San Francisco-based BraytonHughes Design Studios has reimagined the six Luxury Suites at The Westin St Francis, drawing inspiration from the 1920’s glamour of San Francisco.
With its new scheme, the studio has also honoured the city’s unconventional architecture and the colours showcased in its landmarks and natural surroundings, from the rust tones of the Golden Gate Bridge to the blue waters of the bay and verdant hues of the Presidio.
Occupying the 31st floor in the Tower Building, originally designed by architect William Pereira and completed in 1972, the suites have been refreshed with spacious, bright interiors that complement the tower’s architecture and the Art Deco-era details of the property.
A popular spot with a rich history of hosting royalty and being a haunt for celebrities and Hollywood actors in the 1920s, The Westin St Francis is the only hotel located directly on Union Square, San Francisco’s mecca for shopping, dining, nightlife and performing arts. As such, the renovated suites are named for the views from each as they wrap around the 31st floor: the Bay View Suite, Union Square Suite, Golden Gate Suite, Bridgeview Suite, Windsor Suite and the Pacific Suite.
“In approaching the renovation, we strove to create a more gracious guest experience and give each Luxury Suite a distinct personality,” says Rachel Fischbach, Principal at BraytonHughes Design Studios. “We paid homage to the natural beauty and iconic sights of San Francisco through the colour palette and organic shapes and textures in the art collection, textiles, accent wallcoverings, as well as many of the decorative lighting, seating and case pieces. These details complement the geometric nods in the accent furniture and hardwired lighting that reference the Tower Building and other architectural landmarks, delivering a sophisticated design true to locale.”
The furniture accents and decorative lighting give subtle nods to the 1970’s and Art Deco architecture. Furniture alludes to the angles and lines of William Pereira’s designs, including the Tower Building and San Francisco’s famed Transamerica Pyramid. With large windows and tall ceilings drawing in plentiful natural light, the Luxury Suites feature all-new hardwood floors in the living spaces, with area rugs featuring curvilinear lines reminiscent of the 1970s and muted colours and textures reflective of the natural surroundings. The renovated corridors feature new wallcoverings, lighting and abstract artwork that harmonises with the colour palettes.
The Windsor Suite features soft rust and orange tones inspired by San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge in the primary bedroom, while BraytonHughes leveraged the blue hues of the Pacific Ocean in the adjoining bedroom. The Golden Gate Suite meanwhile has been decorated in a tranquil blue colour palette in the living and dining spaces, with the Union Square Suite alluding to the trails and nature found in The Presidio with green toned fabrics. The Bridgeview, Pacific and Bayview Suite’s golden coloured fabrics and metal accents are reminiscent of the panoramic views of San Francisco’s cityscape during the golden hour of sunset.
BraytonHughes also updated several suite layouts to enhance functionality and create an elevated guest experience with ample space to relax and entertain. In the Windsor Suite – the hotel’s largest suite measuring 1,900ft2– BraytonHughes designed the primary bedroom to span two bays, increasing the footprint to include a sitting room. In addition to a new, large walk-in closet, the design provides two television viewing areas and ample space and seating for functions and parties. By adding an open bar to the dining area adjacent to the butler’s pantry, the design team created opportunities for more interactive hosted experiences too. Finally, for the suite’s second bedroom, the studio enhanced the bathroom experience with a new layout and upgraded finishes.
All renovated suite bathrooms feature new tilework and finishes, with reconfigured bathrooms in several Luxury Suites. The Bayview, Union Square and Golden Gate Suites also comprise cosy new media rooms with Murphy beds, contemporary artwork and fresh carpets.
