Once you walk into the front door, stepping past that portal you enter into a space you’ve have never seen. With mouths open and looks of wonder, all that enter, look up and see the twinkle of light shining through strands of crystal that hang in front of them. In 1910 when the hotel was built, it was important to impress the guests as they entered, setting the tone of the total experience. Guests and visitors stepped out of their world and into a pampered and opulent space. Your eye moves up as you look over the lobby and the chandeliers are the first item you see. As impressive as they are, other equally impressive chandeliers hung in the lobby. Our current ones first hung in the fine dining restaurant that ran along St. Peter, not in the lobby. In the 1982 renovation of the Saint Paul Hotel the chandeliers were moved from their last location in the ballroom to the lobby.
Sarah Lee, the New York designer that put together the look of the new old hotel, decided that these chandeliers should be in the rightful location, gracing the lobby. With only 3, she had to have 2 additional ones made to add symmetry to the space. The original price had gone up considerably from $700 to $7000 but price was no object for the impressive look she wanted. Standing by the front desk you can look toward the elevators and see 2 originals and 2 copies. Such a good job was done on the replicas, that only the sound of the crystal as you listen to the tingle, can you find a difference. Just to the left of the entrance, another graces the space above the grand staircase. Ms. Lee loved this lighting so much, that her next property in Washington DC, the Willard Hotel, had 8 of them installed into its ballroom.
Afternoon tea is served in the lobby weekly, and all the guests have an opportunity to be part of history as they sip their tea under some of the most beautiful lighting in the world.
Sarah Lee, the New York designer that put together the look of the new old hotel, decided that these chandeliers should be in the rightful location, gracing the lobby. With only 3, she had to have 2 additional ones made to add symmetry to the space. The original price had gone up considerably from $700 to $7000 but price was no object for the impressive look she wanted. Standing by the front desk you can look toward the elevators and see 2 originals and 2 copies. Such a good job was done on the replicas, that only the sound of the crystal as you listen to the tingle, can you find a difference. Just to the left of the entrance, another graces the space above the grand staircase. Ms. Lee loved this lighting so much, that her next property in Washington DC, the Willard Hotel, had 8 of them installed into its ballroom.
Afternoon tea is served in the lobby weekly, and all the guests have an opportunity to be part of history as they sip their tea under some of the most beautiful lighting in the world.
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