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Table of Contents
A designer's labor of love brought rich colors, inlaid floors, Italian glass, a dark deep walnut bar, a cabaret stage and couched them within sleek lines, opulent silk draperies, beads and sparkle - and then gave shine to it all with extraordinary multifaceted lighting.
Susan Huckvale Arann of American & International Design, Inc. brought the tangible feel associated with Hollywood glamour and ambience together with strains of big city sophistication, and in marrying them fulfilled yet another piece of the Nicotra vision.
In early fall 2004 American & International Designs, Inc. was retained by longtime clients Richard and Lois Nicotra to realize their desire for a metropolitan lobby lounge, bar and restaurant to serve their current clients and attract a new clientele to their SI Hilton Garden Inn, located on Lois Lane in Staten Island, New York. During the project's development, a separate project was born; the enclosure of a Tea House Garden to use as a pre- and post-event space. A special challenge, met in full by the design team put in place by American & International Designs, Inc., was that at every point during the nine month construction and renovation, two of the three spaces had to function as a customer-ready area and be open for business. Further, the Lobby Lounge had to meet the high standards of the client while incorporating aspects of the Hilton brand.
Designer's Perspective
Over the past two years, American & International Designs, Inc. has worked with the client to fulfill their vision. This project design took shape through discussion and sketch work and a common understanding that the client wanted the very best products and a design that was beyond the norm.
In creating a special, exclusive and luxurious environment, the client desired that good craftsmanship would combine with technology in a state of the art space that appeals to all the senses.
As loyal customers, the client trusted Susan Huckvale Arann and shared her adventurous approach to design, color and space planning. With clients whose first question is never cost but quality, Susan Huckvale Arann was able to arrange a team of crafts people, lighting specialists and vendors whose consistency, creativity and craftsmanship met both the design and business goals.
Hours of research on products that are unique and custom are a vital part of the process. The drawings, sketches, concepts and furniture details created aided the client in visualizing the space and making selections with ease.
The unique architectural structures of each space gave the design team the opportunity to create designs that incorporated the vision of an involved client.
Design Buzz
Customers are commenting on selections such as the bar's hanging pendant lights, the conversation areas and the oversized silk fabric chandeliers in the Lobby Lounge. A bridal couple booked their wedding at the Hilton on seeing the Tea House Garden. The future bride commented that, "Having a unique setting would give my wedding an element of being unforgettable!" A couple celebrating their 50th anniversary in the Tea House Garden entertained their family utilizing all three spaces over the course of their celebratory weekend - and one guest commented that there was "high art" to the spaces.
Servers are pleased with the "flow" of the space. One commented that the Bar caters to customers who "come in for a quick conversation but then get hugged by the bar shape and stay for hours." Another commented that the seating in the Lounge makes each group feel as though they were entertaining in a cozy, secluded environment. A hostess stated, "The Lobby Lounge leads guests to linger after an event. The Lobby Lounge gives the evening an afterlife."
The next section will detail each area of the multifaceted design project.
With visionary style, American & International Designs, Inc. realized the customer's wishes for a pre-event space that is unique and creates a buzz. Susan Huckvale Arann combines style and technique to support that vision. Through training, dialogue and communication, the client became a part of the design team and a program for the unique space was developed.
The ceiling structure of all glass and the wall mainly of glass presented many design challenges. The designers were given only the dimensions and where the doors would be located in the space. The client and architect determined that there would be two solid walls and everything else would be glass.
The design team started from the ceiling and worked its way down to the floor. Due to the accelerated six week window for the project, American & International Designs, Inc. gave shape to the space through its design drawings and sketches, which were presented to the client before any architectural and engineering drawings were prepared.
To add color, seven orange and red lacquered ceiling trays were designed for suspension from the ceiling. A series of George Nelson styled bubble lamps in different shapes and sizes were arranged on each tray to provide dramatic lighting over the dance floor, bar and entrance. The reproductions are based on the original 1947 design which is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Liotus Designs, the lighting consultants, developed a package of fiber optic lights housed discreetly in jewel-like lenses and placed through the entire space. Liotus Designs worked off preliminary sketches to determine the placement of each fixture. This highlighted the elements below without casting shadows on the glass.
The large suspended soffet housing the heating and air conditioning units were wrapped in a green tea color faux silk wall covering. This design detail is repeated in the entrance along with a Chinese red fan pattern wall covering. Woven silk fabric panels appear along the walls to add texture and soften the acoustics while concealing the light and sound controls in this open room. To add drama to the space a 20-foot back drop wall is covered in mirror alternating mirror backed water falls. This wall is flanked by two back lit samurai red lacquer wall sculptures. A granite dance floor is centered and repeats the shape of the pattern used for the floating tray ceilings.
American & International Designs, Inc. developed a molding package to include a circle and grid design in ebony wood placed on the lower half of the walls at the entrance. Red lacquer wall lamps separate and enhance the entrance off the main corridor. The designer's selection of color emphasizes the ceiling architecture by combing shades of red green and black in the entrance way.
At the far end of the room is a red mosaic glass bar mixed with ebony and zebra wood and floating glass shelves.
Susan Huckvale Arann is a color specialist and a member of the Color Marketing Group. As a color consultant, Susan's fearlessness with regard to mixing colors found harmony with a client attuned to the use of color. As evidenced in the Lobby Lounge, the client has the aesthetic to embrace colors.
There are a myriad of colors in the room which are wedded through shades, textures, and finishes that reflect and enhance the venue as well as the client's art and sculpture collection. In mixing art and sculpture, finishes and textures the lounge met the Hilton corporate expectations, showcased the client's extensive art collection and created an atmosphere conducive to a daytime meeting or a dramatic evening.
By layering special finishes, Susan Huckvale Arann used silk, wood, copper, leather, suede and black iron to match a palette developed to take corporate sensibilities to a luxurious level.
Features like high-low tables accommodate daytime business meetings as well as the evening and late night lounge crowd. A multileveled space, the Lobby Lounge makes a smooth transition from a corporate meeting space to an evening entertainment venue. This duality is further enhanced by the vaulted wood ceilings and rich hued fanciful chandeliers.
Meeting the client's needs in a corporate prototype, American & International Designs, Inc. turned a perceived obstacle into opportunity and used color and finish to realize a design with style and individuality.
Lorenzo's Bar, Restaurant & Cabaret was envisioned as an elegant dining space and performance venue. The colors, the shape of the ceiling and the specially designed chairs give a fluid motion to a room that is often filled with music. Individual dining can transform into a cabaret experience when a performer takes to the dramatic stage.
The restaurant has two entrances which immediately created a design challenge. It sits within a hotel and had to flow with the hotel prototype. The design team had to keep the existing wall structure that separated the lobby from the entrance. They refaced the restaurant bar entrance in walnut wood. This set the tone throughout the space. Open wood display units were designed to serve as a sound barrier and visual space divider. This wood and glass display lights several pieces of sculpture. The unit frames a more transitional granite top walnut bar.
On the mezzanine level the fireplace features mocha and copper glass mosaic tiles imported from Italy with honed green marble and a contemporary cherry wood mantle. The custom designed fireplace was created to feature the client's Murano glass art collection. The fireplace is offset with a parchment wall covering in red and soft honey beige.
The windows are luxurious. To control the sunlight, the designer selected an oversized pleated silk shade detailed with brushed silver hardware. The silhouette shades have a blackout effect when closed during the performances. The design team framed and softened the larges shades with floor to ceiling panel draperies with deep pleated swag overlays suspended from silver rods imported from Germany. The drapery fabric imported from Holland is called glitter; it has a subtle silk shimmer. The colors are organza and orange with a touch of burgundy glass beads.
The barrel ceiling is wrapped in parchment paper in a tiny mosaic pattern with hints of copper. The black matt railing sets the mezzanine level and is designed to compliment the lines in the carpet. This contemporary style incorporates a series of overlapping circles. Textured amber glass panels divide the bar and reception area.
Discreet fiber optic lighting is introduced in the coves, dome and barrel ceiling. Small fiber optic one inch fixtures illuminate the rest of the room. Elaborate theatrical lighting is concealed in ceiling vaults and exposed at the stage. A light and sound room was located behind the coat check area. An opening into the room is concealed with removable art during non performance hours.
The rounded wall with 13 windows is covered in 2 inch precious metal blinds in perforated brushed silver. The blinds have perforated holes in them to let in the sunlight and create a special shimmer. Glitter fabric from Holland conceals the square structural columns at the rounded wall. The drapery style is a classic bishop panel in two colors.
The waiter's stations appear as furniture, utilizing zebra wood inlays combined with mahogany and cherry wood. Bevel glass doors with concealed lighting give it sparkle. A floor to ceiling zebra wood wine cabinet with floating glass shelves displays over 250 special wines. Next to it is a matching display showing more glass art.
With a room so large it was important to mix up the patterns on the dining seating. The chairs are gold and sage while the Hollywood booth is a pea green.
The retractable mocha velour stage curtain offsets the wood floor on the stage and a beautiful antique black lacquered Steinway piano. A theatrical scrim is used to enhance the performer backdrop with colored lighting.
On the cabaret stage, cream parchment paper with red accents is used as a back drop. The drop ceiling over the banquet is green. The ceiling's large dome is painted in a sunlight pearl metallic hue and again wrapped in a tone on tone striped parchment paper.
The extensive molding package included wood crowns and base molding to match the cherry chair frames. The carpet's contemporary mosaic pattern incorporates all of the colors in the room. The wood floor at the stage was laid horizontally to appear wider.
The piece de resistance is the crystal chandelier. The chandelier's sparkle and shimmer punctuates the dome. Hollywood style glamour is achieved through sleek lines and opulent silk draperies dripping in jewels, texture, drama, and extraordinary lighting. Attention was lavished on every detail - right down to the wavy draw pulls on the waiter's station.
This section features direct comments from the vendors assembled by Susan Huckvale Arann as well as details of products utilized at the Hilton Garden Inn.
- Rampulla Associates Architecture:
We found them to be consummate professionals. Timetables were adhered to, designs and concepts were superb, and teamwork was always in their vocabulary. One of their strengths is their ability to listen to and understand the client. They set themselves apart by always being engaged. They did not concern themselves with only their scope of work but rather became intimate with all of the consultants' scope of work to better understand the end product.
I believe the project meets and exceeds ours and the client's vision. Given American & International Designs, Inc. skill level we were more comfortable designing "outside-of-the-box".
The Tea House Garden was cited as a special challenge in that its inherent nature - a glass structure - achieves an open and airy effect with little or no solid surfaces for ornamentation. American & International Designs, Inc. proved that through creative lighting, floating wall treatments and designed flooring an open space can have more of a personality then being "open".
Susan and her staff have proven time and time again that they are the consultant of choice.
- Sandra Liotus Lighting Design, LLC, Newport, RI:
Susan Huckvale Arann and her team were very easy and extremely professional to communicate with during the whole design process. There was always open dialog and discussions on the design process between our firm and Susan's firm and we felt the ultimate result of the project was an excellent one.
American & International Designs, Inc. are honest and open about opinions and dialog toward the end result. We may not have always agreed, but the open discussions always continued for the end goal of pleasing the client and making the result as perfect as possible.
We enjoyed bouncing ideas off of each other's team and the teamwork between our companies. We would love to work with American & International Designs, Inc. again and will recommend her to some of our clients and future projects.
American & International Designs, Inc. has the ability to keep the discussions clear and concise defining what was ultimately required to make the lighting work cohesively with Susan's interior designs. Glass fiber optic lighting for art work and down lighting and linear cold cathode systems in a soft white color for the ambient lighting were used on this project. Both custom systems used are extremely low maintenance and require minimal energy consumption and with the massive scale of these project expansions, these qualities are key to performance, function and ultimate savings for the client.
Sandra Liotus Lighting Design, LLC and Susan's firm were challenged to the maximum by a very accelerated completion program for the project where finishing tasks were being carried out while basic construction was still taking place.
We are a custom lighting design and engineering firm, specializing in creating lighting systems which will be timeless in their appearance and performance and will reduce maintenance and energy consumption. We also specialize in lighting art collections, and Richard and Lois Nicotra have developed a strong collection over the years, which require the best and most sensitive lighting for its preservation and conservation while on display. For a large Hotel project, reducing maintenance and energy consumption becomes a highly desirable feature to offer in lighting.
Susan and her team kept us informed on her requirements as much as possible. This was very important to us since things were on a rapid turn around and pace. It was important for us to obtain as much information as possible from at the very least, the interior designer. Susan was the exception and not the rule on this project.
We are confident that the results in the end look smashing and are a great success! We feel that the lighting compliments the colors, tones, fabric choices and designs which Susan and the client have chosen.
- Cliff Young, Ltd., New York, New York:
It was wonderful working with Susan Huckvale Arann. She provided CAD drawings that were very clear - and facing the challenge of each space we worked as partners to find solutions. For example, in the Tea House Garden we provided bracketing and support that can support 10 times as much weight as the current product featured.
Susan is a very, very professional designer - her membership in ASID makes a big difference; she is the best. Susan is a longstanding client; over the past six to seven years we've worked together on a number of projects - the clients are always very happy with both parties and we would look forward to working with her in the future.
The Samurai light grew from Susan - we have done custom light projects before but this was the first traditional Asian design. All of the pieces we created for this project were strictly custom pieces - no production pieces were utilized - this was a highly customized project.
The room came together very nicely - both the lighting on the wall and the suspended lighting.
We would welcome the opportunity to speak about Susan and to work with her again.
This section tells the design story from the client's viewpoint.
Richard and Lois Nicotra, real estate developers and owners of the Staten Island Hilton Garden Inn, had a very specific vision for the new Lobby Lounge and redesigned Lorenzo's Bar and Restaurant, while the Tea House Garden project arose organically through a need for additional space as the preplanned projects were taking shape. The client wanted a high end space that would serve as a destination and pre- or post-event setting for couples, bridal parties, business people and other guests of their hotel.
The client has a long history working in construction and participating as part of the design team; they enjoy working with American & International Designs, Inc. and valued the input received on vendor choices, product leads and art placement. With a strong design sense of their own, they share with American & International Designs, Inc. an inventive style.
It was important that throughout the process they were open for business in two out of the three spaces and maintained their level of service. The client credits the design team brought in by American & International Designs, Inc. with focusing on their time line and incorporating that into the creative and construction process. They also appreciated the design team's ability to make immediate changes as the project took shape.
The client fell in love with the interpretation of the color palettes. The client shared that customers remarked on the use of color, especially in the Lobby Lounge, and that many diners stated that the, "color combinations were not typical". The client was pleased that the color palette enhanced and highlighted their artwork and sculpture collection.
The client's extensive art and sculpture collection, which was previously placed in their corporate headquarters, came together with special pieces purchased specifically for this project. The lighting and color palette drew pieces from different regions and periods together, creating an atmosphere of high art. The process and end result satisfied their business plans and achieved their aesthetic ambitions and the client looks forward to working with Susan in bringing future corporate visions to life.
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