The Hotel Carmichael, Autograph Collection has debuted in downtown Carmel, Indiana in close proximity to the Palladium, the historic music hall that houses the Great American Songbook. This detail inspired HBA to conceive a timeless design scheme guided by the melody, rhythm, and soul of the Golden Age of American Song.
“We started with a Neoclassical design and brought it forward in time,” says HBA Atlanta senior designer Catherine Josey. “We integrated historic elements into each of the spaces to give guests a sense of nostalgia as they were transformed into the present. By using a storyline-based approach, we sought to create a cohesive design concept with a level of attention to detail that invokes the spirited feeling of a time in history where grandeur, scaling, and decadent decoration were celebrated to encourage guests to be fully present and appreciate the moment they enter the lobby.”
These themes permeate all six stories of the 122-room hotel, where timeless furnishings and simple forms evoke classic elegance. Oversized black metal doors accented with bronze hardware welcome visitors into the stately lobby, which is lined with black and white checkered floors and Doric columns. Theatrical drapes flank a large-scale artwork that serves as the backdrop for the grand reception desk composed of white and black stone and gold gilded medallions. The lobby also features a lounge library evocative of an English pub with a dual fireplace and high wainscoting coated in dark rich paint beneath coffered ceilings.
Teal lacquered doors lead to French bistro Vivante, where dark wood furniture is installed before white walls. The hotel’s signature cabaret venue is outfitted with dark carpeting and a mix of metal and mirror elements.
A palette of soft blue and green tones adorn hotel corridors, guiding guests to their accommodations. Each guestroom is characterized by blue leather headboards, oversized sectional lounge furniture, and chandeliers. Hardwood flooring stretches across hotel suites, which also house a small powder room, a teal-accented dining room, and a bright living room detailed with blue drapery and multicolored side chairs.
