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The hotel’s 45 sophisticated guest rooms incorporate refined finishes accentuated with friendly pops of colour. Image courtesy of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.
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The hotel’s 45 sophisticated guest rooms incorporate refined finishes accentuated with friendly pops of colour. Image courtesy of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.
The hotel’s 45 sophisticated guest rooms incorporate refined finishes accentuated with friendly pops of colour. Image courtesy of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.
In Old Town Alexandria, Kimpton’s award-winning boutique hotel reveals modern literary-inspired decor, a new restaurant and additional event space.
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants recently announced the reopening of Kimpton Morrison House after extensive renovations and the debut of adjacent Ashlar Restaurant and Bar. Located in the heart of historic Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, just steps from bustling King Street and only six miles from downtown Washington, D.C., Kimpton Morrison House is a stylish boutique hotel renowned for its award-winning service as Alexandria’s only Four Diamond hotel for 30 consecutive years. With whimsical, literary-inspired design for all its public spaces, hallway corridors and guest rooms and suites, as well as the addition of a new restaurant and ballroom, the 45-room hotel creates an elevated experience for in-the-know travellers. Its unique style and warm, personalised services make Kimpton Morrison House one of northern Virginia’s top hotels.
Words on water design
The hotel’s new design, brought to life by David Hill of Los Angeles-based DH Designs, was inspired by beloved American literary masterpieces set on and around water. It’s a modern take on Kimpton Morrison House’s original bookish concept and it incorporates the hotel’s close proximity to the banks of the Potomac River. Guests will be welcomed with progressive designs featuring botanical and water elements and original artwork inspired by beloved literary classics such as “The Great Gatsby” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Nods to local tradition include incorporations of signature tartan plaids – a tribute to Alexandria’s rich Scottish heritage. With these touch points, Hill alludes to the romance, mystery and poetic allure of Old Town Alexandria, named one of the most romantic and well-read cities in America.
Upon entering the hotel, guests are greeted by a bright grassy green hue reminiscent of walls found at Carlyle House, a historic former mansion house in Old Town. The entryway has been opened up to allow guests to easily flow from check-in to the cozy parlour room to the bar in one connected, engaging space. The parlour beckons with soft dove gray walls, modern wingback chairs and long banquettes with tabletop checkerboards that encourage conversation, making it especially inviting for Kimpton’s hosted evening wine hour. A custom central rug is patterned to resemble reflections of trees on a river, and a contemporary art piece featuring a profile of author Mark Twain hangs above the original decorative marble fireplace.
Behind the bureau-like reception desk with mismatched antique style drawers in the main hall hangs a stunning signature art piece commissioned for Kimpton Morrison House. The work, crafted by Ricky Alvarez of Tinto Creative, showcases the hotel’s literary and water theme with a bespoke collage of open books, layered on top of each other, with swirling textured gold leaf painted atop to resemble water flowing down a river. Books used for the piece were meticulously sourced titles from antique book dealers that focus on regional stories and originated from libraries and archives in the Potomac and capital regions.
Ashlar Restaurant & Bar
A new upscale neighbourhood tavern and cocktail bar, the 50-seat Ashlar Restaurant and Bar brings a rustic-meets-fine-dining approach to Mid-Atlantic cuisine from Executive Chef Bobby Surdham. Named for the “perfect ashlar” symbolising a high degree of mason mastery, Ashlar Restaurant and Bar pays homage to expert craftsmanship through a menu that includes dishes such as snapper crudo with jalapeno, spring onion, and baby beetroot chips and Port City beer braised pork cheeks with pickled maitake natural jus. The beverage programme draws inspiration from Alexandria’s founding in 1749 with spirits reminiscent of that time like rum, madeira and sherry, as well as a wide array of local Virginia whiskey, beer and wine. Ashlar Restaurant and Bar provides all private dining for meetings and special events held at Kimpton Morrison House as well as 24-hour room service to all guest rooms.
Guest rooms & services
The hotel’s 45 sophisticated guest rooms, including three signature suites, incorporate refined finishes that could be seen in a classic row home, accentuated with friendly pops of colour that inspire. Modern takes on traditional touches include modified four-poster beds, geometric flora and fauna artwork and an orange tartan plaid carpet. Rounded armchairs and playful artwork in bright cerulean blues add to the playfulness of an otherwise sophisticated space. Natural light abounds from floor-to-ceiling windows dressed with Roman shades, streaming across large writing desks ideal for delving into a new novel or catching up on the day’s work. All guest rooms have luxe Italian marble bathrooms, some with large glass standing showers, and upgraded room types feature separate sitting rooms, decorative fireplaces and hardwood floors.
Alongside the new literary-inspired design, Kimpton Morrison House will debut new signature services and amenities to further enhance guests’ experiences:
– Silent Reading Hour – Each Sunday evening from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., cell phones give way to more analog entertainment as Kimpton Morrison House invites both guests and locals to crack open their favourite book or read one from the hotel’s lending library for an entire hour of silence.
– The Last Word Menu – A luxury at most hotels, turndown service is a necessity at Kimpton Morrison House. Upon arrival, guests can select their preferences from The Last Word Menu for a personalised turndown service, including a choice of scented pillow sprays, fine chocolates, and a rotating list of classic novels, which are delivered to the room before bed.
Meetings & events
An intimate yet striking venue, Kimpton Morrison House plays host to corporate meetings, weddings and social events of up to 100 guests. The hotel features over 2,800 square feet of event space, including the Chapter Boardroom and newly added 985 square foot Watermark Ballroom and prides itself on hosting some of the region’s most elegant yet approachable events. Ideal for weddings and events of up to 80 guests, the Watermark Ballroom features tones of celadon, silvers and grays, a feature wall with elegant heron wallpaper and hand painted gold leaf details, 10-foot-high ceilings, and a modern interpretation of Colonial hand hooked rugs in a custom diamond pattern. Best for small meetings and private dinners, the Chapter Boardroom accommodates up to 25 and features distinguished wood panelled walls with mid-century lighting and modern brass bookshelves.
Other Morrison House guest items include Kimpton brand favourites such as the Forgot It? We’ve Got It! menu of travel essentials, mini bars containing local, healthy and organic options, and complimentary Wi-Fi for Kimpton Karma Rewards members. Furthermore, a complimentary morning tea and coffee service is held in the hotel’s living room, an evening wine hour is hosted daily and health-minded wellness options such as complimentary custom PUBLIC Bike rentals and Gaiam yoga mats are on offer in every room for use during guests’ stays.
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She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
