DESIGN FOR MEN

Built in the  1900s, the Chandler Inn is one of Boston’s most affordable boutique hotels.  Recently local interior designers, Dennis Duffy and Eric Roseff designed the newly renovated Boutique Queen (above) and Boutique Twin (below) rooms.  Both room types were a challenge for the designers as there was not a lot of space to work with.  These rooms needed to include multifunction areas including the console style desk below the screen rather than an entertainment unit or credenza.  The result is a space that is big on style and easy on the budget.  Click here to check out the Chandler Inn website for more info.

Images from Chandler Inn

The Ames Hotel, Boston’s newest boutique luxury hotel opened last month. The Romanesque building is the former headquarters of the Ames farm-tool company.  The design of the 113-room hotel is the result of the collaboration between designer, David Rockwell and the Morgan Hotel Group.  The lobby and reception areas feel quite Phillipe Starck with an eclectic mix of furnishings floating throughout the spaces.  The Woodward, the hotel’s restaurant and bar is a modern day tavern.  I met a friend there for dinner this week.

My favorite element was probably the subtlest touch, the red ceiling adding considerable warmth in the monochromatic space.  Other elements that caught my were preserving and patching the existing mosaic tile floors on the first floor and incorporating reclaimed wood at the bar.  There is a nice blend of old and new – shelving with glass display cubes filled with curio becomes a theme that carries throughout both levels of the restaurant.  The use of glass and levels of translucency add depth to the experience particularly at the first level bar which is located at a large window exposing an obscured view of the city outside.  Simplicity was key in the bathrooms featuring white mosaic clad walls and black stone floors were paired with flush walnut doors at stalls.  The elegant mix of white and black mixed with neutrals in the hotel common areas carries into the guestrooms as well.

I was particularly impressed with the plush feel of the one bedroom apartment.  The design highlights the historic details of the building’s architecture including the large arched windows.  The expansive living room is equipped with an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture and finishes and the bedroom features a stunning polished chrome four-poster bed.

Overall I recommend the Ames!

Images from Ames Hotel