Some chairs look so darn elegant that even though they were primarily designed with residential interior decoration in mind, they would still not look out of place in a hospitality setting, such as a hotel or inn. Consider the Salvador Sofa designed by Spaniard Carles Riart. Though he designed it for the home of someone named Salvador Pedreño (hence the name of the sofa), I think it would do nicely for hotel seating, maybe in the lobby of a small boutique hotel or inn.
The sofa’s large proportions and graceful style were inspired by Riart’s own Vallvidrera design, and he conceptualized it as an objet d’art – not merely functional but beautiful to look at as well. That’s why I think it would do well in a small hotel’s lobby. It would help form part of guests’ initial impressions of a hotel, and what better way to do that than to give them something elegant and impressive to look at when they walk through the doors?
The sofa is characterized by stylized legs, arms that curve outwards, and a high, strong back that provides solid support. The upholstery can be described as dignified, and it can be in one color or two. The sofa and an accompanying pouf are not new designs by Riart. Manufactured by Santa & Cole, they are from the late 1980s, a time when Riart created custom-made designs for certain public and private projects. Riart disclosed that his pieces were designed for a certain purpose and setting in mind, and that the sketches he made aren’t just plans, but the designs themselves.
Functionality, uniqueness, and elegance – these are the hallmarks of Riart’s work. It seems to me these same characteristics would serve to benefit hotels and other hospitality settings that want to convey a sense of tasteful and effortless luxury.
