded the Charlotte ferry and we headed across the lake to New York, where we toured the rebuilt Lake Placid Lodge. After a fine lunch, Steve Rooney led a tour of the grounds and main lodge.

The original building dated to 1882 and burned to the ground in 2005. TruexCullins worked with the Garrett Hotel Group and interior designer Joszi Meskan to recreate the rustic luxury of the original lodge. The new building is a non-combustible structure, but is finished with elaborate wood and stone detailing throughout. The craftsmanship is evident everywhere you look. This is a building that is truly at home in the Adirondack mountains.