16th December 2020 | IN PROJECT OF THE WEEK | BY SBID Share Tweet Pinterest LinkedIn Project of the Week This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a hotel suite design by SBID Awards Finalist, Stonehill Taylor. The 563-room Conrad New York Midtown hotel is located in the heart of Manhattan on West 54th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. Hospitality design firm Stonehill Taylor was tasked with turning the property, previously known as The London New York, into a new luxury destination through their vision for its interior design. The firm’s design exudes calm and elegance, reminiscent of the upscale Midtown residence of a contemporary art collector, with an emphasis on art throughout the property. While the décor is sleek and modern, it aims to achieve a timeless feel. SBID Awards Category: Hotel Bedroom & Suites Sponsored by Schneider Electric Finalist: Stonehill Taylor Project: The Conrad New York Midtown Location: New York What was the client’s brief? We were asked to design a hotel befitting the clientele of the New York Midtown location – specifically the executive traveller, the affluent family, and the celebrity guest; and develop five keywords to guide the design direction. The words we selected were “welcoming”, “connected”, “elevated”, “Invigorating”, and “stylish”. These words were carefully chosen to embody the patrons of The Conrad Midtown, who are not merely hotel guests – but worldly travellers with their New York City home at The Conrad Midtown – and their home should reflect their lifestyles. What inspired the design of the project? For this project, we were heavily influenced by residential design. We sought to immediately transport guests from the hustle and bustle of the neighbourhood as soon as they enter the grand yet serene lobby. We envisioned each suite as an upscale Midtown residence of a contemporary art collector, infusing the rooms with art and constructing thoughtful layouts with separate living and sleeping spaces. Take one of the grandest examples, the Penthouse suite, located on the 53rd & 54th floors: it has 180 degrees of expansive city views. We laid out each space in this suite to take advantage of these views—being able to soak in the bath while overlooking Central Park creates an unforgettable moment for a guest. What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project? There is a fine balance to having a luxury suite feel residential while making practical decisions to stand the test of time. If your design is beautiful the day it opens, but a year later the hotel is having to replace everything due to wear and tear, then we haven’t done our job. Our challenge was to source furnishings that create the beautiful first impression that we wanted to make, while also being durable and resilient. What was your team’s highlight of the project? This project is truly a standout for its spotlight on fine art and it’s unique offering as an all-suite hotel. In the lobby, guests are greeted by a large, lifelike sculpture, Leda and the Swan by Carole A. Feuerman. Museum-style lighting contrasted with dark surrounding walls highlights this special piece while emphasizing it as a gallery space. To the right of the hotel’s entry is an intimate library nook, with a curated selection of art and mythology books lining the shelves. Additional lounge areas are found in the mezzanine, overlooking the lobby and feature artwork by contemporary British artist Amy Judd. The all-suite rooms provide guests with the sense of being in a private pied-a-terre. They feature dark herringbone wood floors, hand-tufted wool rugs with floor-to-ceiling, cream-coloured drapery complements the soft, neutral palette of greys and caramel. The project includes several special suites including Sky Suites, Atrium Suite and a split-level Penthouse Suite. Why did you enter the SBID Awards? We value the contributions that SBID makes to the field of interior design, both in its native Britain and internationally. The Awards, of course, are one extension of that mission, and we are honoured that this hospitality effort is among the recognized projects. Our Interiors Division is central to the work that Stonehill Taylor does. It is with great pride that we design spaces for people to live, work, and play, and it’s always a delight to have our projects spotlighted by such a prestigious organization as SBID. Questions answered by Bethany Gale, Interiors Associate, Stonehill Taylor. We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire. If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a luxury New Zealand kitchen design, click here to see more.