In Daytona’s 1940-50’s heyday, it was known as the “World’s Most Famous Beach”. We recalled that era’s style and finishes, balanced with this iconic hotel brand, and the city’s historic racing culture, to give this property a nostalgic identity. We selected mid-century modern inspired furnishings and finishes to be set within a classic palette of white with black accents. The design was then layered with the intrinsic glitz and memorabilia associated with the Hard Rock brand. The trademark artwork features Florida musician’s paraphernalia, instruments, and retrospective imagery of famous musicians frolicking in the surf and sand.

For 125 years the Wilson family owned and operated the town of Wilson, Arkansas. They ran the store, the bank, the schools, the mills, and the cotton gin. For a time the Wilsons even minted their own currency to pay the town’s workers. The Bank of Wilson moved into an English Tudor building on the town square in 1952, detailed with brick, carved stone, and copper trim, which it still occupies today.

The owner commissioned FODA to renovate the bank, paying homage to this town’s rich history. We featured historical images, the town’s original currency, farming equipment, and the people of Wilson as the art program. They also wanted to maintain the original Art Deco teller stations detailed with aluminum and dramatic pale pink marble accented with amber and plum veining, which became the backdrop for our palette. We balanced the feminine Art Deco lines and bold marble of the teller station with an updated neutral masculine envelope of warm greys, bright nickels, dark charcoals, creams and cognac throughout the property.

Puerto Vallarta is has a festive, colorful, lively atmosphere, welcoming guests celebrating a wedding, reunion, birthday, etc. So our directive for designing this 8,000 square foot resort spa was to create an inviting environment for these social groups to feel comfortable and relax in together, as opposed to the conventional, introverted approach to a spa’s interior.

We used traditional elements from the Mexican culture in unique and unexpected ways. Guests are welcomed into the subterranean spa by a deep indigo reception area featuring white furnishings and megagraphic mandalas paying homage to local embroidery patterns. The communal lounge is enveloped by turquoise beaded privacy curtains, with a custom chandelier fabricated from Folk dancer skirts anchored above the sunken lounge seating area.

Quintessential decorative Mexican tiles are installed with a creative twist as a border in the treatment corridors. Each of the 13 treatment rooms is identified with its own iconic tarot card graphic image, set against a crisp white backdrop. Punched tin star pendants cast playful shadows for a subtle mood.

Through our design, we created a more inviting reception area by integrating a ‘living room’ feel. Customers to this bank linger and socialize in this area, which features a working fireplace and vaulted ceiling. Full height traversing drapery was introduced to soften the space and provide visual privacy between the reception and open office areas. New finishes, furnishings, lighting, and artwork were specified throughout to revitalize the property.

Wilson’s founder built his home in the surrounding cotton fields during the early 1900’s. We embraced the historical significance of this daunting Tudor style 40-room mansion, allowing our finishes and furnishings to compliment its many architectural details. To ensure the children felt welcome in this otherwise old and austere building, we filled the rooms with color, patterns, and textures to enhance their senses both visually and physically.