Chic Design at the Jersey Shore

Chic Design at the Jersey Shore…

That probably sounds like a contradiction or an impossibility but if you look hard with a discerning eye, you can find good design in the most unlikely places. I mean no disrespect to the Jersey Shore, but it’s not exactly known as a bastion of elegant style. That said, great design is all around us and I’m all about finding it and sharing it with my readers. The more difficult to unearth, all the better. So join me for a look at a well designed corner of the Jersey Shore.

Now, before I introduce you to this wonderful boutique hotel, let me explain that my purpose here is not to function so much as a travel agent, but to underscore the point that styling a great space can be done anywhere. All you need to do is claim your corner and give it everything you’ve got. It doesn’t need to be spacious and it doesn’t need to be located at the most well-heeled address. Great design is great design, and it deserves to be appreciated where ever we find it. It should also inspire us to do the same with our own spaces, however imperfect or limited they may be.

So, that said, let’s visit the uber chic Bungalow Hotel in Long Branch, New Jersey, a pleasant but somewhat typical beach town at the north end of the Jersey Shore. It’s quite a lovely surprise to come upon this great little jewel a short block from the ice cream shops and kitschy beachwear along the boardwalk. As stated on the hotel’s website, “the beach-mod hotel decor has been carefully chosen by husband and wife duo, Courtney and Robert Novogratz…. the design team behind Sixx Design.” To me it’s part deco, part quirky modern and all fabulous.

The hotel lobby is equipped with a variety of games, from backgammon to chess, as well as an assortment of books and other curiosities.

The fusion of design styles is evident in this little vignette, merging a chippy painted finial, heavy farmhouse wood beams, an industrial looking “part” of some kind sharing real estate with a sweet country floral. Vintage containers and modern glass vessels round out the picture.

There’s also foosball and billiards to entertain guests, as well as adding to the playful vibe.

The same visual style extends to the lobby bar, mixing modern chrome lighting with a woodsy trimmed bar.

Metal bar stools bear angular futuristic lines, reminiscent of airplane panels.

Bark and branches are also scattered about, a nod to nature, and yet in sculptural shapes.

There’s a very geometric sense to the entire space, from the rectangular wood blocks, set in repetition, to the soft spherical ball above the billiard table.

The hotel also boasts a wonderful collection of art and I encourage you to visit the website to see the guest rooms, as well.

One of my favorite places to look for design ideas is at boutique hotels. Have you got a favorite one that you’ve visited? Please let me know in the comments below!

Some of my other favorites can be found in these two posts:

Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, Cap d’Antibes

Le Sirenuse, Positano

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