Boutique Hotel Vibe: Home Delivery
Meet Diane Gordon, June’s guest contributor and owner of Diane Gordon Design. With degrees in both architecture and interior design, Diane has brought her elegant aesthetic to hundreds of residential interiors, including kitchens and baths, historic renovations and basement finishes since 2000.
It seems like every major city around the U.S., including Denver, has a fresh new offering of boutique hotels. But with many summer travel plans grounded indefinitely, staying in one of these hip hostels is a dream for another day, or even another year. So, why not bring a little boutique-hotel vibe right to your home? Here are five easy ways that I’ve recommended to many clients.
Swap Out Builder-Grade Light Fixtures
Replace builder-grade light fixtures with oversized and glamorous light fixtures in main rooms such as the living room and master bedroom. If you think the light will be big enough, go even bigger for major impact. Also, consider lights with a bit of glam such as crystals or a striking black shade. Try Ferguson for a slew of different brands and styles. Filters make it easy to find exactly the size and style you’re looking for.
Upgrade Your Carpet
You can do it affordably at a place like Sloane’s Carpet Secret, which regularly offers 70% off high-end carpet. For a more boutique feel, check out their tightly looped carpets with bold patterns or carpets with a combination of cut and loop that create a subtle pattern. There’s also no rule saying that all carpeting in your home has to match. So, while the hallway and kids’ bedrooms may be a solid color, feel free to upgrade the master bedroom to a more bold color or pattern to define it as a special retreat. Sloane’s also now offers Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP), the new hard-surface that closely mimics hardwood, but is more affordable and virtually indestructible. Pair LVP with carpet to create visual division between spaces in an open floor plan and play up texture.
Set Up a Bar Area or Coffee Center in Your Master Bedroom
Take a tip from Mad Men and the best hotels, and end the day with a nightcap in your bedroom. This can be accomplished simply with a vintage bar cart or atop a dresser. Or, for a coffee center, devote a small section of a bathroom counter to a mini instant espresso machine.
Paint an Accent Wall in a Bold Color
Choose a wall that has some impact, such as your bed wall or media wall. Or, it can be a wall that houses your favorite art or family photos. The color can then inform other design choices in the room that you can incorporate over time like colorful throw pillows. If you’re feeling extra artistic, try painting wide, alternating stripes of color around a room. Just use good painters tape and caulk first along the lines. For color inspiration, check out Farrow & Ball. You’ll find plenty of ideas and expert guidance like how a room’s orientation affects color selection.
Add a Media Built-In
Seldom does one see a TV simply sitting on top of a dresser in a high-end hotel room. Televisions are often encased in cabinetry with some useful storage below. The ability to hide and store your belongings (a.k.a. clutter) is one trick the best hotels use to help guests feel more relaxed.