I hope you all had a great New Year’s!!  I was fortunate to kick off 2011 with a short trip to Miami. I was excited to stay at one of our favorite hotels, The Raleigh.  I’ve always adored the design, the swimming pool, the vibe- it’s so relaxed and inspiring. But there seemed to have been some changes  since my last visit and NOT for the better. So I would like to make a few suggestions….curious if you agree with me….

The hotel website has this photo below, which is pretty true to the way it looks.

Image The Raleigh hotel

Beautiful, retro black & white & red design in the garden.

Image The Raleigh hotel

The swimming pool is the best in Miami, and again looks like it does in the hotel brochure.  Just imagine the design inspiration you could get for the lobby and the rooms from the outdoor design.

They have no image of their lobby on their website, but here is my snapshot….

HUH???

What happened? I know the hotel likes to have a relaxed, somewhat earthy feel. I’m kind of seeing a chandelier instead of that…artwork?

Is it only me or do you agree this needs work?

The entry has so much potential!

So dear hotel management company, please don’t be offended…I love the hotel, but may I make a few suggestions for your lobby? I’ll resist my temptation for too much color because I know you like it relaxed…

How about a couple of custom sofa’s by Patagonia Trading company? This color or more towards aqua with white piping.

Some artistic crazy chandelier like this would stay in the vein of what you’re doing, but would be way more elegant and cool I think.

A nice vintage Beni Ourani rug will keep it earthy and not too Hollywood regency.

…or an LuluDK bamboo carpet?

An octagon shiny leather ottoman from Patagonia Trading Company….

And some earthy side tables?

Some different chairs…hmm maybe, maybe not, just thinking quickly….

Maybe this…

Couple of cool garden stools?

Image The Raleigh Hotel.

All this would blend nicely with your cool coffee bar in the lobby.

Anyone have any great design suggestions for their lobby? Seriously…I’ll send it to them.