Despite being one of the most sought-after residential neighborhoods in Manhattan, TriBeCa has long lacked many cool places to stay. That changed this month when London-based Firmdale Hotels opened its third New York property, the 57-room Warren Street Hotel. However, unlike the red brick structures that surround it, this building is painted a bright cerulean. TriBeCa offers just the right mix of “artists, designers, families and a sprinkling of Hollywood glamour,” says Kit Kemp, co-founder and creative director of Firmdale, whose interior design studio also has its own line of furniture and accessories. “We wanted to make something that contributed to that narrative in a bold and exciting way.”
Inside, Kemp’s signature aesthetic—all colorful, mismatched patterns, whimsical Pierre Frey wallpaper, and dramatic sculptures (a 21-foot monumental steel, bronze, and plaster piece by British artist Gareth Devonald Smith looms above the bar) – defines the common areas, along with pieces from some of her other favorite artists and artisans. A tapestry made of recycled paper beads by Ugandan mixed-media artist Sanaa Gateja hangs near the main entrance, and Argentinian designer Cristián Mohaded’s sculptural basket towers appear throughout the lobby.
A ground floor restaurant will serve dishes such as heirloom carrots with pistachio gremolata in Thai coconut curry and sunchoke risotto with canterelles, as well as afternoon tea. Outdoors, Brooklyn-based Brook Landscape has designed meadow views on the terraces of some suites, with a variety of grasses, cherry trees and ferns. For Kemp, bringing nature into an urban setting was perhaps the most rewarding aspect of the project: “You can sit in the living room of a suite overlooking a garden or even in the bathroom, watching the flowers grow.” Rooms from $925 a night, firmdalehotels.com.
