Grand Interiors at the Grand Hotel
In September I took a weekend trip to the Upper Peninsula with my best girl friends, and on that Saturday we experienced what ended up being my favorite day trip to Mackinac Island. I have visited this Island maybe about twenty times since I moved to Michigan in 1999, but this trip was one for the books. That may be because my eyes and ears were more open to the beautiful history and architecture of this special place. We decided to take the tourist route and did everything from getting lunch and a bloody mary at the pink pony, hiked up to pictured rocks, and rented bikes to ride along Lake Huron. We knew our final destination was the Grand Hotel. So of course being the girls we are and taking on any adventure or challenge that is in front of us, we took our (non-mountain bikes) onto the first trail we see that will eventually cut through the middle of the island and (hopefully) will turn into a paved road to the hotel. After lots of hills and dodging of horse poop (no wipe-outs!), we found the pavement and made it to the Grand Hotel. We thought we deserved a grand drink, so we went in for a tour and to find the nearest bar.
If you have an extra ten bucks on you while visiting the island I recommend doing a self-guided tour of the Grand Hotel (or if you decide to spend the night, power to you and can I be your friend?).
The hotel was built in 1887 and even throughout different generations and years of renovations, the elements of the architecture and overall composition of the building brings you back in time. Right away when we walked in the door there was an explosion of vibrant color and pattern. This is typical of the Interior Designer of the hotel, Carleton Varney.
Carleton Varney is the president of the oldest established design firm Dorothy Draper & Co. He was also involved in the restoration and redecoration of The Waldorf Towers and Plaza Hotel in New York City, The Breakers in Palm Beach, the Greenbrier in West Virginia, and many other hotels and resorts. Carleton’s philosophy includes the use of bright colors and contrasts, and rejects anything that is uncomfortable and impractical. He carried on this philosophy throughout every space of the Grand Hotel.
There are 393 rooms and no two are the same. Each room has its own name and theme centered around popular decorating styles, historical figures, locations, and United States first ladies. The rooms brilliantly combine multiple colors and patterns to create a unique space and experience.
www.crazytogether.com
www.grandhotel.com
www.grandhotel.com
What is truly magical about the interior of the hotel is the combination of wallpaper and carpet. Large prints with rich contrasts of color line the walls and floors, along with large crystal chandeliers and lots of velvet-covered furniture. I am usually not a fan of carpet, but the use of it in this hotel was brilliantly executed and changed my perspective of the whole idea. When you decide to design with a bold concept I believe you can’t hold back from using the richest textures or the large-scaled prints, or else it will feel underwhelmed or like something is missing. Every room we walked through made my jaw drop to the floor and I did not know what to expect next, and that is what the result of excellent design should be. I left feeling happy and full of inspiration.
Lady Lydia posing on a bench.
After going through the ballroom where the orchestra plays after dinner, and walking past the well-dressed crowd enjoying their afternoon tea, we made it to the porch to soak up the sunshine with a grand mimosa (literally it was a chalice of champagne and orange juice). We sat on rocking chairs on the longest front porch in the world, and enjoyed the view of the Great Lakes and the Mackinac Bridge. I love being wrapped in the history of the Grand Hotel when I visit, but it also feels fresh and in touch with the trends. The hotel, and the whole island is such a magical experience. I am so lucky to be surrounded by such beauty and well-kept history. I hope to become more involved in projects centered around renovation of the state of Michigan. It is super important to highlight and restore the beauty that is already here, instead of tearing it down and building so much new. Maybe I will be involved in a project on Mackinac Island someday. Sign me up!
xoxo Alyssa
http://youmaybewandering.com/2014/06/the-longest-dayand-another-perfec.html
