Situated on historic downtown Oxford Square, a former 1960s hotel that had fallen into disrepair was razed to make way for the 136-room Graduate Oxford—the collection’s first new-build property. Its façade references local brick-clad architecture.

Stained a bright pink, the lobby’s wood flooring “is where the design narrative began,” explains Andrew Alford, chief creative officer at AJ Capital Partners, who balanced this feminine element with the more masculine navy blue, gray, and white accents found throughout.

Graphic porcelain tiles encircle the floating front desk and bar, along with what appears to be a stocked bookshelf but is actually a thin veneer made with textural book spines. The detail, along with a series of vintage globe pendant lights, is one of many nods to academia.

Set against the lobby’s geometric grasscloth wallcovering, a mixed-media installation crafted by Mississippi artist Charlie Buckley depicts an aerial vista of the Grove—a campus location popular with Ole Miss football tailgaters.

Also located in the lobby, a grouping of images by AJ Capital Partners’ design assistant Ernest Wlostowski depicts bowties, a traditional staple for men attending college football games in the South.

Guestrooms generally mirror the lobby’s preppy Southern style but feature navy blue carpet with pink polka dots. Industrial concrete ceilings are complemented with 1930s-inspired chandeliers, while custom bedside lamps are made from trophies in honor of the university’s athletic department.

Open to the lobby is Cabin 82—a café recalling county fairs—which features a carnival ride-inspired ceiling light, contrasting reclaimed wood, and a counter fronted by vintage tickets decoupaged in a chevron pattern.

Patchwork quilt upholstery lends itself to the venue’s country vibe, which Alford describes as “the cowboy boots on the very elegant lobby”—an homage to the Southern tradition of pairing boots with stylish dresses at college football games.

A porch swing with plush patterned cushions offers variety amongst the tables, banquettes, and “homespun vintage Americana that creates a sense of discovery for guests,” says Alford.

The Coop, a rooftop bar on the fourth floor, playfully nods to Cooper Manning—brother of NFL stars Eli and Peyton Manning, whose family has a history with the Ole Miss Rebels—with chicken coop motifs, such as rooster murals along the bar, a damask wallcovering with subtle chicken illustrations, and ceiling lights concealed within chicken wire.

“Rather than continue with a rustic theme, it was important for us to maintain the exterior’s classic look,” says Alford of the Coop’s modern terrace, which offers classic furnishings and a stainless steel communal table with an integrated ice trough.