Los Angeles- and London-based studio Fettle has completed a sweeping renovation of the Stoneleigh, Dallas’ second-oldest hotel. The refreshed design impacts the property’s 176 guestrooms and a series of public spaces.
Originally opened in 1923 and later shaped by legendary decorator Dorothy Draper, the Beaux-Arts hotel has long embodied the glamour of early-20th-century hospitality. Rather than reinventing the Draper aesthetic, Fettle built upon it, partnering with storied design houses to weave bold textures, vibrant patterns, and bespoke furnishings throughout.
A grand arrival into the Stoneleigh
Guests enter through a lobby anchored by soaring ceilings and Beaux-Arts detailing, complemented by low-slung lounge furniture, custom wool-and-silk rugs, and handcrafted decorative screens. The reception desk features tasseled trim, while three custom cabinets display period found objects and divide the circulation space from the lobby bar.
Across the 176 guestrooms (56 of which are suites), custom high-pile wool carpeting is paired with geometric wallcoverings and plush velvets. Lacquered burl bar cabinets, generously upholstered headboard walls, and seating inspired by 1930s silhouettes appear throughout, unified by a curated art collection from California-based artist and set decorator Jack Lewis.
Bathrooms feature Venetian glass sconces by Italian glassmaker Sogni di Cristallo and a bespoke wallpaper detailed with a hidden gold key inscribed with the Stoneleigh “S.”
Bar Leonessa and Lion’s Den
Beyond floor-to-ceiling velvet curtains, Bar Leonessa channels the clandestine spirit of the Stoneleigh’s Prohibition-era past. An onyx and marble bar anchors the space, accompanied by fringed lamps and back bar displays bearing the hotel’s original “S” logo. Curated works from Kevin Barry Art Advisory line the walls.
Adjacent, the signature restaurant Lion’s Den takes its name from the stone lions at the Maple Street entrance. The space is layered with rich velvets, supple leathers, and printed fabric alongside walnut millwork and textural wall paneling. A central quatrefoil banquette with oversized swing-arm lamps lends the room a 1930s sensibility as well.
The Stoneleigh’s 11th floor
The hotel’s 11th floor, once home to the Colonel’s private Draper-designed penthouse apartment, now houses meeting spaces, five signature suites, and the original music room, dining room, and library.
The double-height music room features restored 500-year-old wood paneling, a minstrels’ balcony, and a custom chandelier composed of 210 pieces of cut crystal. Notably, the Draper Suite—centered around a lavish bed canopy crafted in Oscar de la Renta fabric—imagines where the style icon herself might have resided.
The 12th-floor penthouse suite, once favored by guests like Elvis Presley and Audrey Hepburn, draws on Asian-inspired origins reinterpreted through a 1930s lens. The accommodation also boasts one of the largest penthouse terraces in Dallas.
Pool and outdoor spaces
Outside, Fettle reinvigorated the hotel’s pool area, envisioning a relaxed yet glamorous destination inspired by Dallas society doyennes of the 1920s and ’30s. Custom Italian parasols, a bespoke DJ booth, and a palette of coral and green hues define the space, while the Lion’s Den patio overlooks the garden with cheerful outdoor fabrics and whimsical verdigris furnishings.
