Life House, Berkshires

Life House announces the opening of Life House, Berkshires in Lenox, Massachusetts on September 26, 2022.

Set in the middle ofthe mountains, Life House, Berkshires is a reimagined 1970s-era retreat that culls inspiration from the lodge styles of the past century in reinterpreting the architecture in modern materiality and forms. The design narrative is imagined through the lens of a fictional writer who escapes to his abode in the Berkshires in search for a peaceful and stimulating environment that fosters inspiration - a cue to the historical literary figures who have passed through Lenox: some of the great novelists of the mid-19th century, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Mellville and Fanny Kimble, who all spent time in the area to complete their renowned works.

The exterior is rendered in oat-colored wood shingles juxtaposed with dark gray trims that give the building a cozy and modern appearance. The property is intended to create a fluid experience between the indoors and outdoors with a wrap-around patio that houses the guest-only fire-pit lounge, a natural extension of The Club Room, the on-property restaurant and bar. The design of the outdoor spaces exudes the nonchalance of its environs telegraphed through a color palette inspired by the striking sunrises and sunsets of the Berkshires. The custom half-moon sofas upholstered in Ikat patterns of autumnal hues are paired with plush armchairs in eggshell canvas and sit around cozy fire pits where guests can gather year round.

The design journey continues inside the property's Library Lounge - and lobby - where guests are welcomed to curl up in front of the crackling fireplace with a drink and a good read. Warm wood-paneled walls are accented with free-floating library shelves stacked with vintage books by the most notorious writers; green velvet couches are matched with custom-designed armchairs and window-seats on either sides of the fireplace; and the diamond-shaped hardwood floors are adorned with vintage rugs from the 1970s. The gargantuan, 28-foot ceilings house custom Murano glass chandeliers handmade in Venice by Sogni di Cristallo and hang high above the bar millwork that showcases a marble countertop and leather upholstered panels. While forest green velvet high stools line the bar counter of The Club Room, window-pane banquet seatings provide a more intimate setting for couples and small groups dining together. The hand-painted mural that decorates the walls has been designed by artist Lei Xing whose art is showcased at several Life House properties.

The indoor-outdoor experience continues with the placement of the 64 guest rooms, which are all exterior facing and unfold along open-air corridors. This nod to the 70s lodge style allows for a harmonious connection with the lush natural environment and creates a footpath to a comfortable, rustic retreat immersed in the forested hills of the Berkshires. Every chamber is rendered in a color palette of mossy greens alongside warm creams and autumnal rusts; custom wardrobes with glass doors are fashioned with pleated fabric panels featuring prints designed by the Life House in-house design team; and custom lampshades, inspired by the marble paper backing of old books, sit atop secretary-style desks. Collage artwork by Annie Lynch, whose pieces present black and white portraits of female figures with superimposed aerial photographs of local landscapes, are hung alongside framed poetry by artist Russell Markus who used an antique typewriter and vintage paper to produce each artpiece.

The food and beverage program is rooted in Life House's reverence for seasonal food and craft cocktails served in a laid-back and convivial atmosphere where hotel guests gather for healthy bites and innovative libations. The Club Room is hyper-focused on seasonality and a farm-to-table approach, leveraging local Berkshires goods to ensure a healthy and sustainable fare. The cocktail program is a dynamic nod to the '70s with charred herbal craft cocktails, fresh pressed juices, and a sustainable wine program.

The announcement of Life House, Berkshires follows the brand's most recent openings of Life House, South of Fifth; Life House, Little Havana; Life House, Lower Highlands in Denver; and Life House, Nantucket. The brand will be launching several more hotels next year across the country and beginning to grow delicately into international territories as well. Life House continues its mission to make travel more meaningful and more accessible through the creation of authentically local places with narrative and substance that help serve to bring travelers and locals together for a shared sense of place and belonging.

Life House, Berkshires is located at 194 Pittsfield Road in Lenox, Massachusetts and will offer accommodation starting at $225/night.

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