Athens, Georgia affords an intriguing combine of school co-eds and bohemian hipsters, cool culinary choices and nice reside music—however one lacking ingredient on this iconic college city has been luxurious. Enter Rivet Home—a refined, very cool, lodge providing that raises the bar for luxurious within the Basic Metropolis.
Outlined by hovering light-filled areas and industrial stylish model, the lodge occupies an historic century-old textile mill that after made denim denims for ladies. After the manufacturing ceased operations, the constructing sat unoccupied for 30 years till native Athens couple Jessica and James Whitley (co-founder and COO of Landmark Properties) bought the deserted property and regarded their choices. The Whitley’s opted for the trail of best resistance — resurrecting the large timeworn industrial relic into a classy boutique lodge with southern sensibilities. Says Jessica Whitley, who’s the lodge’s inventive director and chargeable for lodge’s inside design, “I misplaced various nights sleep over this. We knew we had been pushing the envelope of what has been the usual right here in Athens. The design was a problem as a result of the bones had been so uncooked however I actually needed to maintain the constructing’s historical past alive.” Whitley can take a bow, and get some sleep, having efficiently repurposed a graffiti-covered rusted industrial shell right into a heat and alluring triumph of workmanship and southern hospitality.
The 50-room lodge, which is managed by the Indigo Street Hospitality Group, has a holistic spa, restaurant (the already wildly widespread Osteria Olio) in addition to expansive bar, lounge, and outside patio. The almost 30-thousand-square-foot house options reclaimed components all through akin to unique brickwork and oversize wooden beams. A lot of the millwork and metalwork within the lodge (word the customized doorways that separate the foyer and the bar) was achieved by native craftsman. Whitley additionally included worldwide design components akin to Michelangelo and Tortuga quartzites, hand-laid marble, and pure travertine.
The principle flooring is residence to the spa, a small espresso store, bar and lounge, and the Osteria Olio restaurant. The second and third flooring are comprised of guestrooms. Exterior the lodge, unfold throughout your entire façade, is a landscaped terrace accented with curvilinear lounge seating, native vegetation, and firepits. The general impact is a harmonious mixture of brick, wooden and botany and can absolutely be among the finest perches on the town come recreation day. (As an apart, on gamedays, they may have a shuttle for lodge friends working from the lodge to the stadium and again, in addition to a pop-up bloody Mary bar, so make your reservations now.)
Every guestroom boasts lovely outsized (in lots of instances flooring to ceiling) home windows. The considerable mild and hovering ceilings lend every house a lofty treehouse vibe. Rooms function heat botanical tones accented with customized furnishings and are decked out with luxurious Kassatex linens, Grown Alchemist toiletries, and a fully-stocked Nespresso espresso station.
Government Chef JR Bearden helms the fashionable Italian restaurant Osteria Olio. He’s already effectively on the native radar (the home was packed on an in any other case quiet Tuesday in August), making individuals pleased with dishes akin to agnolotti di mais—a silky handmade pasta laced with creamed corn, mascarpone, and brown butter—or easy however spectacular pizza Americano topped with spicy pepperoni, honey, basil and parmigiano. The eating room is as heat and alluring because the delicacies with partitions of unique paintings, and velvet, wooden and brick accents anchored by lovely oversize home windows. You should definitely order a glass of the Whitley Reserve Provencal Rosé—a customized bottling made in collaboration with Lydia Mondavi. Whitley, who can be an artist, painted the label design as effectively.
Naturally, the hospitality right here is heat and welcoming. You’ll end up in deep dialog with the valet or making pals on the elevator—that is the south in spite of everything, so being pleasant is virtually a requirement. Says Whitley, “I felt like this was one thing Athens wanted however didn’t need it to really feel too pressured or too stuffy. I needed Rivet Home to have an approachable luxurious really feel and be a spot that locals would wish to go to and be happy with.” Job effectively achieved y’all.