Ms. Locke

Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment

Adding 'Ahhh' With Artwork and Accessories - No Detail is Too Small

By Amy Locke, Director, Interior Design, Hatchett Hospitality

Selecting and arranging items in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions – or both; that’s how designers and owners use FF&E to enhance the guest experience – and among the important tools available to them are artwork and accessories. While furniture, carpeting, and wall color set a certain tone, it is little things that add the final defining touches. They can change routine “atmosphere” into distinctive “ambience.”

Hotel design is meant to reflect not only the way we live, but as importantly the way we aspire to live. That’s why even economy brands are upscaling – after all, inexpensive doesn’t have to mean uninteresting.

Each environment has unique challenges, notably available space, hotel theme, owner’s taste, and budget. However, with skill and imagination, you can use artwork and accessories to help your guests transform their hotel stay from predictability and conformity into one filled with memorable “ahhh” moments.

And yes, it is possible to balance design innovation with brand consistency – consider it thinking outside the box while thinking “inside the brand.”

In fact, art and accessories are a relatively easy and inexpensive way to update the look of your property when it’s not financially feasible to do a more complete renovation. You can retain the majority of your furnishings, yet go from “flat” to “fabulous” simply by adding some new artwork and accessories.

Here are some suggestions.

Artwork

Many people think of “artwork” as paintings, wall hangings, and sculptures – and indeed there are many creative ideas for strategically using these types of pieces, some of which are offered later in this article. However, there are several non-traditional ways to make a stunning visual impact on guests, including:

• inlaid designs of wood or marble on walls and floors
• waterfalls, either trickling gently down a wall or rushing loudly into a pond
• mirrors, either alone or in an unusual arrangement of sizes and shapes
• shadowboxes that display items in 3-D
• wall or ceiling murals
• wall niches or small shelves that enhance the display of flowers or sculpture
• shutters, opaque glass, or glass block that serve as a wall or room dividers, perhaps with special back-lighting to enhance the effect of design and color
• carpets or area rugs that can be made in custom colors and patterns, especially in large public spaces
• unusual mosaic design on bathroom floors, in guest rooms or public areas
• a single exposed brick wall

Exactly which of these more unique artistic elements is right for you will depend on numerous factors, including whether the hotel is urban or suburban, formal or informal, a coastal resort or a business conference center.

When considering traditional paintings and wall hangings, the artwork can be custom-made or can be purchased in economical “ready to hang” packages. Your choice of artwork should match and enhance your hotel’s design theme – and in the process, you may also wish to reflect your region and your immediate neighborhood.

Focus first on the lobby. It’s a high-profile area that makes the all-important “first impression” and acts as a stage for the entire property, so you may wish to feature original artwork in order to achieve added flare and interest.

Custom artwork can range from commissioned pieces by well-known artists, which can be expensive, to original art produced by studios that maintain a stable of in-house artists and can therefore charge lower prices, often comparable to mass-produced art. These studios – such as Deljou in Atlanta – enable you to display original art throughout your hotel, including every guest room, in a wide variety of styles and price points.

A novel twist on original artwork is using technology to create digital art. This technique will work best if your hotel has a contemporary design theme.

Yet another way to showcase original artwork is to create an area in your property where work by local artists can be displayed "on loan" or "on rotation." This will provide both your guests and your community with a special place to enjoy art – and it will give you a “distinctive difference” that can be highlighted on your website, in your advertising, and in other marketing materials.

Of course, each time the exhibit of local original artwork is changed, you can notify the hometown newspapers and TV stations plus you can hold an opening night reception with invitations to corporate customers and local VIP’s.

Whether you choose original art or less expensive prints, be sure to display the artwork properly. For example, don't squeeze large pieces into a small space – and similarly, don't put a small picture in the middle of a large wall. Fill the space available in a way that's in proper proportion and that's pleasing to the eye.

Your choice of frames – in style, color, and size – can further spotlight both the artwork and the overall room:

• if furniture is in dark wood such as mahogany, gold frames will set off the artwork
• if the setting is contemporary, black or silver frames are desirable
• if a frame is the same color as the furniture, hang it far enough away from the furniture so there’s a visual “break” for the eye
• if the wall color or covering is dark, neutral frames are subtle and permit the art to shine – and won't conflict with other colors
• if the wall color is light, a dark frame adds character

Another element to consider is the mat. Wide mats are a popular way of enhancing smaller paintings or images, while decorative mat cuts and placing the artwork in an unusual position – such as off center – are other ways to showcase the image or object.

If you economize with artwork prints, you may wish to invest in higher quality mats and frames which will enhance the appearance of even inexpensive artwork.

There are many ways that artwork can transform space and make a “picture perfect” design statement, but consider these three general tips to guide you:

• educate yourself on the full range of product options that are available
• have your designer provide you with design boards, budget analysis, and specification books – then trust the designer’s “vision” and recommendations
• be willing to experiment and take risks

Accessories

There is no magic formula or cookie-cutter answer for picking the right accessories, but the golden rule certainly is to choose those that are sensible, stylish, and comfortable.

Accessories are most important in the lobby and public areas – these are focal points that should be “dressed to impress.” In a guest room, accessories can make the difference between forgettable and memorable, while dining areas can be made calmer and cozier with accessories.

Some examples include:

Lamps – they come in all sizes, shapes, and styles for decorative as well as “task” lighting. Typically, you want to keep shades white or off-white because too dark a color will significantly reduce brightness, however, sometimes a dark shade can be used to create an unexpected look or special mood.

Fabrics – they’re always there in plain sight, sometimes to stand out and help create a “one of a kind” look, while sometimes to blend into the background and subtly complement the surroundings.

They come in a wide selection of patterns and textures, both domestic and imported, so you can coordinate with draperies, upholstered furniture, carpet, and in guest rooms, bedspreads – and you can add luxury with fabrics that feel good.

Plants – greenery brings the outdoors inside to serve as a calming aesthetic for both public areas and guest rooms. Large, live plants can dramatically enhance a lobby while high-quality artificial plants should be used generously in hallways, meeting areas, and guest rooms.

Today’s artificial plants are very life-like, come in many different sizes and styles, and require little maintenance. They are also a relatively inexpensive way to fill an area with something attractive – and depending on your choice of plants, perhaps even something unusual.

Knick-knacks – decorative items such as vases, open and covered dishes, throw pillows, candlesticks, and smaller art objects come in a variety of sizes, materials, and colors. Avoid items that are too small to be seen properly or that invite being stolen, and make sure items are used in a suitable space – for example, don’t put a large vase of flowers on a small end table where it will overpower the furniture.

Try using common objects in uncommon ways – for example, I recently saw a display of 6, 10, and 12-foot decorative vases used in combination to create an unusual display of floor art in a lobby.

Sometimes the best use of art and accessories is “invisible” – namely, the items are meant to blend into the background so effectively that guests are barely conscious of their presence. In these cases, the impact is understated and almost subliminal.

Other times, art and accessories are meant to stand out – to be bold, to be noticed, and to dramatically reinforce a room or space – whether it’s due to their size, shape, color, or style. In these cases, there’s nothing shy or retiring about the role of art and accessories.

What’s right for you? I hope this article has helped you decide, but one thing is sure – when used properly, artwork and accessories can turn both heads and beds.

Amy Locke is director of interior design at Hatchett Hospitality. She works with franchisers and franchisees on a wide variety of hotel brands, styles, and themes – from economy to luxury, from resort to business conference, and from traditional to modern. Previous to joining Hatchett, she held a position in interior design with Ethan Allen Interiors. Ms. Locke earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from the Art Institute of Atlanta. She is completing a degree in feng shuiand is an allied member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). Ms. Locke can be contacted at 770-227-5232 or Amy@HatchettHospitality.com Extended Bio...

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