Infusing a new energy into the property, Novotel Miami Brickell has partnered with Manhattan-based design studio BHDM to curate the interiors of the elegant downtown hotel’s common areas. Creating a fresh design narrative in its lobby, restaurant, bar and rooftop deck, the hotel has unveiled a modern look inspired by the financial district’s urbanization and the natural elements of the Miami coast—sun, sand, surf and tanlines.
“Our design is to reflect the natural beauty of the Miami coastline: sand, surf and suntans,” said Dan Mazzarini, principal, BHDM Design. “We wanted the space to feel modern and organic, with a warm and organic color palette rooted in tans, terra cottas, blush and creme. Curvaceous custom sofas will be backed by custom sofa tables that double as planters housing 12-ft. white canvas palm trees. Custom rugs will have a blush and terra cotta watercolor vibe, inspired by the shoreline of Miami. A new millwork backbar harkens to beach pavilions, while overhead shadows of palm leaves will activate the ceiling.”
Lobby
Situated on the ground floor facing Southwest 15th Rd., the entry lobby greets guests with a reinvigorated look featuring a fresh and warm palette. Fusing elements of modern and mid-century decor, the common area incorporates blush, tan and gray hues, in combination with rust tones, pulling inspiration from suntan lines and Miami’s sandy beaches.
Accented with succulents and artificial palm trees for a tropical allure, the lobby offers private nooks of curved suede and velvet couches and ottomans, bleached oak wooden tables and decorative lamps with wooden bases. At night, uplights cast frond-like shadows across the ceiling to create a luminous allure to the lobby space.
With additional spacing between lounge seating, the lobby devises a socially distant space that comforts the individual guest while still cultivating a warm and embracing space for groups.
Bar and Restaurant
Creating a serene retreat in the heart of Miami’s financial district, Novotel Miami Brickell’s lobby leads to hotel bar UVA. With the bar itself as the main focal point, guests will first notice the blush and beige high stools facing the floor-to-ceiling windows behind the bartenders. Reminiscent of coastal cabanas, the bar receives a new backdrop with a five-panel dark wooden divider with shelves for liquor bottles, decorative vases and plants.
Fostering a welcoming atmosphere, UVA also has a modular couch for guests to relax and enjoy their beverages and tapas throughout the day and night. Accented with succulent planters and lush palm trees, the lounge area consists of light wooden tables, rattan lounge chairs with blush pillows and sand-colored velvet chairs—bringing in the lobby’s color palette and design elements into its space. Between the lounge area and bar, guests will find an all-white foosball table that creates a blended space for work and play.
Flowing seamlessly from UVA into the restaurant entry, the short hallway features blush boucle chairs and light wooden tables as well as rattan lamp shades hanging from above. Gold metal art decorates the walls, resembling stars and the sun; and artificial black and white plants are used as accent pieces throughout.
“We worked with the property to assess the local market and culture to help make the space better accommodate both guests and locals,” Mazzarini said. “Miami has such a great indoor/outdoor living vibe, and we wanted to reflect this in the layout. The lobby lounge will have a more organic flow from indoor to outside patio, and from lounge to bar to restaurant. The hope is to provide lots of different user experiences —from a place to work, to play, to eating and drinking—and to extend these offerings from indoor to outdoor, and from space to space indoors as well. The look of the space also reflects a casual sophistication felt in Miami—clean lines, mixed textures, and more casual arrangement of furnishings—helping the space feel both polished and approachable at the same time.”
Rooftop Deck
From sunrise to sunset, the rooftop deck has eight sitting nooks with blush couches, blush durable tables, and gray woven lounge chairs. The sitting areas are accented with succulents in sand-colored planters as well as portable and rechargeable pink table lamps. Closer to the deck’s DJ lounge, several of the nooks feature the rattan chairs and ottomans also found in the lobby—allowing the coastal narrative and coral color scheme to naturally flow from the ground floor to the hotel’s rooftop.
Slightly elevated, the pool deck boasts comfortable grey and white lounge chairs with blush tables and lush succulents in between. While lounging poolside or taking in the incredible views of Brickell’s skyline, guests can also opt for some shade with expansive square umbrellas that can easily be opened and closed.
“Our goal was to blend some of the existing elements of the property with our new elements, to create an enriched look and experience,” Mazzarini said. “We hope guests won’t be able to tell where the original work ended and our new design begins: it should read like a cohesive and contiguous project with a lot of textural depth.”
