Jayson Seidman tapped into his own experiences as a traveler for inspiration when opening The Drifter in New Orleans. While his design aesthetic was already recognized with Boro Hotel in Queens, New York, and the former Lords Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, this retro-tinged swim club embodies his heart and soul.
One place that inspired Seidman in making over this 1956 motel in the city's Mid City area was Japan. (Yes, we know the hotel is in New Orleans — stay with us here.) "Ranging from the back streets of Tokyo to the ryokans of Kyoto, and the mountain hot spring of Hakone," he explains, "discovering places that have balanced design that is not specific to one particular decade and transcends time and place is key to my inspiration." That influence is evident in hallmarks of tropical design, such as palm-motif wallpaper and bamboo lamp shades in the lobby bar, plus tropical foliage out front that creates a curtain between the street and the property.
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Minimalist design is trending everywhere at hotels, not just at The Drifter and Seidman explains why: "The headspace of an individual arriving by train, plane or automobile is often chaotic and draining," says Seidman. "So we believe the design should be calming and almost therapeutic, not too visually distracting."
