Above: Birdy Room is a sunroom-style space with private garden, available for cocktail receptions and weddings
Set on a conversely grand scale, San Morello is the beating heart of Shinola Hotel’s dining offer, and, coincidentally, the hardest table to book in town. Centred around a show kitchen complete with wood fired oven, the lofty space features walls adorned in intricate tile work (a riff on something one may find in Southern Italy) with decidedly Shinola materials such as American walnut, blackened metal and textural leathers. Furniture and lighting was custom-designed for the space – bespoke, just like any of the brand’s products. The experience at the hotel’s 129 guestrooms is one of a carefully crafted residence. Casegoods are custom-made by Amish artisans in neighbouring Ohio, their drawers opening to reveal inscriptions like ‘work hard, do good’; even the faucets – designed and developed by Waterworks – are bespoke. Shinola goodies such as handcrafted turntables, speakers and alpaca blankets (all available for purchase, of course) ensure that the hotel’s branding is never forgotten. The irregular nature of a building comprised of several smaller structures, means that there are some 50 room types. “This required more than a bit of creative stamina from our team,” quips Gachot. “The end
result is delightful, though: you can stay at the hotel over fifty times and never have the same kind of room.” While rooms in the Singer building feature sunken living spaces (a requirement so that the floor plates of corridors line up), those in the main building are defined by soaring floor-to-ceiling windows. Reading nooks, replete with books from Caudill’s own collection, are littered throughout the meandering hallways. Much like the city in which it’s set, Shinola Hotel’s sum total is one of adept craftsmanship, unpretentious Midwestern hospitality and a profound story. In summarising its design, Gachot says it best: “In our increasingly digital world, it’s easy to stay plugged-in and constantly move fast. Shinola’s considered, rigorous sensibility reminds us that our greatest luxury is time. We carefully considered this approach in the materials and treatments throughout the hotel, working with craftspeople, artisans, and artists to bring authentic humanity to the spaces. We’re always looking to tell a story rather than distract with something shiny. Our hope is that visitors feel anchored by that depth.”
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT: 129 guestrooms | 2 restaurants | 2 bars | Private events spaces | Gym | www.shinolahotel.com Owner / Developer: Bedrock | Operator: Mac & Lo; NoHo Hospitality Group (F&B) | Architecture: Kraemer Design Group | Interior Design: Gachot Studios Art Consultant: Library Street Collective | Lighting Design: L’Observatoire International | Procurement: The Parker Company
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