In September, Detroit-based Kraemer Design Group (KDG) completed an overhaul of the interior spaces at the 313-room, 23-story Holiday Inn San Antonio Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas. It marks the first U.S. property to debut the “Breeze” standard room design (SRD) scheme, which emphasizes a clean, fresh aesthetic by incorporating an open layout, residential touches, and a pop of color. But renovating the guestrooms to fit IHG’s modern-day brand standards was a challenge. “The typical room wasn’t large enough to support the brand standards,” says Bob Kraemer, co–founder and principal, Kraemer Design Group. “We removed sliding glass doors and closed in balconies to increase rooms by about six feet in length. That was a tremendous feat.”
Planking
Although the vinyl wood-plank flooring costs slightly more to install than traditional carpet, it helps reduce expenditures in the future. “People are looking at flooring as a long-term investment,” says Kraemer. “That flooring will outlast the typical carpet lifetime and has a greater ease of maintenance.”
Bright and Breezy
Several sources of light make the space bright and versatile. Incorporating multiple fixtures gives guests plenty of options that range from task lighting for work to mood lighting for relaxation.
Local Color
Although the Breeze SRD comes with a few choices for artwork, Holiday Inn San Antonio Riverwalk decided to swap out standard art for local pieces. “It’s the same basic styling in terms of frames and location,” Kraemer says, “but the property wanted it to have a local feel.”
Tucked Away
The furniture is designed to be streamlined and multifunctional. A space-saving credenza houses the TV and in-room coffee maker, while also providing space for guest storage. “The credenza serves a lot of functions,” says Heather McKeon, studio director at KDG. “It looks very streamlined, because everything has its place inside. It’s really the central hub of the room.”
