HotelChatter

Like the smallish rooms you see magically transformed into liveable quarters on Trading Spaces, so are the guest rooms here. We toured the two largest, a premier King and suite. It didn't take long, if you catch our drift. Furnishings were sleek but quite minimal to meet the room specs: comfy bed, wooden plank-like desk, chair, tiny nightstands. No chest of drawers to be seen, but you get a closet.

The custom-made wood furnishings are beautiful, inspired by the 1950s Hermes fashion house (ironically an Hermes store just opened just a few blocks away). Signature smoky light wheels are suspended from the ceilings, large screen high definition TVs hang on the walls, there were Sferra linens on the bed, and minibars stocked with Dean & Deluca goodies. Baths are nice size and well-lit, with exclusive spa products from Fresh. All 126 rooms including 10 suites are decorated in warm chocolate, and feature high ceilings and polished wood floors (one downside: your footsteps echo).  

Until recently, the jackhammering throughout the hotel drove guests crazy, but the noise annoys only the lobby level now, where an intriguing bi-level private library with champagne bar and a pop-cuisine restaurant from Todd English remain under construction. Both open this "summer."

If you don't require lots of space when you unpack and the room rates don't freak you (weekdays $300-$500 per night), you'll enjoy complimentary access to wireless high-speed Internet in your room, two tiny 24-hour fitness rooms with treadmills, 24-hour Concierge service, a daily Wall Street Journal, and a nightly turndown with chocolate brownie. And for the 9-to-5ers, there's a business center, too.

[Photo: Mad1]