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WHERE THERE’S SMOKE: SIMEONE DEARY TRANSFORMS ADAPTIVE REUSE
PROJECTS
Simeone Deary creates warmly welcoming hotspot hotels.
The bar area of the Detroit Foundation Hotel features a
monumental chandelier cum art
installation illuminating the interior and beckoning from the
exterior.
When it comes to adaptive reuse, Chicago-based Simeone Deary
Design Group, co-owned by Lisa Simeone and Gina Deary, is on
fire.
Take the Detroit Foundation Hotel for example. Located in
downtown Detroit, the firm’s goal was to create a brand that could
embody the resurgent spirit of Detroit’s people and serve as a
foundation for the community for many years to come.
“The site played an integral role informing the creative choices
we made, by virtue of the fact that it is formerly the Detroit Fire
Department headquarters,” Deary relates. “The building can be seen
immediately upon entering the city, so we left the fire doors
intact for a welcoming effect. As an homage to the building’s
history, we painted the doors fire-engine red, and proceeded to use
that color sparingly for significant branding elements throughout
the hotel.”
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According to Deary, the opportunity to transform the former fire
department building into a boutique hotel was more than just
another historic preservation project. “It was an opportunity to
help revitalize Detroit,” she says.
The conceptual design, which has garnered an arm-load of
industry awards, is inspired by the idea of “Coming Home to
Detroit,” and resulted in a commitment to repurpose history by
taking past relevant moments and materials from the fire department
headquarters, as well as from Detroit, to create a unique,
contemporary design that showcases the historic nature of the
building while paying homage to the city.
Entering the five-story Neoclassical building through a massive,
arched, terra-cotta-faced portal, originally one of the fire engine
doors, guests are transported into a voluminous space; a story and
a half that once housed the fire engines. The space — which
incorporates the check-in experience, lobby and a restaurant aptly
named The Apparatus Room, is collaborative and communal. Existing
glazed brick tiles celebrate the building’s history, while the new
finishes, decorative lighting and interior architecture add
modernity. An open display kitchen and an antique brass metal rail
system reminiscent of a fireman’s pole runs through the restaurant
and highlights the strong architecture of the space.
https://www.furniturelightingdecor.com/new-hybrid-town-how-cynthia-heathcoe-reimagined-contemporary-livinghttps://www.furniturelightingdecor.com/lighting-art-how-todays-fixtures-balance-form-and-function
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A monumental feature chandelier encircling the central bar
serves not only as a lighting source, but also as an art
installation. The custom piece contains 359 warm, exposed-element
LED lamps and 110 pieces of hand-blown glass that sparkle and
refract light. Inspired by the designers’ take on streetlamps —
some on, some off — dotting Detroit’s downtown district, the
fixture serves as a beacon, illuminating the interior and beckoning
from the exterior. Positioned intentionally in the direct sightline
of guests is an additionally eye-catching chandelier resembling
smoke. The front desk is comprised of a vintage, found-furniture
credenza with video screens behind showcasing footage of local
artisans and fabricators whose skills, craftsmanship and art are
incorporated into the hotel’s design.
“I will forever be grateful for the experiences I had with the
local creative community of Detroit as they are true
collaborators,” Deary relates. “I learned that letting go and
giving artists the freedom to do what they are best at is not only
incredibly rewarding emotionally and intellectually, but it also
produces a much more interesting design solution. It has sent me on
a journey of discovery about the true meaning of creativity. My
life as an artist and designer will forever be influenced by this
project, the city, and all of the amazing people and places of
Detroit that inspired me.”
Hot Chocolate
When the opportunity to transform a historic chocolate factory
into the boutique Charmant Hotel arose, the designers were equally
passionate about breathing new life into a beloved pillar of the
community in the Midwestern town of LaCrosse, WI.
Back in the early 1900s, Charmant (French for “charming”) was
the name of the line of chocolates once produced during the candy
factory’s 35 years in operation. Inspired by the building’s rich
history and the prevailing French influence of the town, the
designers set
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out to create an experience where guests and locals would feel
comfortable, inspired and a part of something special. “We wanted
them to know the amazing story of the building as they entered into
each area,” Deary describes, adding that the words “poetic,”
“wholesome,” “intuitive,” “luxurious” and “eclectic” served as
touchpoints for the design.
https://www.furniturelightingdecor.com/create-luxury-home-furnishings-retail-experience
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Upon entry, a French-inspired black-and-white marble mosaic
patterned floor is accentuated by design elements that celebrate
the space in its original use. The front desk, designed as an
abstract homage to an old-fashioned candy counter, utilizes classic
marble juxtaposed with forged metal. A display case showcasing
chocolate treats sits adjacent to the desk.
Along the ceiling, lights set behind the moldings play up the
texture of white-washed brick walls. Underfoot, the original wood
floors have been meticulously refinished, yet retain the stains,
even the scent, of long-ago batches of chocolate and molasses. The
color palette is reflective of chocolate — buttercreams, caramels,
raspberries and cocoas — warm and enticing, dotted by
French-inspired blues and grays that add notes of cool
serenity.
Guest rooms in the Charmant Hotel reflect a European-inspired
home with exposed brick walls and vintage memorabilia. The bar is
an extension of the lobby but takes on a more masculine feel with
saddle-colored leather, vintage wood floors, denim pillows,
blackened hardware and industrial light fixtures. The more feminine
dining room honors the building’s sense of industry as well, with
pulleys from the factory holding the lighting fixtures that run
along the barrel-vaulted ceiling. Countertops are clad in zinc.
Guest rooms meant to feel residential are reflective of a
European-inspired home. A neutral palette of black, white and taupe
plays off hues of deep blue and dusty rose. No standard hotel
furnishings here; every guest room is outfitted with curated pieces
and personal
https://www.furniturelightingdecor.com/step-resimercial-style-these-hospitality-focused-furnishings
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touches, with vintage photographs and other memorabilia used as
art. Antique rugs set off the refurbished wood flooring. “They
should feel like they knew exactly what this building was like when
it was a candy factory,” Deary sums.
Simeone Deary Design Group, Lisa Simeone, Gina Deary, Detroit
Foundation Hotel , Charmant Hotel
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