I love hotels with great design—but I’m not into “design hotels,” which often go way overboard in their pursuit of that title. I’ve learned firsthand that design restraint is a virtue, from being in hotel rooms that contain too many chairs, too much art on the walls, too many wallpapers and fabrics fighting for dominance.
I had some idea that Inness, on 220 acres in the Hudson Valley town of Accord, would be great, since Taavo Somer (whose amazing design aesthetic gave us Freemans and the Rusty Knot) is the creative force behind it. But I didn’t expect just how great it would be, both in concept—as a kind of rethinking of the idea of a resort or country club—and execution.
The main farmhouse—which has has a guest kitchen, several fireplaces and 12 guest rooms—is so thoughtfully done, my friends (who work in the design world) and I were fumbling for ways to describe it: Shaker…Scandinavian…Dutch…but somehow, the combo of these influences all work very well in an upstate New York landscape. The public spaces are filled with beautiful antiques, so intentionally placed and with such restraint that they feel modern. The kitchen is a 21st-century Nancy Meyers fantasy—a nice group of people who previously didn’t know each other find themselves all chatting around the in-kitchen dining tables and island filled with lovely cheeses, breads and pastries. At night, we raided the honor bar and stayed up way too late by the fire in one of the house’s several living rooms.
Miranda Brooks did the landscaping of this massive property, with mowed paths surrounded by wildflowers and native grasses on the side. The way the property is laid out, you never really run into anyone on a path, which creates the sense that you’re at your own place in the country. And the 28 Scando-style peaked-roof cabins are all painted black, so they blend into the setting beautifully.
I especially loved that Inness is so dog friendly—the weekend in October that we were there, it was filled with dogs and families, since it was prime apple-picking season. I hear great things about the restaurant, with outdoor smokers and grills and amazing views of the Catskills, though unfortunately we didn’t have a chance to eat there. The 9-hole golf course is rugged and relaxed—no golf pants or score-keeping required. Anyone can book a room to stay at the hotel, while members can access the property’s two saltwater swimming pools, golf course, tennis courts and the spa (opening in 2022). I know I’ll be back—and hopefully will see some of those new friends again.
Next week we’ll be doing our first ever Travel Hotline, with packing as our subject and Ann Mashburn as our expert! She’ll be on the hotline (which means answering all your questions in the comments in real time!) next Thursday, Nov 11, from 1-3pm EST. This is for paying newsletter subscribers only, so if you’re not one of those yet, we hope you will consider it!
A Very nice getaway 👍
Added to my "must go now" list.