Boutique Hotels

Maybe you were that kid that mixed ketchup into poutine, coke with 7up and syrup on just about everything. Don't worry, just like you, I believed fusion has always been the better option (bland -is- bland). The merging of different elements into a union, whether it works or not, is always a curiosity too hard to resist. More than ever in art culture, different mediums have joined forces. One that slapped me across the face with envy and desire to explore how far it could go was the world of boutique hotels. Boutique hotels are usually non franchised, "lifestyle" themed, intimate, and full of quirky elements. I chose to simplify it down to two hotels that are successful not only in using art as inspiration, but independently prestigious at what they do.

ACE HOTEL

Ace Hotel New York is a 12-story hotel that opened a year ago in the heart of midtown Manhattan. It has 260 rooms, and is located near the Theater District. Rooms begin at $199 a night, a very reasonable rate for New York, especially given the prime location, at 29th and Broadway. The Ace Hotel chain has been lauded in the design press for its hotels in Portland, Seattle, and Palm Springs. It exemplifies a design approach that has become quite hip among a new breed of travellers. A-trak claiming this as his favorite hotel, describes it as having "smartass all over it"; Very much "take a picture, it'll last longer". Also, by far the best mini bar any hotel could offer a hipster, fully equipped with trendy root beer.

COLLABORATIONS

Beyond offering affordable comfort and style, Ace Hotels distinguish themselves by integrating into the culture of their home city. The Ace perspective on NYC style shows up in their staff uniforms, compiled from iconic New York staples and thoughtful designer collaborations. Standard issue footwear is either drab green monochrome Chucks created by Converse exclusively for the Ace or classic black Doc Marten's embossed with a skeleton key. The jeans are by Levi's and Newark-based L. Gambert created custom fitted shirts, handcrafted from patterning to production and overseen by second and third generation family artisans. L. Gambert also created the housekeeping uniform, a utilitarian shirt-dress. The vintage Glen-check Coto tie and blackened silver Surface 2 Air tie chain complete the look.

Working closely with the newly opened Ace Hotel in New York City, creative duo MINT&SERF helped curate a special project where a selection of hotel rooms became giant blank canvas. For the duration of 6 months, invited artists such as Brian Procell, Enjoy Banking, Faust, Machine (Team Facelift), Mosco, PegLeg, Pork, Pablo Powers, Jordan Seiler, Stephen Holding, Sean Vegezzi, Tristan Eaton, and of course MINT&SERF decorated the interior to their own liking. In turn the rooms also become a narrative for each artist to tell their story through their works and tried their hands on interior decorating. Unfortunately, you must book into the hotel in order to see each of the work in person, but here's a sneak peak .

HOTEL ON RIVINGTON

The Hotel on Rivington is a sexy 20-story luxury hotel on Rivington Street between Ludlow and Essex Streets in the Downtown Manhattan. It can't be stated enough that the best architectural feature dreamed up by the team behind the building, Grzywinski+Pons, are the floor-to-ceiling windows wrapping most rooms, including the bathroom. Completed in 2005, the hotel's expensive rates, ultramodern design, upscale bar, and trendy clientele have made it a trademark of urban renuawal in the Lower East Side. Rooms range from about $275 to over $700 per night. The hotel's restaurant and bar, cleverly named "THOR", attracts a young and fashionable crowd, which can be seen lounging behind floor-to-ceiling windows at most hours of the night.

COLLABORATIONS

DC has teamed up with the Hotel on Rivington in New York for a limited edition of the DC LIFE Admiral Sport. This is the fourth time DC has laced the staff with shoes from the DC LIFE Collection with the first pair being a solid black dress shoe and the second all red high tops. Not only are the staff lavished with sick kicks but they also get clothed by Ted Baker. The Perfect Compliment.