Chicago-based design firm The Gettys Group has completed the renovation of Reikart House in Amherst, New York. A new addition to Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio, the revamped property boasts a restored design that pays homage to its storied past.
Previously operated as the Lord Amherst Hotel, the boutique concept features a design inspired by local legend Frank C. Reikart and his wife Dolly, the first family of hospitality in Amherst. The redevelopment emphasizes comfort and whimsy with respect to the colonial revivalism of Duane Lyman’s original design. Traditional elements are married with modern details, while locally sourced furnishings enhance the warm and inviting aesthetic.
The property is home to 92 guestrooms and 12 suites, all of which are conceived as spacious bedrooms. The Reikart House partnered with the Buffalo Niagara Heritage Museum to furnish each suite with a different locally informed theme that symbolizes regional history. Additional amenities include a boardroom, fitness center, spa, and the forthcoming eatery Jazzboline.
“We took this indelible blueprint and created a design plan that drew on the property’s past—with elegant-yet-approachable interiors—while also playing on its modern-day place as a sought-after destination for travelers and locals alike,” says Ben Nicholas, interior design principal with The Gettys Group.
