Wheatleigh Hotel
Wheatleigh Hotel
Lenox, MA
An eclectic family estate in the Berkshires is transformed into a grand retreat.
In this 19th century brick and limestone mansion, layouts were altered and spaces added to create a coherent set of suites and dining areas that preserve the integrity of the authentic structure. It was of utmost importance to honor the architecture of the original building and the Olmsted-designed grounds, yet the house had been poorly renovated and improperly subdivided over the years. Its condition warranted the demolition of nearly eighty percent of the interiors in order to a create a hotel with 19 unique guest rooms and public rooms that deftly respect the grand architectural aspirations of the original.
The new rooms are generous and well proportioned. Historically incorrect elements, and other extraneous ornamentation, were stripped away and some original yet awkward details were simplified to create calm, serene spaces.
To honor the history of the structure, Tsao & McKown created a broad set of visual cues, imagining that the house had remained in the continuous ownership of one family with each succeeding generation contributing to its décor. Interiors are at once diverse and luxurious, historically evocative and comfortably familial. The result is a thoroughly modern and luxurious interpretation of Gilded Age grandeur in the Berkshires.
