Catering to the modern traveler and free spirits everywhere, Aloft Asheville Downtown has reintroduced its refreshed space following an extensive renovation with all new furnishings, updated flooring and local flair, blending bold colors, eye-catching patterns and playful design.
“Aloft hotels are known for their fresh, purposeful environments and vibrant spaces. Following the renovation, Aloft Asheville Downtown creates a bright and colorful atmosphere for guests to enjoy while keeping in mind the brand’s core values, but still adding its own unique personality by creating different features within the spaces,” said Jeff Connell, principal of DesignOne Studios of Marietta, GA.
Paying homage to the Asheville art community, new art pieces introduced with the renovation and displayed in the hotel’s public spaces, guestrooms and suites celebrate the city’s creative and unique culture, highlighting local breweries as well as the local music scene.
“All artwork in both the guestrooms and public areas have a strong tie to the local culture, honoring the creativity of the city,” Connell said. “A two-story mural at the staircase created by Scott Allred and Brushcan Studios was commissioned to create imagery of a dual neck guitar featuring names of famous musicians that have performed in Asheville, and was then modified to fit within the headboards in the guestrooms. Big Bridge Studio produced the mural in the hotel’s motor lobby highlighting several of downtown’s most popular music venues, including The Orange Peel and Grey Eagle. Local artist John Haldane created the new pieces on the sidewalls in all guestrooms to depict dueling mimes, adding another touch of uniqueness.”
According to Connell, music was instrumental to the artwork selection throughout the guestrooms and public areas of the hotel. Additionally, with Asheville’s vibrant entertainment hub, the lobby was designed with versatility in mind to allow local musicians to perform with the Live@Aloft series.
“Guests making their way into the lobby will notice signature items such as the show-stopping selfie soffit and play sofa, accompanied by standard lighting, furniture, area rugs and their graphic back bar,” Connell said. “An oversized sectional and unique pillows add to the design along with a completely custom terrace and pool area with lounge, dining and bar seating with an unexpected meditation area. Each design element in the guestrooms was specifically selected for this Aloft with only a bench as a typical branded item that can be found in other hotels. A couple of surprise details are in the drapery that has numbers printed from top to bottom and an accent wallcovering in the bathroom tying back into the local brewery scene with a collage of beer coasters, created by Big Bridge Studio.”
Locals and visitors alike can stop in for a visit to the hotel’s reimagined W XYZ bar and outdoor space, The Ledge.
“By taking elements from a typical Aloft and modifying them in different and unique ways, such as the focus on local artwork and revamped layout of public spaces to encourage programming based on guest’s needs, Aloft Asheville has its own signature feeling,” he said. “This, in turn, not only allows the hotel to stand out from other Aloft hotels, but also from other hotels in the surrounding Asheville area.”
