Fully restored hotel evokes memories of the classic age of accomodations
As we move further into the future, times continue to change. Our cell phones and televisions become thinner, our relationships become more distant, and we find ourselves lost in the technology age with nothing but our screens, followers, and ‘likes’ to keep us company.
When people think of ‘simpler times’, they think back with fond memories, which is precisely why owner Seija Ojanpera has brought Stone Fort Inn back to simpler times with its renovation into The Dwell Hotel.
“It’s a mid-century vibe,” says Ojanpera. “In the ‘50s, The Colonial Hotel thrived, so we restored it to that era, but with modern functionality.” Ojanpera tells us she preferred the eclectic, ‘50s style by incorporating original ‘50s art, lamps, and chairs in guest’s rooms as well as the various seating areas around the hotel. “Some people think we’ve destroyed this piece of history, but what we’ve actually done is brought it back to its heyday.”
While some are quick to judge Ojanpera for her extensive remodel, those same few should ask themselves if they’d really be willing to stay in a hotel with leaky, wall-mounted AC units or without other such modern amenities we’ve all grown so accustomed to.
The bones and soul of the old Stone Fort Inn are still alive and well, and although the hotel has had one serious facelift, there’s no denying the antique charm is still thriving as well. The original brick shows through in many rooms, sometimes the standard red brick, sometimes glossed over with stark white paint for a modern pallor against the bright hues of the ‘50s.
For those of you who have visited The Dwell Hotel in its various states and under various names, one very important thing has endured throughout the hotel’s many transitions: the 100-year-old staircase. Standing strong in the center of the hotel, this dated beauty keeps the hotel’s history alive, a relic amongst ever-shifting times.
Take a trip back in time as you scale the delightfully creaky wooden stairs to retro euphoria.
Ojanpera’s true feat with The Dwell Hotel has been combining its old charm with a freshness of future past. Pops of pinks, blues, yellows, and mod prints and patterns complete the retro look in the lobby, palm leaf wallpaper covering the wall behind a peachy-hued couch, all of it somehow tying in perfectly with the warm wooden staircase.
It all drips with a certain posh elegance that would not have been possible without the revamp. The bright couches, throw pillows, and eye-catching wallpapers extend up into the guest rooms, where each room is uniquely decorated.
Dazzling wallpapers with multicolored shapes, bumblebees, massive palm leaves, and more, cover accent walls in every room, giving each one a ‘wow’ factor unlike any other hotel in the city.
Expect to wake refreshed after a sweet slumber wrapped in luxury linens. Stay curled up in your sheets or pull on a nice, fluffy robe and get ready for room service like you’ve never experienced it before.
Enjoy the finest foods from Terra Mae in the lobby below, from homemade cream puffs to mouth-watering omelets, and find your brunch bliss. Perhaps you’d like to dine in your bathroom’s massive tub, be it a gorgeous pedestal tub or a beautiful modern soaker. Take in the natural light that filters in through the hotel’s massive windows as you drift off for an afternoon nap.
Regardless of why you’re visiting, The Dwell Hotel is sure to surprise, please, and bring guests coming back for more of an escape to the past.
The Dwell Hotel
120 East 10th Street
(423) 267-7866
www.thedwellhotel.com