BHDM Design Breathes New Life into the Novotel Miami Brickell Hotel

2021 Best of Year Winner for Budget Hotel

The lobby and lounges at this existing hotel had good bones—the ceilings were 19 feet, the windows floor-to-ceiling. But the 4,500 square feet of public spaces lacked “personality and a sense of narrative,” notes principal and creative director Dan Mazzarini of BHDM Design, who quickly, and inexpensively ($173 per square foot to be exact), made amends.

Conceiving of a “sun, sand, surf” theme, he and his team marshalled a peachy palette along with furnishings in rounded shapes that have a “work/live/play vibe.” Costs were kept down with off-the-shelf pieces from the likes of Arteriors, Blu Dot, Frontgate, and Restoration Hardware. Indoor/outdoor chairs resemble rattan but are made of sturdy powder-coated metal, polyamide, and acrylic.

Custom designs came into play, too, such as the cerused-oak bar screen that was inspired by South Beach lifeguard stands but functions as built-in shelving. Likewise, in the textile department, custom-printed ombre sheeting adds softness at windows and in a nook off a lobby entrance, while the underside of the rooftop lounge awning has been printed with a palm-leaf pattern. As for the lobby’s whimsical 12-foot trees mimicking local flora, they’re made of white canvas. Uplit at night, they cast dramatic frondlike shadows across the ceiling. By day, they require no watering—just an occasional dusting.

BHDM Design: Dan Mazzarini; Jennifer Rosenthal

Crystal Sinclair Designs Transforms a Historic San Antonio Building into a Chic Restaurant

Located in the historic yet buzzing neighborhood of King William in San Antonio, Texas, the restaurant Up Scale opened its doors last October in a storied building. First used as a single family home in 1884 before going through several owners and renovations, New York-based interior designer Crystal Sinclair went back to her roots to bring its new phase to life. 

“In my late 20s and early 30s, I frequented the space when it was another restaurant,” she remembers. “How could I not turn down the opportunity to redesign a place I understood and loved so much?”

Spread over 2,500 square feet, with a layout created by Voges Design, Up Scale comprises a front room lounge, a large open main dining room, and a garden room in the back. 

“The owners love pink and their first restaurant also has a strong pink presence,” says Sinclair. “Then we brought in a deep green, a throwback to the Art Deco era, and bright reds for a strong pop.” Brass touches, marble and velvet, as well as crystal chandeliers and custom chinoiserie silk paper in the garden room complement the glamorous atmosphere while natural white oak finishes add warmth. 

“Up Scale provides an elevated experience from its food to cocktails to décor,” says Sinclair who had interior designer Delia Kenza contribute a few sources. “This restaurant really lives up its name.”