“We don’t make it ours - we make it theirs,” explains Glennys Cowles Bryant, lead designer and owner of GCD Interiors. “We are big on experiences and always have been.”
Hospitality investors Snay Patel and Jay Kumar had successfully transformed a historic downtown building into a thriving boutique property, Hotel Napoleon. A few years later, they brought in Glennys’ team to redesign the property, including the lobby and restaurant space.
“The history and architecture is what originally attracted us to 179 Madison Avenue,” recalls Snay. “It was really inspiring. We wanted to harness the beauty of the outside for the interiors. It was time.”
“But it was more than that,” he adds. “We believe in this community. We are long on Memphis and this investment in our city.”
And, of course, there was another stakeholder they wanted to keep in mind. A storied Memphian, who was also a champion of his town, lived across the street in a grand Victorian mansion. His initials are on the façade of the building, and atop the 5th floor, the original carved lions’ heads still watch over Madison and Third Avenue.
Napoleon Hill, a prominent businessman known as the “merchant prince of Memphis,” commissioned the building in 1902 for the Evening Scimitar, one of Memphis’ leading newspapers of the day. Designed in a Beaux-Arts and Romanesque revival style, it’s a remarkable example of French architecture during the Gilded Age.
Glennys recounts her first meeting with the owners. “It was a personal project for them,” says Glennys. “I could feel their energy and could tell that they had an artist’s mentality as business owners.” They set out to capture the essence of a French bistro café with a relaxed European charm. A standout destination, rather than a typical hotel lobby.
Brennan Brown, a fellow designer at GCD Interiors, was struck by the cavernous lobby full of light. “Inside, we were missing old warm charm. We added architectural elements that are soft, intricate and had movement,” says Brennan. They added decorative molding, trims and mirrors to transform the space - more nooks and crannies for your eye to land. They designed a 10-foot by 4-foot grand chandelier that makes a striking canopy with two Crystal chandeliers reflecting in the mirrored wall, adding light to the already spacious bar. “We wanted the passersby to feel the soul of the hotel from the outside,” adds Glennys. “With all the light, we could take a big swing with color.”
Glennys and Brennan chose a warm, vibrant color palette that dances across cushions and curtains. A historic fabric, Schumacher’s Sozan velvet, was the starting point in a rich cinnamon. “In an early visit, we were sampling fabrics. And the way the sunset hit the cinnamon…You know, colors start to tell their own story. And the eye- likes a place to sit,” says Glennys, smiling. Custom Italian murals cover interior walls in peacock, purples, and greens that help separate spaces from check-in to lounge and dining areas. Custom cabinetry that looks like hand-painted French tulle houses the sundries area with snacks and refreshments. It’s a chic grab-and-go that feels more like an honor bar than the hum of a vending machine. The herringbone floors and porcelain marble tile add a richness to the space.
The restaurant and bar, aptly named “The Archives,” echoes the building’s history as a library of print. Run by Chef Philip DeWayne, it invites both travelers and locals to experience the artistry of the space. Patina copper tables are nestled between metallic burled wood planters with olive trees. The booth and banquet with ruched details feel like a French haberdashery.
You can’t get more Gilded Age than an Italian statue from a Christie’s catalog.This would seem hard to achieve within the constraints of a hotel budget.“We were scrolling auction sites for inspiration and came across this Italian statue,” Brennan recalls. “We sent the image to our vendor to make a larger-than-life 3D replica.” They commissioned artist Jennifer Church for a whimsical figurative painting complete with casts of faces. Jennifer also faux-finished the wainscotting around the elevator to look like marble. The team finished the look with a trompe l'œil over the elevator door meant to look like an antique lift. Et voilà!
The GCD Interiors team is beginning to work on the sleeping rooms and suites. They promise to be well-appointed and add to the overall experience of the Hotel Napoleon and its new legacy.