CAMBRIDGE, MA – Kimpton Marlowe Hotel announced that its extensive guestroom redesign, which takes inspiration from the academic and literary history of the neighborhood surrounding the hotel, along with the scenic Charles River, will be completed this month.
The project features a complete renovation of all 237 guestrooms and suites, all with floor to ceiling windows and spectacular views of the Boston skyline, hotel courtyard and Charles River, which the hotel overlooks. The guestroom renovation completes Phase I of Marlowe’s redesign; Phase II, to include all common areas, the Lobby and meeting and function spaces, is currently under review.
“This is a very unique time to be debuting a brand new guestroom product to the market and our guests,” says Joe Capalbo, Area Director of Operations, Kimpton Hotels of New England, and General Manager of Kimpton Marlowe. “A new guestroom redesign would ordinarily keep us competitive with what’s happening in Boston overall, but now it sets a different tone entirely. Our rooms, given that they are brand new designs from top to bottom, offer some of the cleanest and freshest rooms in the market. And in this era of COVID-19, when you combine brand new rooms with Kimpton’s Approach to Clean, our guests can be assured that our guestrooms are some of the safest available in Boston and Cambridge.”
And, in light of so much emphasis being placed on life and WFH (work-from-home) these days, Capalbo adds, “our new guestrooms feel more residential, offering customized experiences and details that are reminiscent of home. Through the use of custom furnishings, locally-inspired artwork and personalized details that pay homage to the creative spirit that Cambridge is known for, our new guestrooms and suites offer spaces and experiences that guests would enthusiastically welcome into their homes.”
Offering a tour of the new guestrooms, which perfectly blend Boston’s famed history and the city of Cambridge’s rich innovative spirit, Capalbo is quick to point out their spaciousness, and that the rooms are not cluttered with unnecessary “stuff” or furnishings. “Everything has its place and function,” he explains. “And that lets the rooms’ new design stand on its own without being interrupted or overwhelmed by elements that are non-essential. It’s easy to maneuver work, relax, sleep or even work-out in our new guestrooms,” he says. “That was one of the main driving forces behind the new redesign – to create a space that inspires our guest to do something, to discover something new, or to make a difference in their day while staying with us.”
KKAD, an award-winning hospitality design and architecture studio in Newark, New Jersey, executed the guestroom redesign for Kimpton Marlowe Hotel, working closely with Kimpton’s own in-house design team. The refreshed style brings in a mix of elements that are both contemporary and vintage, and create a sense of tradition without being traditional, says James Goldsmith, Design Manager, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.
“To help refresh Kimpton Marlowe, the team wanted to bring some edge to the guestrooms while creating an updated, fresher version of the hotel. The overall feel of the room, with plenty of thoughtful details and some unexpected character, is inviting and charming. The aesthetic is tailored but definitely not buttoned up. Mostly in shades of gray and blue, it’s thoughtful, grounded and unexpectedly casual,” he said.
When asked about key design moments, Goldsmith points to several including the wave-pattern custom blue carpeting inspired by the Charles River; the channel-stitched headboard in a cool tone of brownish gray; the velvet, blue green lounge chair; and an oval mirror above the credenza with both metal and leather accents. He also notes that a side table next to the lounge chair has a marble top with dramatic veining detail in shades of white, brown, black. There are a few additional details throughout the room that provide depth in both color and texture. A bronze mesh material is used on the face of several case pieces including the hospitality unit as well as some armoires in the hotel’s specialty suites. Large benches in the guestrooms, which sit beneath flat screen TVs, are upholstered in a sumptuous cognac leather to add a rich layer to the room while also providing ample space for guests to spread their belongings out on.
Kraig Kalashian, Managing Partner and Founder of KKAD, calls the Kimpton Marlowe redesign “quiet, elegant, reflective, articulate and contextual.” He says, for example, that the artwork in the room is tied to architecture, monuments and movements, like rowing, that are synonymous with Cambridge and Boston, but in an artsy and altered manner. He also notes that his studio designed a custom ottoman to accompany the rooms’ lounge chair in which the fabric looks like pages and words from a cross section of novels including literary masterpieces, poetry and even instructions from a cookbook. Look closely he says, and guests will discover poems by EE Cummings and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and biographical details of Oliver Wendell Holmes, all of whom have strong historic connections to the Boston area.
“This custom piece is a surprise and delight moment for the Marlowe,” concludes Kalashian. “The hotel is all about unexpected moments of discovery and adventure, and every aspect of Marlowe’s new guestroom design encourages guests to embark on that journey.”
Located at the entrance to Cambridge, home to Kendall Square, MIT, and the Museum of Science, high-tech and bio-tech centers, and close to Harvard University, downtown Boston’s Faneuil Hall, TD Garden, Beacon Hill, and Logan International Airport, Kimpton Marlowe Hotel is perfectly situated for corporate or leisure travel. The hotel brings to life Cambridge’s rich history and innovative spirit while celebrating its modern sensibility for a boutique hotel experience with a lively sense of adventure and discovery. Vibrant spacious guestrooms, warm Kimpton hospitality, luxurious services and amenities, and an idyllic location along the Charles River make the Marlowe an exceptional and memorable stay. Food and beverage offerings include Bambara Kitchen & Bar, offering Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and a Lobby Bar with a heavy brandy focus.
