The grand staircase in the downstairs lobby of Austin’s Renaissance Hotel
Today we kick off “Lobby Chic” Week at Mirror80 with a tour of one of my favorite hotel lobbies of all-time: the luxurious lobby of The Renaissance Hotel in Austin, Texas. Built in 1986, The Renaissance was originally known as The Stouffer Hotel. As a kid, I saw this place as the epitome of luxury. It definitely shaped my interior design style. I would ride the glass elevator with my brother, and we would stop at various floors and walk laps around the open aisles while looking down at the plant-filled atrium. It doesn’t get any better than marble tile in rusty peach and white…
Indoor greenery fills built-in marble planters
Did I mention that it’s my dream to have a living room that looks like an ’80s hotel lobby?! Built-in marble planters are a great place to start. Maybe I could come up with a DIY project in this department involving floor tiles…
Indoor greenery at The Renaissance Hotel
Check out the brass trim on the staircase! Indoor plants such as dracaena, mother-in-law’s tongue and crotons are a few of the many selections here:
A lobby marble staircase lined with plants
Oh, that chandelier! Octagonal in form, this stunning light fixture includes a slew of triangular crystals. I wonder if they are Lucite or actual crystal… Now that brass is back, the tiered trim is very on-trend!
A view of the lobby stairs
Here’s a glimpse of the outdoors through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the downstairs lobby. Can you see the pool? An abundance of trees surrounds the hotel. It’s on the site of The Arboretum, a popular shopping center in Austin. The Arboretum was also built in the ’80s.
A glimpse of the outdoors at The Renaissance Hotel
Are you ready to head to the upstairs lobby? As mentioned, the entire staircase is lined with plants. As we get closer to the top of the steps, we can see a slew of bromeliads. These tropical plants come in bright colors, such as red and yellow.
Bromeliads and brass…
A touch of neon lighting enhances the greenery in the upstairs planters:
Neon, succulents and more
I’m a little bit in love with this vignette. I would love nothing more than to incorporate a large, tropical greenery-filled planter into my living room.
Tropical plants and neon lighting
A metal sculpture flanks each side of the staircase, and rocks surround each pedestal. The sculptures draw the eye upward, as do the many floors of this hotel atrium.
The upstairs lobby at The Renaissance Hotel in Austin, Texas
Peachy mauve and white tile has been a constant in this hotel. While the front entrance has been entirely revamped, I’m hoping that some original elements of this gorgeous building remain untouched. Like these gleaming floors!
The beauty of a gleaming marble floor
Here are a few more shots for your lobby daydreaming enjoyment…
I used to collect brochures from this hotel–they were filled with images of similar lobbies across the country. I’m kicking myself for tossing them years ago. At least I’ll always have The Renaissance! Stay tuned for more lobby-fabulous fun all week at Mirror80…
Probably a stupid question, but the plants are all fake though right?
Can you believe they’re real?! They look fake–but they’re just really well maintained! The hotel seems to have chosen really low-maintenance plants that thrive indoors, like the snake plant (I’ve had good luck with this plant). And those colorful alien-looking plants are bromeliads. I didn’t have much luck when I tried to keep those alive indoors, but this hotel seems to have a knack for it!