“The hotel was originally a 1950s-build beach motel that we completely renovated,” said Alon Varsha, one of the owners of the property. “When considering the design, we were inspired by that era and incorporated retro touches to invoke the spirit of its glory days. Our goal for the new space was to create a trendy, boutique hotel with flair and character while fostering a laid-back environment that is an escape for locals as well as tourists.”
A primary inspiration for the design is the beauty of the natural elements. “Guests can enjoy the sun, water, gulf breeze and fire (around our beautiful fire pit table) in a relaxing setting without compromising in class or style,” said Varsha.
He said that the “bones” of the property are the same as the 1950s motel, but a modern lobby and upscale restaurant—82 Degrees—with a “spectacular” ocean view have been added. Guestrooms include nostalgic touches such as a Retrowave microwave as a throwback to that era, but also feature top-of-the-line linens, stylistic chairs, backlit bathroom mirrors, chalkboards, room darkening curtains and smart alarm clocks. “Our goal was to keep the spirit of the ‘50s and ‘60s alive as a way of paying homage to the past while offering all of the luxuries of the modern hotel to our guests,” he said.
The owners wanted the entire property to have a local vibe. “We set out to collaborate with as many local artists and source from as many local vendors as possible when making these decisions,” said Varsha. “For example, each guestroom has a free-form, live-edge walnut headboard, unique to each room, crafted by a local artisan.”
Local artists the Vitale Bros. of St. Petersburg created custom murals that can be seen around the property including a vintage postcard-style piece on the exterior: a throw-back to the era in which the hotel originated. “St. Petersburg is a world-class art destination with so much local talent, and we wanted our space to reflect that,” he said. “My personal favorite mural is a depiction of my daughter in the Vitale Bros’ signature bright and fun colors on one of the interior common-space walls.”
Hot pink and turquoise are signature accent colors at The Saint. “They represent the whimsical beach vibe and warmth that we want our guests to feel when they stay with us,” said Varsha.
www.myinspiredesign.com
