HotelChatter

We got to take a peek at a model room—and...it wasn't as bad as we'd feared. Yes, the 1920s "reclaimed" industrial vibe is a little trite, but the materials are solid: long wooden Singer sewing machine-inspired desks, custom-made steel and leather headboards, and distressed hardwood floors.

The term "loft" is apt here, since these were indeed the former living spaces of the factory workers themselves. As a result, the rooms are oblong and narrow, but with gloriously high ceilings.

The dark wood accents in the room contrast nicely with the marble in the bathrooms, which are larger than others we've seen in NYC. And more stylish, too.

In some ways, the hotel reminds us of a less-upscale NoMad, which says a lot (for the Refinery, not the NoMad). But looking at the vintage trunks and the coffee tables designed like old factory carts—there is a similar antique, "lived-in" vibe.

The Refinery hopes to celebrate the "incredible fashions" of the time (ie, early 20th century)—the hotel's designers were inspired by "ladies who took breaks from shopping on Fifth Avenue"—which all feels a little gimmick-y to us. But there's still plenty of work to be done, so we'll suspend further assessment until the hotel actually opens.

Rates will start at around $325/night.

[Photo: The Refinery]