MEETING…THIERRY DESPONT
by mirror panels illuminated by backlit red
strips. Two multi-tiered conical chandeliers cascade from the lounge into the entrance hall in tribute to Donald Deskey. Custom millwork and furniture are supplied courtesy of Les Meubles Saint-Damase in Québec and lighting from Le Lampiste. Plush leather seating, leather-wrapped railings and warm flooring choices, including patterned terrazzo in shades of brown, red and cream, soften this overarching industrial theme. Artwork varies from an oversized ‘railway’ clock manufactured by Lumichron to three murals painted by Mark Beard. Connecting reception to the second-floor wrap-around lounge is a two-storey, sepia- toned portrayal of a New York metropolis. A second mural in the lounge provides a humorous take on the construction of a skyscraper and the third in the restaurant depicts The Lambs’ Bar in the 1950s. This connection to The Lambs is emphasised through photos of former members including John Wayne and Fred Astaire, and the installation of a floor-to-ceiling 18th-century stone fireplace originally presented to the club as a gift from Stanford White. Other historical elements restored and reinstalled include the library, characterised by its English Brown Oak wood panelling, beams and granite fireplace. Now serving as the signature landmark suite, the Stanford White Studio can be used residentially or for private events. The Club Room, a private function space on the lower level, boasts distinctive elliptical doors that once would have graced the Grill Room, now complemented by custom-designed, matching wine cellars. Measuring almost 83,000ft2
, the property
has a narrow footprint, which has thrown up layout challenges throughout construction. Having planned in four new floors to the existing six-storey structure, none of which could be visible from street level because of landmark status, it was then discovered that the 1905 and 1915 parts of the building were in fact uneven, resulting in time delays and expense for additional recessing work. This revised solution, however, did allow for the provision of stunning outdoor space for the penthouse Barrymore Suite in the form of a heated terrace and 1,000ft2
roof deck overlooking 44th Street. General Manager
Joel Freyberg also ensured the reclaiming of once-assigned back-of-house areas for an extra guest service. Compact in size, Spa Chatwal by Kashwére nevertheless manages to pack in three treatment rooms, private changing suites, relaxation lounge and a saltwater lap pool. Freyberg refers to The Chatwal as a ‘baby grand’ hotel in recognition of its ‘white- gloved’ butler service philosophy and the provision of plentiful club-like guest amenities for just 83 rooms, 37 of which are suites. This mission to reinstate the ‘art of
travel’ has also informed the hotel’s interior design, particularly in the guestrooms. “Our romantic idea of travel harks back to the days when finely crafted trunks by Louis Vuitton, Goyard and Lancel resembled small pieces of furniture,” Despont elaborates. “They came intact with efficient storage for everything from cufflinks to shoes.” Taking their lead from vintage malletier pieces, built-in maple cabinets boasting handy compartments are wrapped in faux leather with stitched leather handles. The accompanying desks have a pop- up vanity that is lit in the style of a backstage theatre dressing room. Elegant cream sofas sit artfully next to classic Corona Chairs first designed by Poul M Volther. In-room touches such as backgammon boards, books relating to New York history, 400-thread- count Frette linens, Christina Azario throws and Kashwére robes ramp up the comfort factor in generously-sized rooms conceived for relaxation. Every guest floor is decorated in one of three colour palettes – oxblood red, sapphire blue and chartreuse, each with earthy-toned accents – which subtly changes the look of the ultrasuede wall coverings, upholstery and even the hangers. Sparkling bathrooms also reflect the three colourways through tinted mirrored glass panels that contrast with Neo- Metro stainless steel sinks and Dornbracht bath fittings. Innovative quartz stone flooring in three hues glistens with mirror chips. From the staff’s attentiveness to the authenticity of the smallest design details, The Chatwal makes a prestigious new addition to the city’s five-star offering. But what really makes this place distinctive is the immersive New York experience – bold yet inviting, fresh yet rooted in history. Guests are left with little doubt as to where in the world they are.
046 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2010
WWW.SLEEPERMAGAZINE.COM
“Through layer upon layer of detail we have aimed for a continuity of the New York experience in a space that is open to the city yet also offers refuge.”
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