Located steps away from the French Quarter, Moxy New Orleans features a simplistic, industrial design with cultural touches inspired by The Big Easy. Geared toward millennial-minded travelers who prefer to spend more time in public spaces than the guestroom, the vibrant lobby serves as a social hub for work and play. The ground level is comprised of lounge and library areas, a large central bar, and a fitness room. New York-based design firm Stonehill & Taylor gutted the space and exposed the concrete columns, pipe, and ductwork to create a raw, warehouse feel. “Moxy is all about big opportunities to remind you of where you are. There are brand standards, but each property is totally different,” explains Sherry Dennis, interiors associate at Stonehill & Taylor. The prominently positioned bar doubles as a reception desk where guests can check in—and linger for drinks and conversation. Ample power sources for personal devices along the window seating and bar enable guests to setup individual workstations. When it comes down to fun, the lounge area is stocked with board games and a foosball table. The 108-room hotel, owned by Noble Investment Group, debuted in May.
Simple and Clean
Light fixtures with street lamp-inspired metal detailing add French Quarter flare. “It would have been totally remiss of us to have some fabric-covered pendant hanging down from the ceiling, because it’s not raw or simple,” Dennis says.
Fewer Rules, More Fun
Stonehill & Taylor drew inspiration from the old pastel buildings and ornate ironwork balconies seen throughout the neighborhood. “You can tell a lot of the buildings in the French Quarter have been there forever, and everybody’s put their own little stamp on it,” she says. “It feels very bright, colorful, and fun, and we wanted the lobby to also feel like that.”
Making a Mark
After pouring the concrete floors, the team hand-stenciled a design over top to mimic the look of an old New Orleans building. “It looks like the whole floor was stamped and a lot of it’s been worn off and there are just patches left of it,” Dennis says. “So it looks like there was a history there.”
