If there is a holy grail of hotel design, Blind Tiger has come close to attaining it. Even more impressive, they’ve figured out how to replicate it — in New England and beyond. Let’s take a look.
Boutique hotel interior design has seen some massive shifts in the past couple decades. Stark modern minimalism ruled the day at the turn of the century. Now things have swung back around, as they always do, but not completely. In this post-modern mish-mash world, mixing and matching the best of everything that came before is the new platonic ideal — a sort of minimal maximalism that requires an exceptional eye for detail, a will to be weird, and godlike levels of restraint.
The challenge is to use pattern and texture and ornament and color, combine it with furniture, fixtures, and artwork from across multiple eras, and place it all so perfectly, with such fine taste, that it feels spacious and uncluttered. Even better if it can all be done in a building bubbling with character, such as an old house or estate, and done differently in each room. The result is a feast for the eyes, yet free from the weight that comes with having too much stuff.
Usually you’ll see this style exemplified at independent luxury hotels, eccentric passion projects ruled over by single-minded geniuses. You’ll also see it at the Blind Tiger hotels. Blind Tiger is a mini-chain, ruled over by Lark, a medium-sized hotel group with locations throughout the northeast United States. As of publishing, there are four Blind Tigers. Two in Portland, Maine. One in Burlington, Vermont. And now one in Asheville, North Carolina. That last one represents a confident coming out for Lark. No longer a New England secret, the group’s success has led to their expansion further south and west.
Each of the towns in which a Blind Tiger resides is small but burgeoning, with a thriving arts scene and a desirable aesthetic. They represent the best of both worlds, the convenience and culture of a big city but without the congestion, sprawl, and skyrocketing prices. And the Blind Tiger houses themselves — and they are all exceedingly charming old houses — are longtime residents, who regularly provide a platform for local chefs, artisans, and educators to enlighten guests, and a base for guests to feel more at home in their host cities.
Fans of “Homer vs. the 18th Amendment,” one of the greatest of all Simpsons episodes, might recognize the term Blind Tiger. During prohibition, it was another name for a speakeasy. And it was a speakeasy in a 19th-century house on Portland’s Danforth Street that would eventually become the first Blind Tiger hotel. That’s where our photo tour begins.
Blind Tiger Portland – Danforth Street
Portland, Maine, USA
The first of the two Portland Blind Tigers is located in a Federal-style mansion that once belonged to an influential family with a penchant for big parties. When Prohibition rolled around, it didn’t slow them down a bit. Festivities were secretly organized in the basement, which has been converted into a billiard room for your continued enjoyment.
The hotel has managed to retain the original home’s light, luxurious atmosphere thanks to a meticulously crafted interior and original touches that have been lovingly preserved, like the rooftop a dome with panoramic views of the city and harbor. The works of art and decorative objects, many of which are local finds, have been collected over a number of years. Such has been Blind Tiger Portland’s success that, following their stay, many guests contact the hotel to find a particular piece of furniture or a particular shade of paint.
Blind Tiger Portland – Carleton Street
Portland, Maine, USA
Portland’s second Blind Tiger continues much in the same vein as the first, decorated with a carefully curated selection of vintage furnishings and local artworks, and located within easy walking distance of the best this city has to offer. The Carleton Street branch makes its home in a 1869 Victorian townhouse, and reflects that era’s more dramatic decor.
Located on a small peninsula in the state of Maine, Portland is renowned for its culinary offerings and music scene. The beauty of its coastline is a big draw, and with a relatively modest size, the town can be explored on foot or by bike, and exudes a strong sense of community. The Blind Tigers play their part by organizing neighborhood events: dinners concocted by local chefs and sommeliers, a book club, concerts highlighting local artists. The hotel even makes its spaces available for charity events and educational activities.
Blind Tiger Burlington
Burlington, Vermont, USA
Burlington’s Blind Tiger is the kind of place you’d imagine inheriting from a forgotten great-aunt. The circa-1881 residence is majestic, with a brick façade, slate roof, and marble staircase. The flowering trees, meticulously trimmed lawn, aromatic garden, and jungle-like solarium might make you think for a moment that you’ve got a green thumb. Despite the opulent architecture and green-and-white veined marble floors, the hotel pays homage to Vermont’s traditional character and emphasis on sustainability. Here too, the rooms have been decorated with handcrafted furniture and antiques.
As for Burlington, it has neither an obvious must-see tourist site nor an awe-inspiring landscape. It’s simply one of those small towns that seduces with an incredible joie de vivre. Located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, Burlington is a seaside town in the heart of landlocked Vermont. There’s swimming, boating and fishing, and the bucolic landscape of the nearby Green Mountains is ideal for hiking and skiing. The town’s charming tree-lined streets are full of art galleries, theaters, and concert halls.
Blind Tiger Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina, USA
In Asheville, Blind Tiger continues the tradition of hospitality in what was once one of the city’s most popular establishments, a former bed and breakfast in a Queen Anne–style house that dates from 1889. Here again, Blind Tiger makes a point of blending into the local community. Just as Asheville’s street art rubs shoulders with the enchanting natural landscapes of the Blue Ridge Parkway, so too does the decor of Blind Tiger combine contemporary and post-modern elements with one-of-a-kind antique pieces collected over more than a decade.
Asheville is a mountain town that lives on three things: culture, food, and beer. James Beard Award-winning chefs flock here, produce is local and brewing is a religion. There are no fewer than 69 beer producers in and around the city. It also boasts an abundance of museums and artists’ studios, hosts numerous music festivals, and is home to the country’s largest estate, the Biltmore, built by George Washington Vanderbilt II, which alone is worth the trip.