If these walls could talk, they’d ask for another round.

The Lobby Bar at Hotel Chelsea was designed to feel like it had always been there—just slightly better lit. We kept the palette moody and the materials rich: aged brass, velvet, marble, and just enough patina to suggest a few good stories. Custom millwork frames the space, while vintage pieces and layered lighting bring intimacy to what is, in essence, a series of very grand rooms.

Tucked just beyond the bar is the garden room—light-filled and a little louche, a quiet nod to Elsie de Wolfe. With hand made shutters, wicker, and greenery threaded throughout, it softens the mood without breaking the spell. A place for afternoon martinis that stretch into something more.

The goal wasn’t to recreate the past—it was to make something new that belonged to it.

hotel chelsea lobby bar interior design

Hotel Chelsea (July 2022), Chelsea, NYC

Employer: Sean Macpherson, BD Hotels

Role: Architecture, Interior Design, Project Management, Drafting, & Furniture Design

Photography Credit: Various

Press: Michelin Guide, WWD, Time Out, Elle Decor, World of Interiors