A playground for the rich and famous, the Nemacolin resort in rural Pennsylvania has been welcoming guests seeking a luxurious retreat for almost 40 years.
Owned and operated by the Hardy family, Nemacolin sprawls over 2,200 acres of rolling countryside and ancient woodlands, and is home to a variety of luxurious accommodations including three distinctively different hotels, self-catering lodges, a destination golf academy, a casino and a slew of bars and restaurants.
Over the past three years, the resort has undergone significant renovations – most recently a 6-month project to transform The Chateau, a 124-room Ritz Paris-inspired hotel that brings the epitome of European elegance to this rural destination.
A lavish approach
Owner Maggie Hardy is known for her lavish approach in redeveloping the resort, and the Chateau’s reinvention was no exception. The reimagined space evokes the opulence of 18th-century France thanks to striking crystal chandeliers, veined marbles, and textural velvet fabrics paired with floral motifs, intricate detailing – and of course, bronze accents.
The design and build team on this incredible and ambitious project included 84 Lumber, Martik Brothers, Moncur Design Associates, Gensler, and King & Partners. We were honored to collaborate specifically on the design vision for the Chateau’s impressive lobby, which features twin sets of matching, custom bronze doors with ornate Art-Deco styling, as well as some bronze display cases for the in-house jeweler The Hardy Collective, by Louis Anthony Jewelers.
Making a grand entrance
Guests arrive at the Chateau through a grand porte-cochère before entering the lobby, where they are greeted by an elegant roaring fireplace adorned with Macchia Oro polished marble. Framing the view on either side, the solid bronze doors themselves feature a delicate circle motif, adding glamor and interest, while arched transoms and generous sidelights draw the eye in towards the lobby bar beyond.
This picturesque room is bathed in natural light, illuminating the brass inlay and marble accent floor which frames the sensational scalloped bar, also featuring a bronze finish, with matching bar stools and furniture further adding to the decadent look and feel. Crystal chandeliers twinkle against the opalescent textured ceiling, while accents of Quartzite Esmeralda stone bring the room to life, creating an impeccable environment in which to sip one of the Lobby Bar’s signature cocktails.
Bringing the vision to life
The design for these distinctive doors started out as a simple designer’s sketch, which the Renaissance team then translated into detailed shop drawings for presentation to the client. We worked closely with the Nemacolin design team to understand exactly what they wanted to achieve in terms of the look and feel, which was a clear departure from the traditional, somewhat imposing aesthetic of the past towards a much lighter, more romantic style.
Echoing the bold lines of the marble floor and coffered ceiling, the bronze doors had to tread a fine line between imposing and delicate – an effect we achieved by pairing bold transoms, muntin bars and sidelights with incredibly slender circular inserts that elevate the doors to new levels of glamor.
In terms of finish, it was important that the bronze retained its bright, shiny appearance in order to match with other bronze accents throughout the lobby and bar area, so we recommended a natural brushed finish with a clear lacquer applied to protect the bronze, make cleaning simple, and prevent its natural patina from developing over time. This ensures the material will stay looking brand new in perpetuity. Solid bronze hardware, latches and locks completed the installation to perfection.
Bespoke craftsmanship
The doors were painstakingly manufactured by hand in our San Antonio factory, and wet glazed on site before being shipped using a dedicated service to Pennsylvania, where our team oversaw the installation on site.
This project also involved the design and manufacture of some bespoke bronze display cases which are mounted in the premises of The Hardy Collective, a luxury jewelry concession situated in the lobby of the Chateau. Again, this process began with design sketches from the interiors team at Nemacolin, which were translated into working shop drawings by our experts, and then manufactured to order.
Exceeding expectations
We knew as soon as we started working on this project that it would be something special, but to see it coming together for The Chateau’s grand opening on Memorial Day weekend truly surpassed our expectations – we’re incredibly proud of how pivotal a role our bronze doors play in the overall aesthetic of the lobby area, and also of the ingenuity, determination and skill displayed by our design and manufacturing teams in bringing the designer’s vision to life.
If you’ve got an upcoming project that you think might benefit from our custom bronze design service, we’d love to hear from you – get in touch to discuss your requirements today.
