The upcoming Kinzie Hotel will offer an urban exploration design scheme inspired by Chicago’s rich history and landscape. Opening in February 2014 in the Windy City, the hotel will take over the space currently occupied by the Amalfi Hotel.
Led by Gettys Design Group Chicago, the design was inspired by the city’s first settler and renowned explorer John Kinzie. Vintage imagery of 19th century Chicago maps and compasses are subtly displayed throughout guestroom wallcoverings and the navigational branding also speaks to the hotel’s tagline-“Chicago Starts Here.”
“The Kinzie Hotel is a quintessential Chicago hotel. It incorporates Chicago concepts throughout the design, from intricate vintage map work in the guest rooms, to the carpeting which features a modern interpretation of the city grid,” says design director Ben Nicholas of Chicago-based Gettys Group. “We are excited about the opening of this city-centric hotel-a place where guests can experience a little bit of Chicago with every turn.”
In the newly renovated 1,500-square-foot lobby, spherical central lighting fixtures brighten a tone-on-tone gray palette. The metallic gray iridescent tile conjures up illuminated Chicago streets after a nighttime rainfall. Showcased in the lobby and common areas, locally commissioned artwork displays interpretations of Chicago’s urban landscape. Contemporary sophistication is also seen throughout the hotel’s public areas, which are accented with bold navy blue and cool gray colors.

In the 210 renovated guestrooms and five suites, a rich color palette displays bright teal, cobalt, crimson, and pumpkin, offsetting the room’s crisp ambiance with a contrast between old and new Chicago. An eye-catching navigational map representing Chicago in the early 1800’s appears in the wallcovering above the bed. Navy blue carpet floors are outlined with hexagonal detailing inspired by Chicago’s cobblestone streets and the city grid of Kinzie’s time period. Guestroom lighting is outfitted with sconces resembling city lampposts.
Lastly, the hotel pays tribute to Kinzie’s silversmith days with the Double Cross Lounge. The newly updated 689-square-foot libation locale offers a full-service bar, hightop tables, and a lounge space. To help guests plan activities during their stay in Chicago, a black and white map of the city with marked places of interest is displayed on the wall.
