It’s true in everything from food to design — local is in. And the more specific those accents are, the better. Referencing neighborhood icons — from art to famous people — has become part of the mandate for being “cool.” The Ludlow in Manhattan’s Lower East Side neighborhood is a perfect case study. The 184-key property is the brainchild of Sean MacPherson, Ira Drukier and Richard Born. They wanted the hotel’s aesthetic to be firmly rooted in the scruffy-meets-elegant feel of the area.
That meant blending luxurious objects like handmade silk rugs, artisan-crafted Moroccan pendant lamps and Indo-Portuguese-style beds in the guestrooms with more artisanal pieces. Nightstands that look like tree trunks contribute to the rough-hewn vibe that defines that aspect of the neighborhood. For the public spaces, the look drew on the atmosphere of a downtown loft.
The hotel also is a visual record of MacPherson’s own experiences. “Along with layers of history, there was a grittiness and nervous energy,” he says. “You had a sense something could break out any minute, whether it was street art or a riot. I’d come from L.A., and there was nothing like it.”
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