Have you grown tired of dreary, commercial hotels? You’re not alone. Traveling is one of our favorite things to do, and hotels filled with musty smells and lackluster bedding often sour the excitement. Located on the historic Saratoga Race Course (the 4th oldest Race Course in America, also known as The Graveyard of Champions) in Saratoga Springs, NY, the Brentwood is a boutique hotel that goes out of its way to break every mold set by the “Hotel Standard”. Like us, they value character and originality above all else, so it’s no wonder that Condé Nast Traveler named them among their 2017 list of “Best New Hotels in the World”.

Brentwood's custom No. 434 Round Trays were handmade for every room by Billykirk leather crafters.

We first learned about the hotel when an old friend, Jou-Yie Chou, sent us a message looking for a custom version of our No. 434 Round Tray. We met Jou-Yie back when he was still cutting his teeth at Ace Hotels. At the time, he was tasked with brand placement and merchandise at the Ace Store. The result was our first ever Valet Tray, “Change is Good”. Years later he became a partner at Studio Tack, the design and development group that crafted Brentwood, Scribner’s Catskill Lodge (Hunter, NY), and Casa Bonay (Barcelona, Spain) - all three of which won “Best New Hotels in the World”. Needless to say, when he called us we knew the project was going to be more than making a new hotel, they would be making an entirely new experience.

Custom woodwork, antique gilded frames, and Carrara marble table tops are elegant yet understated in the Brentwood's cafe.

In 2014, the Brentwood Motel went up for sale. A run-of-the-mill motel, it’s facade of green lattice fencing and neon open sign fit the bill for just about any local roadhouse. When Studio Tack began renovating, the goal was to bring the building back to a style fitting of Saratoga’s historic past. Working with local artists, craftspeople, and antique pickers, they set out to make an aesthetic balancing the victorian elegance of Saratoga’s equine past and “... just enough irreverence to make you look twice.”

Clean lines, a minimal color palate, and elegant landscaping transform the previously average architecture into something modern.

The exterior of the building was redesigned taking inspiration from local stables. The white board-and-batten exterior fit right into the surrounding barns and buildings while the brass lights and clean landscaping maintain a feeling of airiness.

Inside is where the real fun begins. Here’s a short list of our favorite bits:

I know, I know. This shouldn’t be the first thing on our list, but a well designed bathroom is worthy of high praise. Black walls, brass hardware, and sparkling white porcelain make a small room worth remembering. The bath products supplied by C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries eliminate need to wonder if you should take them home with you.

From the “Do Not Disturb” horse tassels and Public-Supply notebooks to the hand dyed French linen blankets by Sharktooth, everything in the room was chosen for the purpose of telling a bigger story. It isn’t difficult to find a supplier who can offer mattresses, linens, and art all from their warehouse at a reasonable price. Taking the time to find artists and hand-selecting every piece shows that Brentwood isn’t just here to give you a place to sleep, they’re here to provide an experience of culture and comfort.

Perfectly cozy yet sophisticated, the bar of Brentwood is a warm room to enjoy a can of Genesee Cream Ale or a nice glass of wine from Scribe Winery. The bar itself was made by a local woodworker Dave Cummings in his Bolton Landing shop. An octogonal beam of clear pine outlines the Carrara marble surface, surrounded by antique gilded mirrors and oil paintings dotting the paneled walls.

To listen to our Listening Party playlist on Spotify click here.

On weekdays, the bar hosts a listening party happy hour, a concept we think should be used more often… At 6pm each weeknight, the hotel starts a record on their Shinola Audio Runwell Turntable, happy hour lasts until the B-side ends. We had the pleasure of selecting a week’s worth of albums back in August of 2017 - it’s a great way to hear new music, meet interesting people, and enjoy a truly refreshing environment.

And remember, you don’t need to be a guest to enjoy the bar...

Happy Trails!