NoMad’s New MADE Hotel
A design-forward boutique destination in NYC’s ever-developing central neighborhood
Set back from 29th Street, close to Broadway, the exterior of the brand new MADE Hotel exudes the warmth one will quickly find within. This ground-up build, the first hotel of developer Sam Gelin, seems small from the street, appearing to house only two dozen or so rooms. The boutique actually has 108—with sizes ranging from standard to an impressive master suite. Gelin’s certainly aiming to appeal to the design crowd. Stepping in the front door, there are three types of reclaimed walnut composing the lobby and communal coffee shop. As the hotelier makes clear, this property is also about the social experience. Much like its NoMad neighbors, MADE supports its rooms with an array of public spaces. NoMad used to be an ideal place to grab a hotel room because of accessibility to both uptown and downtown Manhattan, now (thanks in part to the contributions of MADE) it’s a great place to stay because there’s much to do right there.
Before making one’s way to their room, guests pass through the aforementioned coffee shop, complete with large retractable windows and a welcoming community table. Just beyond, there’s a lobby bar (aptly named Lobby Bar) with a fine spirits selection and beer on tap. Just above, there’s Patio—a secluded outdoor retreat. Just below, however, there’s Ferris—a restaurant spearheaded by Head Chef Greg Proechel and Food and Beverage Director Charles Seich. The former (who oversees all of MADE’s food offerings) comes to the hotel from Le Turle and plans on a menu of global cuisines drawn from seasonal ingredients. The latter is a Major Food Group alum who goes so far as to imagine garden-to-glass cocktails. This team, rounded out by husband-and-wife duo Jeremy Oertel and Natasha David (who will run the bar program) demonstrates Gelin’s commitment to quality. His ambition here is to provide the utmost quality to guests, and the neighborhood, as well. Public spaces, both indoor and outdoor, continue to crop up throughout—each with their own visual language.
MADE features a variety of room types—in an array of primary colorway themes—all of which have floor-to-ceiling windows. Standard rooms clock in at 230 square feet and feature a king bed (all mattresses are Sapira by Leesa). There are expected features like drop-down desks and Samsung flat-screen TVs, but it’s elements like anodized bronze and standard brass fixtures, exposed concrete ceilings and real French oak walls that lend true flavor. Bathrooms are meant to feel like a spa with a hand-carved sink and warm, comfortable lighting as opposed to that familiar flicker of fluorescence. Of note, the rooms sport tall stainless steel mirrors—more or less like a polished chef’s knife. Balconies can be found throughout, but the 16th floor suite features a corner balcony, and the 17th floor master suite offers a 40-foot balcony with sliding glass doors. Here, one also finds a custom concrete tub and a Belvedere Soapstone sink.
Gelin worked with LA-based Studio MAI to develop the aesthetic. Despite attention to detail, these rooms don’t feel over-the-top. There’s a desirable quietness to the design, even when at its most playful. From the hand-painted wall-tiles to handwoven fabrics, there’s evidence of makers more so than fabrication. Further, there’s a simplicity to the layout that maximizes space.
“I think it’s the heart of New York City,” Gelin explains to CH about his motivation for developing in NoMad. A broader motivation, however, was quality. “It was important to me that people get value for what they give,” he continues. “Nothing disappoints me more than going to a hotel that I’m excited about and feeling like I didn’t get value. I wanted to make sure that people came in here and had an experience where, upon leaving, they said, ‘Wow!”” Gelin truly weighed in on every decision‚ including the typography used on-site (a variation of Plaque Découpée Universelle, or PDU), but he insists that a hotel is more than design; it must be about the highest service.
There’s much to love here but MADE’s crown jewel might just be Good Behavior. A panoramic rooftop bar with a direct view of the Empire State Building—and the expanse of Manhattan to the south—Good Behavior serves up tiki-themed drinks. The venue’s populated with comfy furniture and features two substantial outdoor areas. There are plenty of roof decks in NYC, but there isn’t one quite like this featuring a semi-circle of eastward-facing glass, some 18 stories up.
MADE Hotel is located at 44 W 29th St, New York. Standard room rates start around $350.
Images courtesy of the MADE Hotel
