Hot Hotels in Suburbia

Style & Design, Uncategorized — By Paul Fitzgerald on October 24, 2011 at 6:33 pm

Power hospitality players call on Jolanta Lukus to make their hotels into distinct masterpieces

If you’ve been wondering what Royal Design Inc (http://www NULL.royaldesign NULL.ca). has been up to the past few months, let me assure you that this well-known company based out of Richmond Hill, ON, has been more than busy the past few months designing, overseeing the finest details and finally opening some magnificent properties in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and beyond.

“This year has been wonderful and yet at the same time crazy, and it’s all not over,” said Jolanta Lukus, one whom many credit as the ‘master creator’ of a large number of amazing projects. “We are always growing on so many levels,” she added.

As a journalist long fascinated with her work, I reached out and asked her to share some images and materials so I could learn more about the latest projects that are shaking up the design world.

But she had something better for me in mind.She offered a day trip to view a few new hotels she just designed.

It was an offer I could not refuse.

So, at her request, off I went with my pen and camera in hand with one goal and mind: to try and figure out what makes Jolanta tick and discover how her creativity turns into reality.

It was a special kind of field trip. It was an experience I soon won’t forget.

Power hospitality players call on Jolanta Lukus to make their hotels into distinct masterpieces

The lobby of the new Hilton Garden Inn here in Brampton, ON (http://www NULL.royaldesign NULL.ca), provides the very first clue that it’s not your typical suburban like hotel.

This place is far beyond different. It’s enticing and it speaks to you in so many ways. And while you are traveling, you could not have picked a better spot to call home. These walls and spaces speak with tremendous meaning. There’s a sense of hope and prosperity that exists here, you can just feel it. This is urbane living at its best.

Only a stone’s throw away from the Toronto Pearson International Airport (http://www NULL.royaldesign NULL.ca), the nation’s busiest airport for all types of jet-setters, and nestled right next door to the renowned Pearson Convention Centre, this place immediately shouts out character, mystique and seems a definitive locale of where the classic and new-age frontiers meet in its own sort of unique avant-garde way.

Wanting guests to be immersed in the life of intrigue and the forward thinking moment as they step inside, designer Jolanta Lukus knew she needed something over the top – something extraordinary.

And then it hit her one day during the planning phase for design: connecting the local landscape of this multi-cultural subdivision with the activity of air travel patrons would ultimately create a hub of innovation that gives guests a sense of belonging.

She was right.

Hailing from Poland and a world traveler herself, she gets it on so many stratums when it comes to style and design.

“People feel like they are stepping into a whole new world when they arrive here,” said Jolanta, who is the President & CEO of Royal Design Inc. “In a way it’s like where the past and the future fluently connect – people really like the look and feel of the entire hotel; people feel like it’s their true home away from home – we were able to create something that influences how people feel in this space that is relaxed, cozy and warm. It’s amazing what colours and design elements can do for the eye.”

Jolanta, who is a well-known hospitality designer, was called for design duty by Bhulesh Lodhia, the President and CEO of JM Hospitality, and his team for the new hotel placed at the corner of Steeles and Airport.

“I find her creativity and style is just excellent,” he said during the recent grand opening ceremony of the new hotel which took place on October 5, 2011.

While Jolanta welcomes the compliments from a higher-up and other notable commercial real estate gurus – all of which seems the norm these days for her growing business based out of Richmond Hill, ON – her biggest reward, albeit compliment, comes from her personally viewing the completion of such a major style and design project like the Hilton Garden Inn.

One’s eyes will never be bored after seeing her work when visiting the Hilton Garden Inn.

Large silver-themed pendulums hang from the ceiling of the main lobby. Marble and granite countertops abound, and there is plenty of room to relax in the lobby. An eloquent style in-house bar and restaurant connects from one end of the lobby and at the other end is a meeting room that mirrors a library-like setting, designed in a classic and contemporary sense: fire place and flat screen TV included.

Well crafted-electric fire places in the lobby bring the sense of warmth and homecoming for any visitor to the hotel and the silver-beige and gold like ambience colours provides friendly, connotations – so calming for the eye. Down from the main lobby there is a state-of-the-art pool with a Jacuzzi with lounge chairs all lined up for those seeking that moment of relaxation, and not far down the hall is a nicely designed work-out room complimented with large flat screen TVs. It’s a true urbanity experience here at this locale. There’s no doubt, once you visit once, you will come back again.

The airy guest rooms, to put it bluntly, are simply out of this world – many of which are like mini apartments that accommodate the long term stay traveler. There are other rooms of course which provide exceptional hospitality for those on shorter visits. The carpets, neatly designed throughout the entire hotel, were made out of scratch – handmade – which is most obvious to the eye.

During a tour of the hotel, Jolanta had the right words that eloquently described her talent for design: “I dream of ideas and I see inspirations in so many things surrounding us in everyday life. I have visions of creating great landmarks, and creating great places that will make Toronto equally as dazzling as cities like New York, London, and even Paris.”

So how does she bring her creativity to life?

“I honestly don’t know how I do it, everything comes so naturally,” she explained. “I guess what I do is just like mixing a great tasty drink. I put all the right ingredients into a jar and then shake it up. And then somehow, after a lot of work and laughter, it comes out as the great tasting mixture that makes one crave for more.”

Her inventive approach in style and design is also evident at two other hotels she also recently designed and opened:the Springhill Suites by Marriottand the Homewood Suites by Hilton (http://www NULL.royaldesign NULL.ca)– both adjacent to one another along Applewood Crescent in Toronto-Vaughan, which are also in close proximity to the Vaughan Mills Mall and the coming-up extension of the Subway.These two new hotels also have workout rooms, and pools and Jacuzzis that are complimented with inimitable lighting of sorts, futuristic in every sense which is exquisite to the eye.

One can immediately label both properties with this brilliant designer, there’s no doubt about it.

I distinctly recall standing in the lobby as a guest arrived. He stood at the main entrance and in a tone of amazement asked if he had arrived at the Ritz or the Springhill Suites. A staff member of the hotel at the check in desk piped in: “This is the Ritz of Vaughan and you are at the right place.”

A roar of laughter then filled the room.

Springhill Suites has a spring like seasoned theme – bright green colours meshed nicely in with the lounge and bar area. Green apples and distinctive splashes of water with a background of sky blue colour are also sprinkled throughout the walls in the lobby as well as the bar and restaurant area. Trendy-worldly coloured lights light up tables from underneath and the lobby is decorated with swirling-like chairs complimented with sliding silver-lining type drapery. Look above and there are plenty of flat screen-TVs that blend nicely with the futuristic like-décor.

Here you feel alive and no matter the weather outside, springtime here is always in. Green and blue colours proliferate and there is no place like home.

At Springhill Suites the rooms themselves are beyond eloquent in every sense. It makes one feel as if they are staying in the heart of upscale Manhattan, NY. While amenities are plenty in each room, the design speaks to you in so many ways. There are sliding glass doors for the shower, and sliding wooden doors for the bathroom. There is plenty of smart space throughout the room for sleeping, working, or relaxing. Here you feel more than at home.

At the Homewood Suites the very daring and adventurous use of the colour purple and fuchsia calls out at you, but in a friendly and invigorating way. Perhaps this is an indication of freedom and boldness here and beyond while you step inside a whole new world that is all yours for the taking.

The large sized lobby seems all decked out with the most unusual finishes, like leather looking tiles, stitched vinyl on the walls, sparkling coloured crystal, mosaics and details beyond imagination. The seating has luxurious fabrics and pillows and all the flowers add to the decor which is so beautifully done. No corner seams unattended. The lobby almost offers that you have entered into true royalty, a hallmark of Royal Design Inc. Welcome and please join this special club.

The rooms here are also flawless all with a high-end feel on many levels, and they too carry the same colour schemes right inside the rooms – that purple looking tint that brings out a lively and comforting feel. Here you feel affluence and relaxation and it’s all yours for the taking. This is where one encounters the finest in urbane style and design. That’s right this is real living while on the road.

All three of these hotels are each unique and distinct – they are all finished to the top with completely decorated areas with all hand made flower arrangements and some even with unique custom photography from Jolanta’s very own vast collection – a hobby that she explored and now turned into a business via Royal Distinction Inc., a sister company of Royal Design Inc.

Her signature of creativity and innovation in design is apparent at each hotel.“When I take on each project, I plan carefully and know how to bring ideas to life,” said Jolanta. “Each project for me has a special meaning and I know how to turn my ideas into reality.”

Her talents and ambition far exceed the local area as she is now taking on style and design projects for hotels in Europe and Africa.

Asking her what’s next on her design-to-do-list, she smiled and said, “Naturally the right thing for me to do next would be to concur the Middle East.” After a brief pause and while displaying an even bigger smile, she added, “Well I’m already working on it”. She lets out a big burst of laughter, confident in every sense and also contagious too. She remains a true innovator, a winner in her own right.

She further states, “Every hotel that I have designed has a global personality glove like no other – this I know. My designs are classic, sophisticated and over the top. In a lot of ways, I feel like I’m pushing the envelope in the hospitality design world – where the competing properties must step up to the plate and get equally amazing – so we can live and stay in beautify spaces… If only these walls could talk.”

But then again these walls do talk in their own sort of way, grounded on Jolanta’s creativity that is.

As each project is completed, she craves more style and design work – like a global traveler her work is never really done. The completion of one major project sparks a new one. It’s a creative cycle that she is involved with that seems to go on forever.

She doesn’t mind at all. The more projects she takes on means the more chances she has to express her inner self while connecting a global experience for others.

For Jolanta there are no glass ceilings, the sky is the limit; the world is her oyster.