Wednesday, May 27

Ace is The Place.

I just love the aesthetic of Ace Hotels. Clean, streamlined and sleek, not overly fussy, just simply elegant. I mean what's worse than a hotel trying to look all posh and doing a really mediocre job of it? Either you are a posh hotel, or who are we kidding, you're a motel. It's like airline food - why try and be all fancy-pants and serve some kind of mystery chicken a la cordon blue...I think I may speak for many of us when I say, I'd just rather have a sandwich. At least, I have a pretty good idea of what I'm eating.

I don't need fancy, just good design. Some hotel rooms make you want to jump out of your skin, but I think if I stayed in an Ace Hotel, there might be fear of me hanging out in my room a bit too much. But hey, that's why they made room service! So I wrote to Ace and asked if I might share some of their room decor with you, and as I suspected, they couldn't have been nicer, and more uncomplicated about it. Just like their lovely rooms. Ace has hotels in Portland, Seattle, Palm Springs and now in New York City. Hey guys, where's the San Francisco hotel? I think we'd be a perfect spot for an Ace. The guys behind Ace had the idea to create a place their friends and acquaintances would want to stay – DJs, artists, magazine creators, graphic designers, musicians – the creative types who have been behind the evolving cultural renaissance of the Pacific Northwest of the last decade, and who aren’t, generally speaking, awash with cash, so the rooms are quite affordable, too. There's even one with called the 'Band Room', with bunk beds should you need to buddy-up.


These are pretty hip hotels...some rooms feature turntables with a hand-picked selection of new and used vinyl for guests to enjoy during their stay. And the Portland Ace Hotel even has a photo booth! Now what grown person doesn't enjoy a good photo booth? See, no reason to even leave this hotel. The lobby's are pretty swanky yet comfy, too, and I love the found and re-purposed 'hotel' sign in the Portland lobby area, too. Pay-per-view TV? No thank-you. Free Wi-Fi internet access? Of course. Yipee! With all this going for it, Ace is definitely my kinda place.




Heck, I kinda just want to move in here!


The Palm Springs pool area, complete with vintage trailer.


The nicest, coolest hotel bathroom...maybe ever.

Beautiful reclaimed wood headboard,
and the bunk beds in the Band Room.



23 comments:

RLMEnglish said...

This is amazing, I will definitely be trying this hotel at least for a night next time I am in NYC. If at all possible. I might even give up the luxury of staying in Westins and Sheratons for nearly free to have something this amazing as my "home away from home". Lovely.

Penny said...

I love the Portland Ace. My boyfriend's sister was married at the Armory last year and we all stayed at the hotel. Extra points for its proximity to Stumptown!

I would love to stay at their Palm Springs property, and while I have friends I always stay with in NYC, the Ace has great deals for such an expensive city.

Laura. said...

oh, yeah. ace is the best. you would think, since all the people behind the counter are total hipsters, that they might be too cool, but no! when i stayed at the portland ace (for two weeks on business), i could not walk in the front door without someone looking up from the counter and SMILING at me (not in a creepy way, just friendly), welcoming me back 'home'. it's in a perfect location, too. nothing but raves about the ace from me!
i think minneapolis would be another great spot for ace. seriously--a cozy little place on the tundra?! oh, yeah.
thanks for all the lovely photos.

Misha Ashton Photography said...

Love love LOVE the ace hotels!! Only ever been to the seattle and portland ones, but they are fantastic. GREAT for photo shoots!

Uncle Beefy said...

Yep, a lot to love about the Ace, Miss V. But am stymied why an SF location hasn't come up yet? But, I'm sure it's being plotted and planned somewhere at headquarters!

(Congrats on your feature in the B&H!)

Simply Mel {Reverie} said...

San Francisco definitely needs an Ace! I love the desk with chalkboard wall and the clawfoot tub nestled behind dramatic drapes - Awesome!

sfgirlbybay said...

I'm glad those of you that have stayed there have had great experiences! I want to hit that Palm Springs pool, too! And yes, if we nudge them, maybe a SF locale will come! I'm sure they've thought of it!

Hi U.B.! And thanks! :)

leni said...

i LOVE every single one of these photos!

Katherine said...

my bratty little sister stayed at the ace in seattle a few months ago and kept sending me photos of the amazing decor to torture me while i was stuck working! i think she was ready to move in, too.

Anonymous said...

Now, I know where to go when I had to Palm Springs later this year!

Kelly said...

I just visited the Ace Palm Springs site yesterday, via another design blog.

I'm pretty sure my husband & I will be trying it out this summer...looks perfect, and like you said, good rates.

Lucy said...

Wow, I want that cat on my wall!!

comfies said...

this is a wonderful capture of the ace hotel, thank you for sharing. and so did you take the pics? they are so good!

sfgirlbybay said...

comfies - it's great hotel chain, indeed. i cannot take credit for these pics, they came from their press kit.

Waxy said...

I totally want to live there too! I never thought I would be in love with a hotel ice bucket!!!

stetson said...

i've been to both the portland and palm springs locations (http://mstetsondesign.blogspot.com/2009/05/grid-o-ace.html). there are great inspirations around every corner. also, everyone is so nice; i highly recommend it!

Julie said...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! Thank you so much for blogging about Ace. I completely agree that SF needs one of these!

Nicole said...

as a portland local, i have to recommend you all visit the restaurant attached to the Ace - it's called Clyde Common.

it's one of my favorite places to eat in town...the food is unfussy but amazingly spot-on. the atmosphere is laid-back and it features long community-style dining tables. plus they have a *great* bar.. if you are there on Sundays make sure you at least stop in for a drink because all bottles of champagne are half off!! it's known as Bubbley Sunday.

can't think of a better thing to celebrate ;)

maja said...

i love your writing! have you thought about doing a travel book?

sfgirlbybay said...

thanks for all the additional insight into the Ace, everyone!

maja - oh that's very nice of you. no, hadn't thought about it...but if it means a lot of travel, i'm in!

Aesthetic Outburst... said...

SO gorgeous! Have added it to my list of places to visit! Thanks, Victoria!

Alice Yoo said...

I've been a huge fan of Ace for awhile but haven't stayed in one yet. Thanks for the fabulous photos. I must check out the one in Palm Springs!

Unknown said...

I am in love with that giant cat mural!! too neat!