Located in Washington, DC, the hotel mixes classic architecture with a contemporary aesthetic emphasized by unexpected pops of artistic flair (thanks to a collaboration with Lendrum Fine Art), which were selected based upon the envisioned likings of a fictitious muse: Mr. Darcy. Walnut floors, mahogany panels, and antique mirrors nod to tradition, while “Art was a tool to bring a more lighthearted element to the spaces,” says Christian Schnyder, principal of Los Angeles-based Beleco, the firm behind the 226-room Curio by Hilton boutique from KHP Capital Partners and Sage Hospitality. “The [cameo] portraits over the beds and the plaster busts in the lobby refer to the tradition of immortalizing important figures in this town,” he notes. The digitally generated cameos are brought to life on black canvas with strips of bright colors and set against neutral-toned walls.

The rose (DC’s state flower), particularly the American Beauty, is a reoccurring motif throughout. It shows up in a brass cut sculpture behind the reception desk from artist Kirk Maxson, rugs and throw pillows in guestrooms, onlay moldings cladding archways in transition spaces, and more artwork, such as the curvaceous lines of a tattoo-styled design (that Mr. Darcy himself would discreetly sport) depicting a handshake intended to represent friendship and the dealmaking synonymous with the political town.

Bathroom tilework also boasts an artistic vibe with bold patterns, including a cream-colored herringbone shower and a geometric wall of deep green, black, and white tiles behind a freestanding tub. Guestrooms offer an eclectic mix that “feels more like a home or private club rather than a hotel,” notes Schnyder, with four poster beds, art like Karen Constance’s funky “Four Legs” and “Curtain,” and textured wallcoverings.