After visiting the Stoneleigh Hotel & Spa this week, I was able to snap a few sneak peaks of the new space.  The first photo features the sparkling dining room found in Bolla (Modern Italian cuisine by David Bull) located on the lobby level of the hotel.  Some of the original Hotel signage is displayed in Bolla and provides a unique union of glamour and history.  The second shot is of the new lobby, and the last showcases a plush Art-Deco banquet nestled in Bolla Bar.

There’s a new Fort Worth Star Telegram article out this week that focuses on the new Managing Director of the Stoneleigh, John Langston. No stranger to historic hotels, Langston has once worked with The Driskill Hotel in Austin, The Texas Hotel in Ft. Worth, and the Mansion here in Dallas. He’s pictured on the left above along with the new Director of Sales & Marketing, Gretchen Stofer Darby and the Chef of Stoneleigh’s Bolla Restaurant, David Bull.

This article provides interesting insight on the Stoneleigh’s new Managing Director. Take for instance, his response as to why the hotel was shut down completely for renovations in lieu of staying open for repairs:

“The hotel was in dire need of restoration. To try and provide a luxury experience around construction is just, in my book, not possible. It was more important for us to close and do the restoration correctly so that when we did reopen, we had a beautiful, perfect product.

That’s what the Stoneleigh needed.”

By the way, I received confirmation today that the offical opening date of the Stoneleigh Hotel & Spa is March 3rd!

Well, it’s official.  The new Stoneleigh sign is up, crowning the newly renovated property on Maple Avenue.  The sign went up just last week, and now it’s only a matter of time before the hotel makes its grand debut to the public.

After scanning the blogosphere, we here at the Stoneleigh Blog came across the Dallas Metropolis Forum, which is a handy open forum for discussing more details and updates about the Stoneleigh project.

Stay tuned to the blog, for as we approach the re-opening of the hotel we will be providing all sorts of insights into the project’s history and future. We will also be interviewing more folks who have been an important part of the hotel’s story, including Gary Bruton, the oldest running General Manager of the Stoneleigh after Colonel Stewart’s family owned the building.

More to come soon. Until then, have a Merry Christmas.

Today, I had the opportunity to speak with Deborah Forrest of ForrestPerkins, the company that is working on the renovation project at the Stoneleigh.  She had some interesting news to share regarding the vision for the project, art to be featured in the hotel, and details regarding the spa. 

The above images are, from top to bottom, a digital rendering of the hotel’s lobby design and photos of the newly-designed king size bed and restroom.

Here’s a look at the complete interview:

D:  What is the overall vision for the Stoneleigh Hotel renovation project? 

DF:  The main vision is to take an important period in the life of the hotel and really represent that through the interior lobby, ballrooms, and guest rooms.  That particular period being the Art Deco period in the 30’s, a very glamorous time that was an important time for the hotel.  The Stoneleigh had been built in the 20’s, but it had an undergone a renovation in the 1930’s that introduced beautiful Art Deco elements that still exist in the hotel today.  For example, the stair from the lobby up to the second floor, and the details like the columns in the lobby, crown molding, and the way the metalwork is detailed throughout the public areas.  So, we took our cues for the design of the furniture, carpets, and fabrics from that period.   

At the same time, just as the Art Deco period was a very modern way of interpreting the historic qualities of the hotel at the time, it still holds true today.  We are re-creating a period, but we’re also bringing it into the 21^st century, taking a modern approach. 

D:  Based on the extensive list of properties that you’ve worked on in the past, including the Union Station hotel, a historic property in Nashville that your company revitalized, do you bring any inspiration to this project from your previous work? 

DF:  Well, with our projects, the inspiration comes from the building itself, and from the city that the building is in.  For example, with the Stoneleigh, all of the interior architectural inspiration was from the building itself, and the artwork will reflect it’s location with several Texan artists.

D:  Is there going to be a separate gallery near the lobby? 

DF:  The whole hotel is basically a gallery.  Art plays a very important part of the overall sense and sensibility of the hotel.  There will be a combination of historic artifacts and photographs, as well as paintings throughout the hotel that reflect the property itself, as well as Texas.

D:  In regards to the guest rooms, there will be two different design schemes, correct? 

DF:  Yes, each of the schemes have lively and complex combinations of patterns.  One of the schemes is a very sharp scheme of crisp coral red with grey, ivory, and black accents.  The other scheme is a combination of turquoise with a cinnamon brown and ivory.  They will have a very contemporary look, yet still incorporate colors that were popular and would have been appropriate in the 1930’s as well. 

D:  Do you have any details about the Spa that is opening? 

DF:  Yes, the spa is an intimate, very comfortable and beautiful spa that has separate relaxation areas for men and women.  The treatment rooms are comfortable and spacious, and include several private treatment rooms as well as a duet massage room.  The spa is designed to be used mostly by hotel guests and residents in the Stoneleigh Tower Residences.  It will feel very professional, very personal, and very private in the lower level of the hotel.  The spa will be reached by a beautiful stairwell that descends from the hotel lobby.  The convenience of being able to go down from the lobby to get a spa treatment, massage, or a facial will be valuable for hotel guests. 

D:  How will the residents at the Stoneleigh Tower Residences access the spa? 

DF:  There will be a direct connection from the Residences over to the spa via an underground tunnel. 

D:   Having mentioned the details about the historical artifacts of the hotel, have you come across any historical facets of the hotel through the process of the renovation project? 

DF:   Well, the hotel had a number of pieces already in their collection, which include photographs and some artifacts which we will be integrating into the design scheme.   

D:  When I spoke with Anne Sasso last month, she mentioned that she came across several secret passageways that the original owner had installed in the Penthouse. 

DF:  Yes, it’s fascinating, and that’s been part of the lore of the hotel for many years.  It’s very interesting, because this hotel was owned by private individuals for a number of years, so it’s always been sort of a home away from home, and a home for the owners.  The original owner lived on the top floor, in the Penthouse, and it really was his home.   

D:  I find it interesting that, for example, Isaac Tigrett, founder of the Hard Rock Café, lived in the Penthouse and he had Led Zeppelin, Dan Akroyd, and Stevie Ray Vaughn up there.  There really have been a lot of different people coming through the Stoneleigh. 

DF:  That penthouse is probably one of the more prominent suites in an urban hotel that I know of, because it’s been used for so many years.  After it was a private residence, it was then a suite for individuals and dignitaries to stay in, and it also has been used for so many years as a wedding venue, meeting, and social space.  The Press Club of Dallas had its meetings there for many years. 

So, many people who live in Dallas, myself included, have been to the Penthouse on numerous occasions for a variety of different types of functions.  So, it’s a very well-known entity for many people in Dallas, and that’s kind of fun because people tend to feel ownership for hotels like this that have been part of there lives here.  I think a lot of people feel a very special place in their hearts for the hotel, and for the Penthouse, for that reason. 

D:  How is the project coming along at the moment?  I understand February is the target date.   

DF:  It’s looking good.  We are installing furniture in all of the guest rooms right now and it’s certainly moving along.  It will really be something when the grand opening takes place in a few months.