on the floor: custom layered luxe

Project Profile:

Embassy Suites by Hilton Los Angeles DowneyLocation: Downey, CA, USA

on the floor: custom layered luxe and design journey cloth and stone carpet

Built in the early 1980s, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Los Angeles Downey featured a massive central atrium characteristic of the brand, as well as internal water features and garden landscaping.

Reminiscent of local architecture constructed during the 19th century, the property’s original finishes included faux plaster walls, terracotta brick floors and hand painted murals. The hotel had been through several small renovations but was in need of an overhaul to revive the stagnant public spaces.

Rachel Maher, designer at K2M Design in Cleveland, Ohio, drew inspiration for this renovation from a local source of pride. For nearly 70 years, Downey housed the NASA production facility responsible for the systems used in the Apollo Space Program as well as other significant U.S. aviation, missile and space endeavors.

The design team wanted to ignite a sense of wonder that was strong enough to leave a lasting impression on guests. To do so, K2M used hues extracted from the twilight sky,

flooding a network of spaces laced together by subtle shifts in color, texture and form.

Layered Luxe and Design Journey Cloth & Stone collections by Shaw Hospitality Group were an ideal choice for the project, which required about 10,800 square feet of custom tufted carpet. The style Crease, featuring delicate streaks of

color, is a nod to shooting stars with a mottled veil of clouds anchoring the background. The other patterns, Distressed and Mekong Rug, hint at ocean waves and vapor trails of aircraft. The finish palette remains consistently neutral throughout the space to direct attention to architectural installations. Several of the carpet colors have a metallic sheen which adds a subtle glistening to the ambiance.

Initially, K2M was drawn to the contemporary, unique carpet collections featured in advertisements and large trade shows by Shaw Hospitality Group. During specification, it became clear that the tufted cut & loop carpet is an incredible benefit for both the designer and the end user because of the durability of the product.

shawhospitalitygroup.com

“Shaw Hospitality Group was an incredible partner throughout the design and installation process. The timeliness of the strike off samples was one of the best of any company I’ve specified,” said Rachel Maher, K2M designer. “The initial samples were ready within days of submitting my design through Foundry - an incredible tool for experimenting with color and pattern which helped me take the guesswork out of developing a custom carpet. “