It's still cold, chilly and some cities are recovering from what was a major snowstorm in the midwest (and some other areas like Ohio, etc.) So although I've been just swamped catching up on projects and life in general, I wanted to follow through with my promise of posting some 'warm' posts of some wonderful places.
The Biltmore Hotel was built in 1926 by John McEntee Bowman. The hotel, although named for the estate in Ashville, NC has no relationship to that estate, but rather the chain envokes the feeling of what living might be like in the Vanderbilt mansion.
Located in Coral Gables, a community near Miami, I went there to meet a friend for lunch and I couldn't wait to pull out my camera and share the architecture and interior decoration. It served as a hospital during World War II and as a VA Hospital and campus of the University of Miami medical school until 1968. It was then bought and converted back into a hotel in 1987.
Please enjoy the photos.
The interior is definitely old-world, but has a homogenized French, English and Italian motifs... and some newer American - styled furniture.
This side-staircase is so gorgeous. Completely carved some of stone and some of wood then faux-painted.
Who wouldn't want to be reincarnated as a bird so you'd have to live here? The curtain is to keep sunlight out, but the convex window allows a viewer to enjoy the birds.
I tried to take a photo of the residents...
These moorish-inspired doors open up to a grand ballroom located on the lower level.
I would love this as a studio apartment... wouldn't you? It was set up for a small, intimate wedding that was taking place later on that afternoon.
Lunch by the golf course... with a stunning view of the back façade.
Care to take a dip in the pool??
