Client

Overview

A fresh take on a Newport hotel, The Wayfinder is a 197-room boutique hotel resulting from the collaboration among a group of local chefs, bartenders, artists, designers, and entrepreneurs who proudly call Rhode Island’s City by the Sea home. Developed by hotelier Phil Hospod of Dovetail + Co and designed by New York-based Reunion Goods & Services, The Wayfinder blends cool, colorful, coastal design with influences from a roster of home-grown talent to create a mindful, unrestrained hotel experience that highlights the edgy, imaginative spirit of modern-day Newport. Formerly the Mainstay Hotel, The Wayfinder was revamped to feel like a friend’s warm, well-appointed beach house with 3,800 sq feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting spaces.

Goals

According to Reunion Goods & Services, the designers’ biggest challenge was working with a sprawling building to make it feel personal and intimate. In the Guest Rooms, they sourced a mix of contemporary end tables and vintage trunks as repurposed bedside tables to provide a layered look and feel.

A respite from Newport’s tourist-thronged wharfs, The Wayfinder welcomes guests with a cozy, communal lobby anchored by a large, mustard yellow fireplace and punctuated with residential touches like moveable poufs, whimsical artwork by Newport–based Catherine Druken, and a large, custom-designed sofa to help visitors feel right at home. Textured yet neutral terrazzo floors contrasted with deep blue ceilings add an extra dose of intimacy, while a bevvy of intentionally selected colors throughout evoke the rocky Atlantic coastline.

Process

The lobby flows seamlessly into the restaurant, Nomi Park. Inside the bright and airy space, stained-blue library chairs sit atop an orange, black, and white color-blocked rug paving the way to pink leopard upholstery, a teal-faced bar, and burnt orange leather banquettes.

Compared to the social spaces, rooms are more subdued with less pops of color. Throughout the 115 double queen rooms and 30 suites (each with separate sitting areas), local art and vintage trunks sourced from Rhode Island antique markets carry through the narrative of The Wayfinder’s ethos as a hub for the local art community. Designed to feel like a home away from home, the bright, spacious interiors feature custom-made beds outfitted with Matouk terry and bed throws, graphic artwork, vintage trunks from local antique markets as nightstands, and toiletries from Newport’s own Shore Soap Co. Sage green walls and caning accents evoke the airy, moody quality of the Newport coastline, nodding at the sea and dewiness of New England mornings.

Additional Information

Adjacent to the hotel, guests can kick back with cocktails at the seasonal outdoor pool, which is decorated with curated mismatched furniture, classic fringed beach umbrellas, warming string lights, and a hand-painted motif featuring waves by Rhode Island artist Sean Spellman.