Bobbi Brown Beautifies A New Hotel | forbes.com
When makeup mogul Bobbi Brown left her eponymous cosmetics brand in late 2016, she surprised everyone by setting her sights on giving a historic New Jersey hotel a makeover. The big reveal: The George Inn debuted as a chic 32-room boutique property in Montclair, 12 miles west of New York City.
The same natural-beauty aesthetic that Brown helped popularize with her cosmetics carries over to the hotel, which she opened with her real estate developer husband, Steven Plofker, in April. They kept the bones of the stately 1902 brick structure and filled it with a stylish palette of gray and white with red highlights in the form of Smeg mini-fridges, Union Jack pillows and plaid headboard fabric.
The inn's library is a cozy corner with slate coffered walls, a fireplace and furniture sourced from One Kings Lane as well as the couples' travels and their own personal collection. The accommodations also have personality — each one is given a name that sparks design inspiration. For example, the Martha room comes with portraits of a young Martha Stewart and Martha Washington, while the Oscar's walls hold photos of famous namesakes such as de la Renta, Wilde and the Grouch.
Forbes Travel Guide talked to Brown about why she chose Montclair for her first hospitality venture, her favorite travel destination and what's next for her.
