HotelChatter

Perhaps our favorite nugget from the press release was the following detail about the lobby:

"White plaster groin-vaulted ceilings and a 72’ entry take guests through a 21st Century arcade to the reception area, outfitted with warm wood and a custom installation of hat-making tools."

As for the rooms themselves, a "raw aesthetic" has been preserved from the building's original use as a hat-making facility. So, think distressed hardwood floors with rugs, concrete ceilings, desks designed to look like sewing machines, bathrooms with inlaid mosaic stone floors.

In many ways, we are reminded of the lived-in look of The NoMad (read our review of that hotel here), whose rooms have rugs, clawfoot tubs, and homey-looking lamps and photographs on the walls.

Though, whereas the NoMad has a general old-fashioned travel theme going for it, the Refinery will be specifically inspired by 1920s Manhattan, and owners have placed particular emphasis on the craftsmanship that defined this part of town, known as the Garment District, for so long.

Of course, plenty of questions remain: will there be free WiFi? What about the toiletries? What will the food be like? How are the views? How much are rooms?

And for those questions, we still have no answers, but we will keep on top of this hotel like a needle on wool as it develops over the summer, and hope to share more news with you soon!

Do you have a tip on this old-as-new hotel coming to Manhattan? We'd love to hear! Drop a comment below, or send us an email.