Hotel Agua Barú: Beach Life Near Cartagena
If you read yesterday’s post about our stay at the Hotel Agua, then you really missed something! Arthur practically had to pry my hands off the front door to get me to leave. The lovely, 17th century boutique hotel felt like home – only bigger, with “servants” and a pool. Read More…
Motel 6 Makeover
Keeping The Light On In Style
Motel 6 is the largest corporate-owned hotel chain on the North American continent. They specialize in ultra-low budget hotel rooms with gas station styling to match. That’s about to change next year when the corporation will begin offering a new design concept to its franchise owners.
London-based design firm, Priestman Goode, was hired to come up with a more appealing boutique look. This follows in the wake of other budget hotels trying the same concept, such as Indigo, a chain owned by Holiday Inn.
The new look is available in several color schemes that rely on color blocks and the creative use of space to create a crisp, modern look. Most of the room’s elements do double duty, such as the entertainment unit with storage behind it. Likewise, vomit-proof patterned carpet is gone – replaced by wood-veneered floors. They’re much easier to clean and look a hell of a lot nicer.
Those buzzing fluorescent lights (you know – the one above the bed with the yellowed plastic cover clinging precariously to the wall) are also gone, having been replaced with more energy efficient, skin-tone friendly ambient lights.
All of which begs the question: Why can’t all hotels look like this?
Really! Why is it harder to create a room like this than the typical Colonial style Sheraton? My answer is that, barring clients who’ve undergone cryogenic freezing, there is no excuse. On the other hand, perhaps I’m living in my own private Idaho and think this is great, while most Americans would see this room and wonder where the quilted floral bedspread went.
Help me out here.
