Recently, scrolling through the app OneNight—a new favorite of mine that lists last-minute deals for hotels and lodgings, should spontaneity strike—I stumbled upon the Brentwood Hotel in Saratoga Springs, New York.
Photography via Brentwood Hotel.
I was surprised how smitten I became with the equestrian-inspired interiors (the hotel is on the grounds of Saratoga’s famous racetrack), with dark interior trim and framed paintings of country scenes that, though the project was completed in 2016, feel new for fall.
1. Meet board and batten, the stable version of shiplap.
Taking cues from the location on the grounds of Saratoga’s famous race track, Studio Tack (who are also the hotel’s owners) revamped the former motor lodge’s exterior with board and batten cladding, evocative of horse stables.
The entrance to the lobby bar.
Inside the lobby, dark-painted cladding surrounds the bar for dramatic effect.
2. Paint cladding high-gloss black.
The trim is an old-school-style treated wood.
Each of the 12 guest rooms is painted white with dark-painted trim boards, echoing the hotel’s exterior.
3. Criss-cross rooms in dark trim.
4. Hang flea-market paintings front and center.
At Brentwood, vintage, mix-and-match paintings of horses and pastoral scenes (many of which the team found at the Brimfield antiques fair) are brought down from the proverbial attic and hung above the bed.
5. Rethink old-school sconces.
Twin brass swing-arm sconces with shades flank the bed, cords and all.
Tassels adorn guest room keys.
6. Add a touch of glam to small details.
7. Bring back the folding camp stool.
In the spirit of the racetrack, rooms are fitted with folding camp stools. For a few of our favorites, see 5 Favorites: The Elevated Camp Stool.