Firmdale Hotels, a London-based hotel group owned by husband and wife team Tim and Kit Kemp, opened its first property in New York on October 5. The Crosby Street Hotel was built on a SoHo lot once occupied by a parking lot and offers 86 rooms as well as a full floor dedicated to events and meetings. Designed by Stonehill & Taylor Architects to meet the standards for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold certification, the boutique property also offers a number of green elements, including energy-efficient lighting, locally sourced materials, and a roof garden.
Contemporary and European in style, the hotel interior was designed by Kit Kemp and mixes wood and stone with metal and glass. On the ground floor, the lobby is accented with a 10-foot-tall steel sculpture, contrasting the gray oak flooring and loft-like windows that overlook the ivy-covered walls and fruit trees of the hotel's garden. Adjacent to this is a bar with a long pewter bar, 1950s light fixtures, and chairs and banquettes upholstered in a variety of patterns. The eclectic look extends to the rooms, where Kemp combined detailed wallpaper with antique pieces, modern furniture, and assorted fabrics.
Below the lobby is the hotel's event floor, which houses three private function rooms, a reception area, and a screening room. Available seven days a week, this 4,823-square-foot section is equipped with its own bathrooms, coat check, and audiovisual equipment. The largest space on this floor, aside from the 99-seat theater, is the 883-square-foot Prince room, which holds 100 for receptions or seats 55 for banquets.
