I agree with you about the dark colors giving it a more "mysterious feel". I actually prefer the darker color but also think that the new design should have incorporated some of the darker colors instead of a having white walls throughout. The darker color gives a feeling of royalty and sophistication.
I think that the new design should have incorporated some of the darker colors from the previous decor instead of a having white walls throughout. The darker color gives a feeling of royalty and sophistication.
The central lobby at the Waldorf-Astoria was paneled in natural mahogany. It was painted in the 1950s or 60s when the original Art Deco was no longer in fashion and the decor was being "Louisified". Because mahogany is notoriously difficult to paint--frequently "bleeding" through--they used marine grade paint. From the stories I heard some workers were actually crying as they applied the paint. When the hotel restored the lobby back to the original Art Deco they had to replace the paneling--there was no way to get the marine finish out of the wood. At some point someone will regret painting the millwork white.
My brother had his wedding breakfast at the Algonquin. He was cool, a refined gentleman, quintessentially english. He chose it for its history, and the unchanged soul of the establishment. He would be horrified to see this pebbledashing disguise of identity. The move from identity to corporate acceptance.....what a shameful disrespect to an establishments context. So sad.
I went for the first time last month and was shocked at how generic and basic the place looked - almost antiseptic - and to have the Round Table painting hung as almost an afterthought is head-slapping...if you're going to be this cavalier as to it's history just give it to a museum.
I was lucky to stay at the Algonquin in 2017. Perfect place to stay. To see how you desecrated the lobby and then the BLUE bar is disgusting. The white gives it a generic feel. Took away the soul of the dark wood and lighting. I was looking to bring my mother to NYC for her first time and stay here...not anymore.
My favourite NYC hotel. Have stayed there numerous times! The light colours looks great! Even though the dark gave it a more mysterious feel.
I agree with you about the dark colors giving it a more "mysterious feel". I actually prefer the darker color but also think that the new design should have incorporated some of the darker colors instead of a having white walls throughout. The darker color gives a feeling of royalty and sophistication.
I love this! thank you for share this wonderful history and design!
I think that the new design should have incorporated some of the darker colors from the previous decor instead of a having white walls throughout. The darker color gives a feeling of royalty and sophistication.
The central lobby at the Waldorf-Astoria was paneled in natural mahogany. It was painted in the 1950s or 60s when the original Art Deco was no longer in fashion and the decor was being "Louisified". Because mahogany is notoriously difficult to paint--frequently "bleeding" through--they used marine grade paint. From the stories I heard some workers were actually crying as they applied the paint. When the hotel restored the lobby back to the original Art Deco they had to replace the paneling--there was no way to get the marine finish out of the wood.
At some point someone will regret painting the millwork white.
My brother had his wedding breakfast at the Algonquin. He was cool, a refined gentleman, quintessentially english. He chose it for its history, and the unchanged soul of the establishment. He would be horrified to see this pebbledashing disguise of identity. The move from identity to corporate acceptance.....what a shameful disrespect to an establishments context. So sad.
The famous hotel is now an eyesore.
I went for the first time last month and was shocked at how generic and basic the place looked - almost antiseptic - and to have the Round Table painting hung as almost an afterthought is head-slapping...if you're going to be this cavalier as to it's history just give it to a museum.
I was lucky to stay at the Algonquin in 2017. Perfect place to stay. To see how you desecrated the lobby and then the BLUE bar is disgusting. The white gives it a generic feel. Took away the soul of the dark wood and lighting. I was looking to bring my mother to NYC for her first time and stay here...not anymore.
Frank CASE, not Frank Chase
They lost me with the cat.
why? id be even more happy to stay at a hotel with a cat