Stay in Style: Amsterdam – Lloyd Hotel

For those of you who spend hours pouring over the interwebs looking for the most design-worhty hotels, search no more!  The answer in Amsterdam is Lloyd Hotel.  Not only are the interiors worth drooling over, the prices are just as attractive.

Lloyd Hotel is quirky.  It’s cozy.  It’s unexpected.  The building itself dates back to 1921, designed by architect Evert Breman.  It is steeped in history, originating as a hotel, transformed into a prison, and then rented out as artist studios.

Reopened in 2004 as a hotel once again, Lloyd offers rooms at different levels, spanning from the simple one star room, with shared bathroom facilities, to the the five star, offering more luxourious accommodations (some rooms even have wooden swings).  Each room has a quirky layout, maximizing function and space, and all have been outfitted by Dutch artists and designers.

The dining room is sleek and modern.  Shelves cover one wall floor to ceiling with goodies, most of which are for sale in the hotel shop.  Enormous windows allow light to pour in, making the communal table and standard two and four tops a perfect place to grab coffee before a long day of adventuring.

I had the opportunity to check out two rooms during my stay.  The first featured a red and white interior, where furniture fit into place like Legos.  A bathtub is the central focus, which doubles as a table when covered with planks found hanging on the wall.  The bathroom is neatly tucked away behind two doors: one leading to the loo, the other hiding the sink.  The white part of the room harbors the bed, which is smartly fitted with side tables that slide around the frame on tracks.  The room is truly transformable, and quite fun to play around with.

The second room was on the top floor in the converted attic space.  Though a bit drafty, the room was quite charming.  Features include wood paneled high ceilings, a view overlooking the bay, simple hooks acting as the closet, and a shower and toilet tucked away behind frosted glass.  Accommodations border on the simple, yet they exceed their price point in style.

Architectural detail and design elements hide around every single corner.  Nothing has been overlooked or left to chance.  The hotel is just outside the city center, located in the Eastern Docklands.  Visitors will most likely need to ride their bikes or transfer to the appropriate line from the magnificent Amsterdam Centraal Station to get there.  But it takes a certain type of person to put design above convenience, and therefore the clientele matches the look: plenty of creative types, hip young things, and touring musicians.

When I next find myself in Amsterdam, there is no where else I would rather stay.  If you’re nearly as obsessed with design as I am, I think you’d agree.  Traveling on a budget has never looked so cool.  Escape the prices, and more importantly, the crowds, at The Lloyd Hotel.

Stay in Style: Singapore – Wanderlust Hotel

Not just a “strong desire to travel” or a soon-to-be-released romantic comedy, Wanderlust is a quirky hotel in Singapore with lots of charm and a healthy dose of sex appeal.  Located in Singapore’s “Little India” district and developed by hotelier, Loh Lik Peng, this boutique hotel is a true feast to the senses.  Wanderlust is a multi-floor showcase of works by award-winning Singapore design agencies: Asylum, phunk studio, fFurious, and DP Architects. Each agency was given free reign over one of the hotel’s four levels.………….

Wanderlust Hotel Exterior – Photo courtesy of Wanderlust Hotel, Singapore

The lobby, designed by Asylum’s Chris Lee and Sara Ang, is filled with a mix of eccentric seating options, ranging from refurbished shopping carts to vintage barbershop chairs.  The colorful stools, by Trent Jansen, are crafted out of recycled street signs: a perfect example of creating high design pieces from reclaimed materials.  The exposed ceiling and cement floors add an industrial touch, while the colorful montage of print ads near the entrance evoke the neighborhood spirit.

Wanderlust Lobby – Photo courtesy of Wanderlust Hotel, Singapore

The bar area has a sleeker look with worn wooden floors, cafe tables, and a sprinkling of potted plants.  The space feels a bit busy, and dare I say, flirts with excess.  However, I appreciate the strong use of primary colors, which give the area a clean-cut, slightly masculine feel.  The well organized drink displays are pleasing to the eye, as are the squares of colored glass above the windows.

Wanderlust Hotel Bar – Wanderlust Hotel, Singapore

The hotel offers a variety of funky rooms, allowing guests to choose between origami, Pop-Art, tree house, and outer-space themes (and the list goes on).  I happened to stay on the Pantone floor, designed by William Chan and Jackson Tan of phunk studio.  Intertwining bright colors and pop references, guests are offered a chance to sleep in “The Yellow Submarine,” or lucky for me, “The Purple Haze room,”  which I interpreted as a lovely chance of fate, considering my undying adoration for the one and only Jimi Hendrix.  Turning the lights out but keeping the sign on sets a fun mood.  Just be quick to enjoy it before the neon gives you a headache.

The Purple Haze Room – Wanderlust Hotel, Singapore

Though guest rooms are on the smaller size, the space is maximized by an intelligent layout.  On the Pantone floor, showers and toilets are separately incased in frosted glass, but very much remain in the living space.  A sink with basic bathroom amenities (a shelf for toiletries, blow dryer, magnifying mirror, etc) is centered between the two.  The bed is raised a few steps and tucked just beyond the shower, providing for a cozy and intimate sleeping nook.  Suites on higher floors are slightly larger, and feature bathtubs and a lofted sleeping area.

I’d like to give Wanderlust bonus points for their smartly designed selection of stationary and paper goods.  The in-room dining menu, along with the letters and envelopes, are quite attractive and seem to be printed on recycled paper.  The best of the bunch is the small itinerary booklet which includes a map of the area, hotel information, a section for notes, and even a page that demonstrates how to make a paper airplane, amazing:

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An added environmental shout out should be given to Wanderlust’s effort to lower their energy use.  In each room, laminated cards suggest changing the sheets and towels sparingly, reminding guests of their environmental impact and encouraging reuse.  Of course, daily sheet and towel change is available upon request.

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If you find yourself in Singapore, be sure to check out this hip and affordable boutique hotel.  I’m a big fan.