FIRST PHASE OF HOTEL’S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN
PALM BEACH, JUNE 11, 2018 – Long known for it’s signature Palm Beach aesthetic, The Colony Hotel has partnered with Kemble Interiors and architect Peter Papadopoulos of Smith & Moore Architects to fully re-envision the famous hotel’s ballroom and function spaces. Located adjacent to the main hotel in what was formerly known as The Pavilion, the main ballroom and attached gallery will undergo full renovations by Palm Beach builders Shapiro Pertnoy Companies this summer, reopening in fall 2018 with a fresh look exuding sophistication and Kemble Interiors’ chic vision of Palm Beach.
The ballroom renovations will be the first major step in a long term multi-phase renovation plan envisioned by The Colony’s owners Sarah & Andrew Wetenhall. “We are looking at all the public spaces in the hotel and how to reanimate them in a way that both honors The Colony’s history and feels luxuriously relevant ” says Sarah Wetenhall. The Wetenhall’s vision and Kemble’s influence can already been seen at work in the refreshed pool area’s wicker furniture and cabana stripes. Subsequent phases of the hotel rejuvenation will bring facelifts to the restaurant, lobby, and Palm Court. According to Wetenhall, “Our vision is to create gorgeous livable spaces that delight our guests and engage the Palm Beach community”.
At the heart of the initial renovation phase is The Coral Ballroom, a 2,800 sq. ft. space that will be defined by soft colors and natural motifs inspired by the beach located steps away from its door.
To fully embrace the splendor outdoors, three grand arched doorways will be cut into the eastern wall of the Coral Ballroom, opening to a private terrace designed by landscape architect Jorge Sanchez from SMI Landscape Architecture Inc. Evocative of a secret garden, the serene terrace can only be accessed from the Coral Ballroom and is otherwise hidden from view. Inside the ballroom, antique white coral chandeliers inspire matching sconces which will bathe the room in soft dappled light. Coral also comes to life on the ballroom’s custom pickled and bleached wood floors, which will be painstakingly hand painted with white branched coral patterns. Walls are to be upholstered in soft cream and beige fine linen stripe, lending a cozy and intimate feeling to the space, and a tromp d’oiel pattern of geometric shells will run beneath a coral stone chair rail encircling the room. Using materials and colors of the sea, Kemble will create a sophisticated environment appreciative of Palm Beach’s natural beauty.
Flanking the Coral Ballroom to the west is the smaller Solarium, a sun drenched room with a wall of french doors opening onto the hotel’s lawn. For those seeking a more intimate setting, the Coral Ballroom will be devisable into three rooms to accommodate smaller gatherings. The new venue’s subtle palate can stand graciously on its own, or allow the space to be easily transformed to suit diverse visions and bring fantasy to life.
ABOUT THE COLONY
Located in Palm Beach at the end of Worth Avenue overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, The Colony has played host to musical legends, countless movie stars, U.S. Presidents, and even served as the winter home of The Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The hotel, though, “treats everyone like a VIP,” says Thomas List, General Manager, who joined The Colony team in January of 2018. At a total of 89 guest rooms, including 14 suites, 7 villas, and 3 penthouses, List says, “we are able to deliver bespoke service at the ultra-boutique level, while at the same time providing access to a huge range of resort and local experiences.”