Iconic both in terms of its architecture and hospitality, The Palace hotel in San Francisco now features a fresh design, masterfully executed by Beatrice Girelli of award-winning firm, Indidesign.
The Palace Hotel was originally established in 1875, before being rebuilt in 1909, and was in fact San Francisco’s first premier luxury hotel. Graced by the likes of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, and operating in the heart of America’s first Golden Age of Travel, the hotel’s historic backdrop offered up a wealth of inspiration for the recent re-design.
“Each personality brought a unique touch to the heritage of The Palace and we wanted to offer a modern celebration of this history of privileged travel, style, art and grandeur blended in one experience”
The key challenge for Beatrice and her team here was to increase the functionality of the hotel’s interior and bring in some contemporary touches, while preserving the classic architecture and character of this striking Beaux Arts building.
“We titled the project ‘Iconic Style : a modern celebration'” explains Beatrice. “The inspiration came directly from the history of the building and from the various notable figures that spent time at The Palace through the years.
“Each personality brought a unique touch to the heritage of The Palace and we wanted to offer a modern celebration of this history of privileged travel, style, art and grandeur blended in one experience.”
With a palette of soft gray and warm-toned woods, the hotel’s interior now features choice accents of colour inspired by San Francisco’s vibrant cultural scene.
The beautiful glass-domed Garden Court, in particular, reflects this artfully executed blend of old and new. Providing the perfect setting for brunch or afternoon tea, this magnificent space boasts soaring archways, Austrian crystal chandeliers and gilded columns. As well as the 120-cover dining room, The Garden Court now features The GC Lounge, a slightly more informal lounge space.
“Meticulous architectural details, such as the intricately curved marble fireplace, balance out a palette of pale blue, plum and ivory textiles here”
Here, Indidesign has brought renewed vibrance to the hotel’s elegant architectural details with the introduction of tufted banquettes, speakeasy seating, and a communal table offering discreet technology.
Bronze panelled screens with antique mirror accents – inspired by the paned glass ceiling – have also been incorporated, while a blend of plum, ivory, charcoal and dove grey hues continues the subtle palette used throughout the hotel.
The newly-designed guest rooms, meanwhile, feature a thoughtful design approach, with custom millwork and carefully-selected furnishings to create a chic, welcoming environment.
Some of the hotel’s illustrious former guests have been channelled into the design here. The trim lines, stitching, and tailored bed frames, for example, speak to the custom-made clothing worn by Andrew Carnegie, while the nightstands draw upon the aesthetic of vintage travel trunks those such as Amelia Earhart would have carried.
Elegant, bespoke casepieces from Cheng Meng and Eric Brand heighten the clean lines of the accommodation, while also addressing limitations in storage and flexibility of electrical locations.
A number of grand suites have also been introduced, including the Royal Suite, which spans almost 1000 square feet. Meticulous architectural details, such as the intricately curved marble fireplace, balance out a palette of pale blue, plum and ivory textiles here.
The vast majority of the furnishings and textiles installed in the guest rooms, suites and public areas of the hotel, are bespoke, and were developed by Indidesign.
“We employed different sources to manufacture these items and matched each item to the manufacturer that offered the best expertise to address the specific requirements of each individual component,” explains Beatrice.
The hotel’s leisure facilites have also been significantly improved following the renovation. The fitness centre now spans 3,000 square feet and boasts floor-to-ceiling windows looking out to the hotel’s swimming pool.
A new cardio training room, spin bikes and cutting edge fitness equipment from LifeFitness have been installed, while the men’s and women’s lounges now feature luxurious marble bath areas, spa showers, fresh design elements and large back-lit mirrors.
