LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels, a portfolio of independent properties associated with The Blackstone Group L.P. (New York), has signed an exclusive deal with Ralph Pucci to develop the first Hotel Ralph Pucci in Washington, D.C.
The Georgetown Inn on Wisconsin Avenue will undergo a transformation and debut as the new 96-room Hotel Ralph Pucci in fall 2007, the first in a collaboration between Pucci and a stable of furniture, lighting and flooring designers.
Pucci, who has operated the mannequin house for several decades, known for his collaborations with fashion designers and models, later added furniture and art to his repertoire, representing design legends Andree Putman, Vladimir Kagan and Chris Lehrecke, building his business into a modern furniture gallery. “With the launch of the hotel,” said LXR, “Pucci will be introducing his modern design vision and philosophy of discovering the new and the next in the heart of Georgetown.”
“For the hotel design, every aspect of the hotel from the rooms to the public spaces will be custom-designed and reflect a new philosophy,” said Pucci. “The hotel will be elegant, modern and timeless.”
For this property, Pucci has created the broad design concept and has selected architect/designers Pilar Proffitt and Robert Bristow to bring the vision to life. Proffitt and Bristow will design the facade, lobby, restaurant, guest rooms and baths, and will furnish these spaces and one floor of guest rooms. Pucci has selected five of his artists to provide the furniture for each of the guest room floors. These designers include Robert Bristow's “warm minimalism,” Jens Risom's “mid-century modern,” Patrick Naggar's “modern luxury,” Paul Mathieu’s “sculptural elegance” and Christophe Delcourt's “tomorrow’s classics.”
Each floor will feature different color palettes, anchored by David Weeks lighting and Madeline Weinrib rugs in all the rooms and original photography by Paul Solberg, Antoine Bootz, Gail Leboff, fashion photographer Diego Uchitel and Christopher Makos, a protégé of Andy Warhol. All of the photographers' work will be displayed on different floors in a collaboration with each of the distinctive designers in pairs.
Pucci will also collaborate with menswear designer Tomer to design all hotel uniforms, inspired by the jazz greats of the 1950s. Additionally, Hotel Ralph Pucci will display the works of a different artist, rotating every four months, in the lobby of the property.