When you stay in a hotel, resort or country club, do you ever feel it was made just for you? Maybe you've felt it was the perfect choice for your vacation or work trip – the restaurants were chic but contained undertones of the local cuisine, the accommodations had updated fixtures and tech yet remained comfortable, and the amenities maintained the vibe from the lobby and beyond. Creating that feeling of familiarity, comfort and personalization in hospitality design is often complicated because designers must cater to a larger audience.
However, our team has a couple tricks for personalizing these particular spaces. Julie Niederlehner, our experienced hospitality designer, works to develop unique concepts for every project by taking inspiration from the locale and each client’s interests.
Narrative
Despite the challenges involved with balancing various needs, focusing on the concept and homing in on the client's narrative can help create a more personalized experience for everyone who steps through the door. Comparable to writing a novel, the writer draws from experience to craft a story they know their readers will love, just as a designer works with the client, learning their interests and creating a narrative centered around their vision to reach future guests.
Designers also work as editors in a way. Clients trust our expertise to guide their ideas in the right direction, and we pull inspiration from our experience on what may or may not work for an intended audience. Nailing down the character and narrative are essential stepping stones to a personalized hospitality space.
Locale and Culture
When guests visit a restaurant or hotel in a specific region, they typically come in with a set of expectations. Most coffee shops have a calming atmosphere and space for light work. Hotels will include amenities suitable for the location and what visitors plan to do in the surrounding area. Another way to customize a hospitality space is to use the destination and native culture as design inspiration.
Research local artists for artwork, use colors from native plants, select fabrics and finishes with unique and identifiable textures and patterns – these are all great strategies to take advantage of when making a hospitality design subjective. One of the best ways to incorporate culture is to commission a unique item from a local artisan centered around the design concept.
While hospitality may still be overcoming a reputation for cookie-cutter designs that appeal to the masses, studio 121 aims to add a personal touch to every project, helping you feel like it was made for you. Through storytelling and understanding the client's needs and vision, we create spaces that appear tailor-made for each individual. Every detail, from the artwork, fixtures and finishes, contributes to a cohesive and personalized guest experience. Our spaces are designed to leave lasting impressions on customers, where they feel comfortable yet amazed during their visit and yearn to return for more.
It all starts with the one-to-one approach.