This summer, the Ritz-Carlton, Naples in Florida underwent one of the largest refurbishments in the company’s history. Designed by Irvine, California-based firm Wimberly Interiors and Blueplate, a Wilson Associates Design Studio, the resort re-mastered 450 rooms, three dining outlets, and the Artisans ballroom.
Artisans Ballroom
“The design brief was to bring a new and fresh feel to the rooms by incorporating a residential and sophisticated look,” says Susan Bruce, senior associate and senior project manager at Wimberly. “The fabrics and furnishings are high-end and luxurious with a warmth that one would find in their own home.” In keeping with the style of the Ritz, traditional mahogany pieces finished with ivory lacquer offer a clean look. A chaise lounge, shaped in a Billy Baldwin style, has a classic yet modern design. “It works with the more transitional aesthetic we were trying to achieve,” says Bruce.
Citron, the color of the inside veins of a palm frond, covers the drapes in a modernized palm leaf pattern. “The views from the rooms are amazing, and we used those as the starting point of the design.” Looking towards the Gulf of Mexico, the rooms echo the exterior with a blue and citron palette. Bright stripes accent the pillows and fabrics for a pop of color. “The drapery gives the room a personality and helps to let the guest know that they are in Naples,” she adds.
Terrazza
The redesigned dining venues also honor the view and locale. “The highlights for us were the two spaces that were completely transformed-Terrazza and Dusk bar,” Brown says. Replacing the Terrace, Terrazza overlooks the Gulf with floor-to-ceiling glass doors and an open-air dining area. “We very much wanted to bring in a touch of the laid back yet upscale feel that you get in places like the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Palermo, and the Italian Riviera,” says Michael Brown of Blueplate, a Wilson Associates Design Studio. “Our material choices evoke the sun-kissed colors you would find in those coastal towns.” The design connects back to the rooms with blue upholstered chairs and a sepia-toned wall graphic of a shoreline.
Dusk
Formerly the sushi bar, Dusk now features an extended balcony and outdoor dining with an updated menu. Shelves of oversized lanterns, soft blue hues, and an abundance of wood elements add to the design.
The Grill
The design team approached the third dining space, the Grill, “like restoring a masterpiece,” says Brown. Warm grays, lavender and blue paintings of shorelines, and high-backed chairs and framed seats fill the space. “We wanted to maintain the sophisticated atmosphere that the guests have come to expect but reenergize the space with a palette inspired by the ocean after a storm,” he explains. Suspended in tray ceilings, chandeliers softly illuminate the restaurant along with a wood-burning fireplace.
Brown says, “As a designer, it is fun to know what the space looked like before, to be thoroughly involved in the redesign process, and then to walk into an entirely new and different experience.”
