Ghosts are part of the guest list at these hotels, OMA turns an industrial landmark into a hub for young creatives, and the Plaza prepares for a four-year pause. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
New York’s Plaza Hotel to close for renovations
The Plaza on Fifth Avenue in New York; photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
After 119 years, the Plaza Hotel will close its doors in January 2027—but only for four years! The New York Times reports that the opulent, 18-story urban retreat will shut down for the restoration of its landmark façade, though the specifics of the overhaul, including cost, were not revealed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. While the company confirmed that event spaces and the Palm Court restaurant would also temporarily shut down, Fairmont declined to say whether residents of the hotel’s 181 condos would be displaced as well. A spokesman for the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council did indicate to NYT that the Plaza’s 378 staff members would have the right to resume their jobs at the same pay upon reopening and that the union would help the team find work in the meantime. Shall we book an afternoon teatime before the holidays?
Check into America’s most haunted hotels
Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, California; photo courtesy of MSPhotographic/Adode Stock
Whether looking to avoid or brave a spooky sojourn this Halloween, Afar has got you covered with a roundup of the most haunted hotels in the U.S. Some obvious locations make the list, like the Bourbon Orleans Hotel, where a variety of Big Easy spirits have long wandered (and vanished) through the halls. The Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, Massachusetts is also likely to satisfy witchy yearnings with particularly haunted rooms enticing bold travelers, just like New York’s Hotel Chelsea, where a slew of legendary ghosts beckon. Some more novel options also abound, like the storied Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles or the RMS Queen Mary ocean liner in Long Beach, California, which even offers paranormal tours onsite. This writer is no expert, but if the Stanley Hotel in Colorado spooked Stephen King so much that he used it as the basis for “The Shining,” that’s gotta be worth the trip.
The design trends TikTokers love most
Skirted seating makes an appearance in the Fettle-designed Stoneleigh hotel in Dallas; photo by Helen Cathcart
Like any other social media, sometimes it’s worth scrolling through TikTok for a little bit of design inspo. But for those with more self-control than me, Elle Decor has taken the time to round up the latest interiors trends flooding the platform, as aggregated by consumer research firm Resonate. House merch is among the most popular fads right now, encouraging us to personalize our abodes with custom matchbooks, cocktail napkins, monogrammed coasters, and even postcards. Cute! Estate sale videos are also going viral, with users showing off maximalist interiors layered with a medley of vintage furnishings to tout a diversity of style. Skirted furniture is also garnering interest, while broken floor plans offer acoustic and spatial balance with archways, partial walls, elevation changes, and strategic furniture placement.
From coffee grounds to school grounds in Houston
Rendering courtesy of Out of RAM
OMA has revealed plans to overhaul Houston’s J.A. Folger & Co. coffee plant into a tuition-free charter school. According to Designboom, the Frank Liu Jr. Academy for Music and Arts (FLAMA) will support creative learning and community across three stories and 65,120 square feet. The adaptive reuse project will be designed to support independence, openness, and collaborative learning with each floor oriented around two central gathering hubs alongside classrooms, practice rooms, and academic programs. Music will also inform the architecture, with a sculptural staircase crafted akin to a French horn as well as dual libraries and flexible spaces for drum circles, movement, and play.
BDNY Product Design Competition deadline extended!
The Foundry Collection by Fireclay Tile, one of the two products award Best in Show at BDNY 2025; photo courtesy of Fireclay Tile
The deadline to enter the Best of BDNY Product Design Competition has been extended to October 30th! Recognizing product manufacturers that demonstrate functionality, aesthetic progress, and innovation in their respective categories, the competition costs $800 for the first entry and $150 for all subsequent entries. The submission fee includes guaranteed digital placement of one product per company in a product showcase that will be featured in Boutique Design’s Winter 2026/2027 issue. An optional $800 upgrade is also offered for additional exposure during BDNY on the main aisle. Winners will be selected by a soon-to-be-announced judging panel on Sunday, November 8th at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York. Note: Companies not exhibiting at BDNY can enter but are not qualified to win.