Fall 2021 Preview

The preview Prepare to be impressed Graduate Nashville Nashville, TN Photos: Steve Freihon Design: AJ Capital Partners Purchaser: Benjamin West

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Project spotlight

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Valley Hotel Homewood Birmingham, Curio Collection

by Hilton Homewood, AL

Curio is an upscale collection of hotels that appeal to travelers seeking local discovery.

Photos: Valley Hotel Design: Looney & Associates Purchaser: Bray Whaler

“ Created as a mini oasis for its guests” The Valley Hotel Homewood Birmingham, Curio Collection by Hilton, is a 129-room upscale boutique property located in trendy downtown Homewood, Alabama, just 10 minutes outside of Birmingham.

Opened in February, 2021, the Valley Hotel features perfectly appointed guestrooms that provide a fresh color palette and mimic the natural environment of Homewood and its proximity to Red Mountain, while crisp wood tones and linen accents recall classic Southern hospitality and charm.

Meet a team member Gabriel Araujo What is your current role at Bryan Ashley and how long have you been there?

I am a Project Coordinator, and I have been here for almost 2 years (December is my 2 year anniversary)!

What is your favorite thing about your career?

I like that I am not just sitting still in front of my computer. I am constantly busy doing a variety of tasks throughout the day.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

The good old traditional Hispanic dish - rice, beans, and chicken.

By parnering with design firm Looney & Associates, the Bryan Ashley team was able to bring to life this Southern city’s creative culture. Each spacious room features local art, a cushy chaise sofa, picture frame-styled TV wall panel, as well as wood-paneled headboards with integrated nightstands; all of which provide a comfortable residential feel. The custom dresser is combined with the minibar cabinet and showcases beautiful walnut burl drawers with dark bronze pulls and legs. For those wanting the ultimate accommodations, the presidential suite delights with a headboard designed with faceted tapered metal posts and an upholstered panel. This luxury lifestyle property offers a welcoming place to gather with friends and family.

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Andrew Alford Andrew Alford Creative LLC What is your mission?

My mission is incredibly easy to understand but difficult to pull off! While my beige hating shoes are walking this earth, my goal is to fundamentally change the way humans approach living with color and exuberance. I want to design interiors that inspire people to be more brave in their interior choices and I want to design furnishings that are easily transformable in order to take the fear of commitment out of design decisions. My belief

What does “brand” mean to you?

is that we only know that we get one trip around

I view the world “brand” through two different

on this planet. The days we are given should be

lenses. When it comes to my own work, that word

celebrated and lived as colorfully as possible. I want

is interchangeable with “story.” I never start with

to serve as both a creator of and an inspiration for

pretty when designing, I always start with the

that colorful existence.

narrative, often times weaving in very intimate and personal ideas to give the interior an intensely

What is one thing that our industry often gets

emotional core. As humans, we all have a vast

wrong in hospitality design?

range of feelings and experiences, both joyful and

Interior Design

Palm Springs Residence

There is one phrase used chronically in hospitality design that makes my skin crawl, “a pop of color.”

I’m big on committing to a design, so I cringe at the idea of a neutral beige and gray interior with a pillow or other accessory thrown in for a touch of fun. To take that idea further, I’ve also noticed that the “pop of color” is typically in a certain shade of muted orange or rust red or an anemic teal. As I always say, “No one ever looked at a sunset and said I wish it was more beige.” Or to put it another way, a sunset would be pretty dull if it were all gray with one small spot of orange.

important to ask before engaging in a design project?

Question number one, “Are you a jerk?” I write that jokingly, but it really is one of the first things

Interior Design

Hotel Linclon

I ask. We work in an industry where huge amounts of money are required to build a project. When money like that is involved, ego, arrogance, and a whole string of unsavory words can describe the challenges on a project. I screen for bad behavior early on because I have a firm belief that our collaborators should feel like friends and family since we work in an industry that requires us to be away from friends and family more often than not. Kindness, compassion, and love are vital components of a successful project. Other than that, all of my questions are typically focussed on

Interior Design

that allows a guest to personally identify with the story being told. The other use of the word “brand” in hospitality often refers to the large companies that churn out soulless cookie cutter standardized products. I don’t mince words that one of my goals is to break that model so that no human ever again has to sleep in a soulless beige property with no sense of place or personality. In a sense, the word “brand” really represents the best possibilities and worst urges of hospitality design.

What is the most memorable hospitality

What are a couple of questions that are really

Jack Rose Restaurant

painful. The “brand” should be the core feeling

the needs of the guest, not the needs of the owner

experience you’ve had?

My absolute favorite hospitality experience happened in Thailand about fifteen years ago. We were staying at an absolutely stunning resort on Phi Phi Island during a low occupancy time. One night, we went down to the beach for dinner and given that we were one couple out of only a handful of guests staying there, they told us we could eat dinner there or walk up the beach and join their staff appreciation party. We opted for the party and ended up having a home cooked Thai pot luck dinner with the people who had been taking care of us that week. Connecting with people in meaningful ways is the primary reason to travel. We stumbled out of that party a little drunk on some sort of Thai rum, but with a better understanding of the people and culture we were immersed in.

or client. Who will be sleeping there? What music do they listen to? What do they wear when they feel their best?

Hear more from Andrew on the Imagine a Place podcast Imagine a Place | EP21 Andrew Alford (Andrew Alford Creative): Living your most colorful life

About our cover

Graduate Nashville Located in the heart of Nashville is where you’ll find the Dolly Parton inspired 205-room boutique Graduate Nashville hotel.

The guestroom’s four poster bed and bright florals add nods to the rich Tennessee history. Traditionally styled casegoods in rich ebony are contrasted with cloud white and antique brass accents. Immerse yourself in the legend and history of Nashville as you experience little moments of surprise and discovery around each corner and down every corridor.

Just blocks from Vanderbilt University, Graduate Nashville provides you with everything you need with their lobby cafe, karaoke bar, and over the top rooftop bar, White Limozeen.

Follow along

Music city hotels

Connect with us on our Instagram account @bryan_ashley_inc for inspiration

Nashville looks good on us When it comes to knowing Nashville, the team at Bryan Ashley has it covered. Having provided

bryan_ashley_inc We are excited to announce the promotion of Chris Robinson as our new Vice President of Sales. In this new role, Chris will oversee and lead our amazing international sales team here at Bryan Ashley.

custom furnishings for more than 1,000 guestrooms in the Nashville area, we’ve been fortunate to work with some of the most elite design firms, purchasing agents, and developers.

Located just blocks from Vanderbilt University, Graduate Nashville features playful, luxe rooms that celebrate Nashville’s charisma. Then, traveling towards the middle of downtown, you’ll find the Noelle which infuses local charm with luxurious elements. After an evening of dancing and singing in Music City, call it an evening in deluxe accommodations at the Cambria Hotel Nashville Downtown.

Graduate

bryan_ashley_inc The Affinia Hotels & Suites are a home base to experience the city of NYC. The newly redesigned Gardens Suites Hotel has huge, apartment-style suites and rooms that are the perfect place to relax, recharge, and enjoy all the city has to offer.

bryan_ashley_inc Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel guest bathrooms feature clean, minimalistic vanities with a polished base and marble top. The vanity is complemented by the black and white floor tile, nature inspired elements, and a monotone color palette.

Nashville

Noelle

Cambria

Nashville

Nashville

Cherry rhubarb crisp Ingredients • 1 c sugar • 1 T cornstarch • 2 c diced rhubarb • 2 c pitted cherries

• 1 c peeled sliced apples • ½ c plus 2 T cold butter, divided • ¾ c old-fashioned oats

• ¾ c flour • ½ c packed brown sugar

Directions 1. Preheat oven to 375°. Spray an 8x8 baking dish.

2. In a large bowl, mix the sugar and cornstarch until combined. Add fruits and toss well.

Place into prepared baking dish. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter and drizzle over fruit.

3. In a mixing bowl, place the remaining cold butter, oats, flour, and sugar. Cut in the butter until it is in pea sized pieces. Spread the topping over the fruit. Bake 35-40 minutes or until the top of the crisp is brown and fruit is soft and bubbling. Serve warm with a dab of vanilla ice cream.

From OFS Cool Springs, Chef Aimee Blume For more inspiration from our parent company visit ofs.com/imagine-a-place