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Thank you OnMilwaukee readers for making our new Steinhafels "Before and After" column a success! As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, and we find there is no better way to display the talent of our designers than through images of their breathtaking room transformations.
In this month’s article, we take the idea of home redesign to the next level, to a place that is shared by thousands of people: a hotel!
The Delafield Hotel sits in the middle of quaint, serene downtown Delafield. The boutique hotel has the genuine warmth you’d expect in the Kettle Moraine, but also boasts a sense of sophistication and top tier amenities you’d expect from a Four Diamond Hotel.
The hotel was a perfect fit for Steinhafels’ Decorating Solutions designer Patti Stindt. Patti has a wide range of experience in both residential and commercial design, and says she was up for whatever obstacles came her way. "It’s very fun and challenging. It makes me a better designer knowing I can be a project manager as well ... in addition to just redesigning a room."
The hotel was built in 1995, and Stindt says there has been no large-scale redesign since. The old design was "traditional Colonial" and had some beautiful vintage flair, as you can see in these pictures ... but it was time for some updating.
Before
Stindt explains, "The goal was mainly to achieve a more modern, updated look, that goes with the redirected style of the hotel. We want the design to contribute to the guests having the best experience possible."
Stindt calls the new look "eclectic elegance." It’s still warm and welcoming, but has an edginess that is modern and trendy. She hopes the design has a bit of a "wow" factor for guests. "I want them to be comfortable and surprised by the modern vibe inside the hotel, versus the outside, traditional look ... which is still a beautiful reflection of Delafield itself."
Hotel executives had already picked some of the basics of the new design, including carpeting and wallpaper, so Stindt worked with that to pick the most complementary furniture and accessories.
To give you the full scope of the project, here are some numbers. Stindt designed all 38 rooms, including 19 different layouts! The whole process took about seven months and included many custom pieces. Custom furniture offers a personal and unique touch to any space but usually takes longer to produce and ship, which adds another layer of coordination. Patti admits the whole process was stressful, but very rewarding.
"The hardest part was coordinating everything to make sure everything got here on time. Every room is a bit different, so there is different furniture in almost every room."
While this was a large-scale project, many of the techniques Stindt used also apply to home design. Like a hotel, most of us want our home to be warm and inviting for our families and guests – but we also want it to exude some personal style.
Most of the furniture in this redesign is Bernhardt, with touches of Lexington, and even some local flavor as you will see.
Alright, enough talk; let’s see some pictures! Patti also shares with us the mood and feeling she was going for – in her own words.
After
"I tried to create the look of luxury, simplicity and cohesiveness with the mixture of textures, fabrics, metals and woods."
- Bernhardt custom upholstered headboard
- Bernhardt custom upholstered bench
- Desk by Bernhardt Salon collection
"I love mixing metals to contrast with the warm wood textures to add variety."
- Maurice swivel chair
- Custom lamp by Robert Abby
- Teak wood accent table
- Dresser (No longer available)
Get the Maurice swivel chair or Get the Teak wood accent table
"This represents a good mix of different grey tones to add visual interest. It is also a high contrast with the white walls."
- Bernhardt custom sleeper sofa
- Palozzo swivel chairs
- Custom lamp by Robert Abby
"What an amazing space for a 'home away from home.'"
- Table set (No longer available)
- Local custom art
- Other accessories by Steinhafels
Keep reading OnMilwaukee for many more "Before and After" projects in the months to come! You can learn more about the Steinhafels Decorating Solutions program and check out various Before and After projects from many of our designers across the Milwaukee, Madison and Appleton areas here.
