Michael S. Smith Renovates Seven Suites at The Lowell Hotel

Designer Michael S. Smith, alongside co-owner Dina De Luca Chartouni and in-house designer Julio E. Jiménez, completed a renovation of seven rooms and suites at The Lowell Hotel on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The 74-room boutique hotel, located near Central Park, will celebrate its centennial in 2027. The six-month overhaul included new white oak flooring, Calacatta Monet marble in bathrooms, cove lighting in pre-war beamed ceilings, and bespoke furniture such as down-filled sofas and club chairs. Wood-burning fireplaces with marble mantelpieces from Jamb in London and built-in bookshelves curated by Jiménez add a homey feel. The refreshed spaces feature muted cream palettes, classic molding, and herringbone floors, maintaining the pre-war vernacular while incorporating modern amenities like built-in speakers, televisions hidden in mirrors, and motorized blackout shades. Smith emphasized a "constant, quiet incremental evolution" rather than radical change. The hotel announced the completion at the end of April.