The Armstrong Hotel — Fort Collins, USA

Bedroom with pillow
(Image credit: thearmstronghotel.com)

Up until now, the small town charm of Fort Collins in Colorado might have generally been confined to locals - or at the very least friends and family of Colorado State University - but the recent overhaul of the iconic Armstrong Hotel, courtesy of Boulder-based firm Shalls Design Studio, is sure to draw in a whole new crowd.

First opened in 1923, the storied property, which is the last hotel of its era that is still in operation, now has a newly expanded lobby, refreshed Art Deco details, and an updated, eclectic mix of contemporary and vintage furniture, warm textiles and a varied material palette, which achieves a welcoming, residential feel.

A glass-fronted entrance, exposed brickwork, restored tin ceilings and an abundance of millwork, including a mercantile counter in the lobby, harks back to the city’s small town origins, while industrial-style lighting, mismatched carpets and sliding barn doors help to root the space in the present. 

Nine new guestrooms, which have been carved out from pre-existing office space, now take the room count up to a cosy 45 rooms and suites, which each display an individualised flair. Meanwhile, the hotel’s restaurant, Ace Gillett’s Lounge – a longtime local favourite – has also been revamped with new menus designed together with Death & Co. Stylish and creatively driven, the reinvigorated Armstrong Hotel reflects the energetic art scene and entrepreneurial spirit that continues to grow in Fort Collins – just an hour away from Denver.

Bedroom with bed

(Image credit: thearmstronghotel.com)

Chair and painting

(Image credit: thearmstronghotel.com)

Sofa and fire place

(Image credit: thearmstronghotel.com)

The Armstrong Hotel, Fort Collins

(Image credit: thearmstronghotel.com)

INFORMATION
Website

ADDRESS

259 S College Ave

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Pei-Ru Keh is a former US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru held various titles at Wallpaper* between 2007 and 2023. She reports on design, tech, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru took a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars, actively seeking out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.