The land of black, yellow and red is throwing down; Condé Nast Traveler didn’t name it one of the “Top 15 Places to Go in 2015” for nothing! If you haven’t been paying attention, Pittsburgh my friends, is the latest and greatest in the worlds of arts, sports, architecture and business!
It’s one of the great comeback stories in the country: a down-on-its-luck steel town comes roaring back in a style and a shining example of urban modern renewal with art galleries, restaurants and award-winning stadiums creating an inviting metropolitan landscape second to none. It’s also buttoned-up and ready for business, with a thriving high-tech sector and serving as the ZIP code for 10 Fortune 500 companies. Check, check, check …but where to stay?
Yes please! Kimpton does it again – with Pittsburgh’s first boutique hotel: Meet Monaco. True to their ecentric brand but we love the fact it intertwines a strong Pittsburgh theme; yellow walls, black lacquer case-goods accented with gold and yellow desk lamps in the shape of penguins a nod to their hockey team; great danes a la state dog; not to mention meeting rooms named after locals like Fahlman.
Set amongst a 1902 Beaux Arts exterior with stunning interior molding and columns (in the hotel’s two ballrooms) the history and bones of this building are par none.
To say inspiration is everywhere is an understatement; sunny yellow Victorian-style sofas…
Kelly green armoires painted with owls and branches stand guard over a dining table surrounded by Made Good’s bronze metal chairs.
The list of whimsical decor goes on to include bright blue birdcages
On the guest floors, long hallways featuring oversized peony-patterned wallpaper and electric teal doors give one the sense of stepping into a cartoon.
Behind those doors, the classic men’s suits provided inspiration in both pattern and materials with the jade colored headboards, yellow cushions, houndstooth curtain and yellow accent pillows.
So who is behind this spot-on mix?
Ave Bradley, senior vice president of design for Kimpton, led the charge. She says the market and the building with its natural architecture drove the inspiration and married that with the idea of a world traveler who becomes inspired by all he sees and picks up items as he makes his way around the globe. With the desire to give people an experience that they don’t have at home, a hotel is a fantastic to place to overstimulate the senses.
She hired interior designer Christian Schnyder of Los Angeles-based Beleco Design to create the playful motif of the hotel
Christian Schnyder
… and Mark Zeff to create the industrial chic look of the restaurant, The Commoner (below).
Mark Zeff
Word is they had so much fun bringing the vision to life (I mean imagine …dream job!) Keeping the color palette of the walls and floors neutral allowed for bolder patterns and colors on furniture and accents.
We’re ALL for this at Remote Stylist; as we constantly say mixing it up is how houses become homes. As Ave says start with one focal point, throw judgement out the window and select pieces you love, one after the next. We loved her suggestion of resisting the lure of trends and creating a space that will last and making sure not to forget that comfort is key.
Don’t bother packing your yoga mat or bicycle (those will be provided upon check in as is your complimentary coffee and wine in the lobby), but do remember the dog; but of course he’s welcome ..we’ll never forget Bleeks hoping out of the car at Kimpton’s Washington, DC hotel and having his choice of 3 varying heights of water in dog bowls (he died and went to heaven, especially when the dog concierge brought him a bed at turndown with enough cookies to last a month!)
Even if you’re not staying poke your head in to see the peacock like floral chandelier in their lobby – 24 feet hanging garden that helps bring the outdoors in: absolutely SPECTACULAR!
For those of you thinking weekend jaunt there is a great urban city guide on Design Sponge worth jumping over to. Enjoy 🙂
Leave A Comment