Lifestyle brand Vera Bradley has launched its latest venture: a boutique hotel in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Bradley, operated by Provenance Hotels, evokes Midwestern charm and a modern design sensibility across its 124 guestrooms and a range of public spaces, including two restaurants, a rooftop bar, and a rotating art gallery.
“With the launch of the Bradley, a long-time dream of mine is finally coming to life, and I couldn’t be more excited to welcome everyone to my hometown: the historic city of Fort Wayne,” says Vera Bradley cofounder Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, who also delivered the keynote address at the inaugural Women in Design awards ceremony in 2018. “The Bradley will offer a piece of the rich Fort Wayne community to each guest who calls the hotel home, playing a major role in contributing to the city’s continued growth. It is my hope that the hotel will serve as an extension of my own home for a community I love and for those traveling in the city.”
New York-based studio Dutch East Design spearheaded the hotel’s interior design, which is defined by rich fabrics and textures, as well as a stained wood ceiling and custom pendants and furnishings. Guests are warmly greeted in the lobby by decorative freestanding screens framed in bronze that lead to reception. A communal table, five bronze chandeliers, and curated artwork also characterize the arrival experience.
Also located on the ground floor, Arbor serves as the culinary heart of the property complete with a glassed-in private dining room and a seasonal outdoor patio. Rooftop bar Birdie’s conveys vibrancy across its banquette-lined interior and an invigorating outdoor terrace, which overlooks the city’s downtown area. Furthermore, the hotel features 2,000 square feet of programming space, including a trio of meeting rooms—styled in soft, creamy palettes—and three event rooms.
Accommodations were crafted to reflect Baekgaard’s own personal style as they showcase soft sophistication, vibrant colorways, and eye-catching focal points—like floral headboards and custom bathroom wallpaper. Two of the hotel’s nine suites feature exclusive designs by Provenance Hotels president and CEO Katherine Durant, while Baekgaard crafted the remaining seven. Each suite boasts amenities like separate seating areas, walk-in rain showers, freestanding tubs, and outdoor balconies.
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