W New Orleans – French Quarter has completed a US$9 million renovation of the whole property.
The hotel’s 97 guestrooms, the Living Room lobby space, Studio meeting spaces, corridors and the outdoor Courtyard all now sport the new look.
Nemaworkshop redesigned the guestrooms with jazz and tarot as inspirations. The jazz design has golden yellow walls, white lacquered furniture, and a floor-to-ceiling brass image reminiscent of the bell of a horn. Tarot rooms, meanwhile, are done in deep blue with a large mural of a woman reading tarot cards.
Images of the voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau appear throughout the property. “The new design definitely has a little fun with the city’s spiritual side,” says Anurag Nema, Nemaworkshop principal. “You may see Marie’s eyes following you on the guest room number placard, or you may recognize her headdress on a directional sign. If you look up while you’re standing in the lift landing, you’ll notice tiny, pin-like lights, playing off voodoo pins.”
The update also added a fitness center and SoBou, a new signature restaurant that serves Executive Chef Juan Carlos Gonzalez’ contemporary Creole fare. Nemaworkshop also designed SoBou with various elements of mixology in mind. For instance, the front room is similar to an apothecary, with bottle-clad walls. Display cases house vintage tools and glasses from the Museum of the American Cocktail. In the main dining space, a one-way glass installation gives the illusion of infinite glowing bottles. Tables in the beer garden have built-in self-service wine machines and beer taps.