Room 702
Page 37
In a straight line from the television is an L shaped settee, upholstered in a light taupe colored suede material. The small couch comfortably seats two, but can be used to seat more. As with all hotel rooms, a plethora of pillows ranging in sizes and textures find homes on the settee’s surface. On the back of the couch is a comfortable chenille throw, knitted in navy. Next to the settee, there is an additional chair, upholstered in leather.
Weaving through the furniture, you pass the desk and pull back the curtains, revealing a large sliding glass door that leads out onto an intimate terrace. Should you open the door, the air conditioning inside will automatically shut off. Further exploring the suite, you step outside. The deck is small, but large enough for a charming French bistro set, complete with a mosaic tile inlay. In a nod to the inevitable wants and needs of their guests, even though this is a non-smoking hotel, there is an ashtray with cleverly marked matchbox, should you need to indulge your nicotine habit. Taking a seat on one of the cushioned chairs, you look and see railing which serves to keep the occupants safe, is done in unique combination of steel. To brighten the space, there is a flower box which is home to a beautifully vibrant pink bougainvillea. Covered by the overhang of the floor above and facing a small side street, the patio is a nearly perfect quiet place to collect your thoughts in the busy city.
Stepping back inside and passing behind the settee, you stop in front of a set of French doors, curtained in pale blue, which can be closed to separate the living space from the bedroom area. Walking into the bedroom, a window version of the large sliding glass door in the lounge occupies much of the far left wall. Matching the curtains in the lounge, the large swathes of khaki and dark turquoise extend to block out any light that might come through and disrupt the slumber for you or any other guest. Beneath these blackout curtains are a set of matching sheer beige curtains.
Directly across from the windows, and taking up the better part of the right wall of the bedroom rests an oversize mirror, leaning against a set in portion of the wall. A large black frame surrounds the reflective space.
Above the bed is a unique lighting structure which has both a set of lights and a small fan encased in wire. As with the lounge, the lighting is on a dimmer.
Taking up a significant portion of the back wall of the bedroom, the California King bed dominates a large part of the space. The bed itself is everything you could wish for – a soft haven made with no less than 6 pillows (an 4 additional pillows of varying consistency await at the top of the closet, should you require something hypoallergenic or of a feather situation). Below a soft white duvet, beneath a deep mattress pad, the mattress itself is a Sealy Posturepedic Reserve Ultra Plush. The bed sits against a unique wall of painted white brick – a façade – which gives the space a luxurious loft feel to it. Soft lighting has been installed under the bed, and two reading lights jut out from the brick surface.
Rather than use a traditional headboard, following the trend from the lounge, the interior designer has found another Bond poster. This one from the classic, ‘You Only Live Twice.’ Mr. Connery cavorts with a number of half naked women and seems to smile down on you, approving whatever activity is taking place in the bed.
The mini bar sits to the immediate left of the large bed, nestled in the space between the mattress and the large windows. The mini bar (a SmartCube, which is state of the art and knows exactly when you’ve opened it and what you’ve taken) is stocked with a variety of treats and snacks to tempt almost anyone’s palate. There is beer, wine, champagne, soda, Gatorade, a variety of single shot liquors, juices, Voss water, Red Bull, and chocolates. To consume the entire lot would cost the guest close to $1,000 USD.
Above the mini bar is a large mirror, framed in silver and gray mosaic tiles. Below the mirror is a marble surface which sits above the mirror and acts as a natural table, holding various accoutrements including: a brushed silver ice bucket, a wine bottle opener branded with the hotel’s logo, and a Krups coffee machine (complete with a variety of teas, coffees, sugar and milk to choose from). In a small cut out cabinet above and to the immediate left, lit by smart set in lighting, there is room for two sets of stemmed glasses (one set for wine, the other for champagne). Four glass tumblers. A pair of thin china cups and saucers by Kate Spade.
Back on the marble, there is also a rectangular tray, lined in black felt. In case you were feeling peckish (and The Winchester certainly hopes you are) there are North Fork potato chips, Harry and David Moose Munch, expensive nuts, Godiva chocolates, Lindt truffles, Dean and Deluca brownies. Two bottles of Fiji water are complimentary to the thirsty guest. Finally, tucked discreetly in the back behind the goodies, understanding some of the guests might be consenting adults, there is an ‘intimacy kit’ nestled among the snacks. Should you be interested, at a cost of $12, you will find a box with three condoms, some lubrication and massage oil. Prices for each snack and beverage item are listed on a laminated page which claims the bottom right corner of the tray. Immediately to the left of the pricing is the remote control for the television which has been installed in the top right corner opposite the bed.
On the opposite side of the bed sitting atop a built in side table is a small set of speakers, which adapt to any mp3 device, which guests will have undoubtedly brought from home. The device also acts as an alarm clock and displays the time. Recently updated, there is also a gadget which connects to every electronic item in the room, including a dimmer in case a particular mood should need to be set. From the comfort of the bed, you can turn off and on all the lights or the air conditioning. Finally, at the base of the bed is a large padded bench, with an extra blanket, should you get cold, or need a place to slip in (or out) of your shoes.
In the bed, luxuriating under the 350 hundred count sheets by Italian Fili D’oro, with the press of a button, the 42-inch digital flat screen suspended on the opposite wall is activated. A guest has their choice of music, network television, recent releases, and, of course, a variety of soft core pornography (including a mixture of hetero and homosexual selections). Should you choose to view one of the adult films, it will only show on your bill as an ‘entertainment fee.’ The hotel channel, ubiquitous to all modern hotels, plays a five minute loop, produced by the company who creates these videos for the parent hotel chain. In five minutes, you will be exposed to the same upbeat, but generic track of music. You would also learn about the restaurants in the hotel, what services the concierge could provide, sites to see in the surrounding area, the weather, the anticipated weather, and when check out time is.
As you sink further into the bedding, you think you could learn to like it here.
As bellhop closes the door behind him, you are left with a feeling of security and relaxation. Your mind starts to drift, and you wonder to yourself, who else has stayed in this room?