The spirit of creative luminaries lives on at The Renwick, a former extended-stay residence for artists, authors, and intellectuals in Manhattan. The design of the new 173-room hotel, crafted by Stonehill & Taylor, pays homage to past residents through a modern lens. Its 33 studios and suites celebrate some of the building’s more famous guests and each guestroom features custom-furnishings that reference items found in an artist’s studio, such as easel-inspired TV stands, desks reminiscent of a workbench, and a patterned carpet that simulates paint-splattered concrete. In the Thomas Mann suite, Stonehill & Taylor used rich fabrics for the furnishings, including the ochre leather armchair and cerulean, velvet textured sofa, as a balance to the more unpolished elements in the room, such as the exposed conduit piping and lighting fixtures. “These touches give the room a luxurious feel while still keeping with the artist studio theme,” says Principal and Vice President Michael Suomi.
Drawing Board
The window shades feature drawings of the New York City skyline, which Brooklyn-based artist Ben Cowan designed to look like a painted-on drop cloth. Suomi explains, “Every room has a slightly different skyline and none of the shades feature repeating patterns, making each one a unique piece of art.”
Moving Mountains
A mountainesque accent wallcovering, created by Flat Vernacular in Brooklyn, was inspired by Mann’s most famous work, The Magic Mountain. “We thought it was a fun way to reference a theme of the novel while at the same time creating a great focal point for the room,” Suomi says.
Throw a Curve
Stonehill & Taylor balanced the harsher angles of the wallcovering with softer curved edges, like those found in the ottoman and armchair. “We did want to make sure we continued
the conical shape, so the paperweights on the side table were added as a fun touch,” Suomi adds.
