The Lexington New York City is in the final stages of a renovation that will completely overhaul the guestrooms and the public spaces. The property joins the Autograph Collection this summer.
David Ashen of Dash Design led the overhaul, transforming the property’s public spaces and guestrooms while retaining the original 1920s architecture. Guests enter the hotel via a draped entrance into a two-story lobby with whitewashed walls and soft lighting that changes throughout the day. The floor features a marble mosaic with the hotel’s insignia. The bronze and black lacquer reception desk stands near a wall sculpture commissioned by Paige Powell. Overhead, a wraparound balcony overlooks the lobby with quiet seating and access to function space and S. Dynasty Chinese restaurant.
A bar, lounge and library branches off the lobby with a mixture of modern and 1920s-inspired furnishings. Powell also curated the art collection on the walls; ambient music includes jazz standards throughout the lobby and bar.
Gold elevator doors with songbird motifs lead upstairs, where hallways feature custom wool carpets in neutral tones and purple. The 723 guestrooms and suites offer a neutral palate and upholstered headboards wrapped in orange or purple. A full-wall mural by Ashen’s team at Dash Design has a musical sketch including a verse from Irving Berlin’s Russian Lullaby that appears in embroidered details on the lamp shade, bed cover and drapery.
In addition to S. Dynasty and the lobby lounge, dining options at the Lexington New York City include Diane DiMeo’s Nuevo Latino fare at Taina Cafe and Raffles, the American-style bistro.
The three meeting rooms on the mezzanine level offer more than 1,000 sq ft (93 m) of flexible space.
The hotel was built in 1929 with a design by Schultze and Weaver. Last year, it went from being a Radisson-flagged property to an independent operator owned by DiamondRock and managed by Highgate Hotels.
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