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News: Boutique + Lifestyle|Hotels + Resorts
October 9, 2025

The Douglas Welcomes Guests in a Restored Savannah Townhouse

The boutique hotel honors the 170-year-old residence with preserved architecture and layered interiors

Words by: Stephanie Chen • Photos by Matthew Williams

the douglas savannah georgia restored townhouse 1853 sitting room living area fireplace indoor plants sage green paint

News:

Boutique + Lifestyle | Hotels + Resorts
October 9, 2025

The Douglas Welcomes Guests in a Restored Savannah Townhouse

The boutique hotel honors the 170-year-old residence with preserved architecture and layered interiors

Words by: Stephanie Chen • Photos by Matthew Williams

The Douglas, a 16-room boutique hotel in Savannah’s Historic District, brings new life to an 1853 townhouse through a careful balance of preservation and modern design.

Over its 170-year history, the townhouse has played many roles—from a banker’s private residence and a gentlemen’s club to wartime apartments during World War II and even a Girl Scouts annex. These architectural and cultural layers informed the restoration, which was led by locally based firms Reggie Gibson Architects and Glenn Keyes Architects.

the douglas savannah georgia restored townhouse 1853 fireplace human sketches brown armchair rattan backRestoring the 1853 Savannah townhome

The team preserved defining elements—including original Murano glass chandeliers, stained-glass transoms, and heart pine floors—while updating the structure for modern use. Where historic materials were missing (like damaged Victorian tiles at the bar fireplace), the team worked with craftspeople to replicate the features as precisely as possible.

Ceilings were raised and reworked for both design and function, ADA accessibility was added via a sloping entry, and the central kitchen was rebuilt as a commercial-grade facility.

Kirby Caldwell reimagines interiors for the Douglas

For the interiors, designer Kirby Caldwell approached the project through the Vitruvian principles of “firmness, commodity, and delight,” with a particular emphasis on delight.

The vision leans into the idea of the hotel as a home, resulting in an eclectic yet refined aesthetic layered with antiques and custom pieces that conjure a sense of intimate hospitality.

Tactile fabrics and rich velvets pair with antique furnishings—like 1930s French sofas, Turkish Oushak rugs, and a dramatic 1940s credenza—sourced from across the South. These treasures sit alongside clean-lined bespoke pieces and contemporary art, creating interiors that feel timeless yet personal.

The color story blends restraint and richness: creams, beiges, dusty blues, and rose tones provide a calm backdrop, while aubergine, sage, and ochre punctuate the spaces with warmth. Mohair, marble, velvet, and polished nickel create a rich material palette, which is rounded out by warm, ambient lighting.

the douglas savannah georgia restored townhouse 1853 hallway green square tiles wall art indoor plants

the douglas savannah georgia restored townhouse 1853 sitting room living area indoor plants sage green paint

the douglas savannah georgia restored townhouse 1853 guestroom bed frame four post chandelier brown velvet sofa coffee table fireplace

the douglas savannah georgia restored townhouse 1853 bar velvet brown stools fireplace chandelier

the douglas savannah georgia restored townhouse 1853 bar velvet brown stools

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Americas•Lifestyle + Boutique

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