Soho House New York

Located in New York is Soho House, a private member's club and hotel in Manhattan's Meatpacking District. The Soho House was "born out of a reaction to the pomposity of the traditional private members club." In an area where private clubs are generally made of a similar crowd - a place for corporate men and women to gather together in their suits to drink some brandy, this private social club has a strict requirement allowing only those working in a creative, unconventional field to qualify for a membership.

I was in a club once. Meetings were held beneath the tree in my grandparent's front yard. We gathered once or twice to discuss in hushed voices what game we should play next. 

I was in another club too, one that met in the closet beneath the stairs in my old house. That club never got further than calling itself a club. 

Soho House has a history far greater than either of my wimpy clubs.

While the Soho House is certainly not in want of money, the designers did an excellent job at keeping the space from feeling like a ritzy museum. Their intention of a comfortable and cozy feel is evident in every room of this renovated factory. They maintained the original brick and aged wood as part of the space and chose inordinate amounts of tufted sofas and arm chairs, detail-ridden ceilings, ridiculously cool light fixtures, and a mix-and-match style to highlight the existing features. 

I'm pretty sure this place is home to every chair crush I have ever had.

Final Rose of the Night

Editors Note: I apologize if this post brings back tender emotions for any of you. I also apologize if you lose any respect for me and the fact that I watch this show. Diligently.

I know I was supposed to be focusing on the fact that Brad let Shawntel go just a few days after she told him she loved him this season of The Bachelor, but during their long walk through the Gansevoort Hotel in New York City I kept pausing, rewinding, and taking snapshots on my computer screen. Why?

Those floors! Do you see them? Whoever designed this hotel thought the plans all the way through at an early stage. Floors often become a last minute thought in a space that result in the most budget-friendly option, but think of how far less exciting this lobby would be without the chevron pattern on the flooring.  In fact, after watching this scene (over and over and over again) I hopped back onto AutoCAD and redid part of the design for one of my school projects to add a little spice. While some of the other features in this lobby are a little tasteless in my opinion, those floors stand well on their own. How timeless! How innovative! Bravo expensive Gansevoort budget, bravo.