With its fine autumnal foliage and historical provenance, the town of Hudson, New York - an easy two-hour train ride from Manhattan - is an idyllic haven that has attracted an increasing number of New Yorkers to visit, take up second homes, and more recently, to move there full time. Its newest resident is Rivertown Lodge, a charming 27-room hotel situated in a sturdy, two-storey building from the 1920s that was previously a motor inn, and the town’s cinema before that. Pristinely done over by the Brooklyn-based design firm Workstead, the hotel is an impressive portrait of warmth and restraint that it coins as ‘early American modern’ – a mix of midcentury modern and Shaker influences. Bleached wood floors and white walls enable the more sumptuous finishes to shine. The reception desk, a monolithic, carved piece of marbled wood, anchors the lobby, while cosy sitting areas, furnished with vintage and custom made seating and two wood burning stoves, stand on either side. A built-in kitchen, simply comprised of a dining table and espresso machine, will serve as a breakfast bar for guests.
Behind the lobby, an inviting tavern, decorated with cedar wood ceilings and dark painted walls, offers both guests and locals an escape with carefully crafted cocktails by mixologists Natasha David and Jeremy Ortel, and a restaurant menu conceived by Vinegar Hill House’s Jean Adamson (debuting in December). The hotel’s rooms are undoubtedly one of the best parts. Thoughtfully composed with Workstead’s brass lighting, unvarnished wooden doorknobs, cast iron accents and boiled wood blankets, each room brims over with delightful details and is a design lover’s dream through and through.
