Sensory design

From hotels to restaurants, residential to retail, the creative philosophy of Sims Patrick Studio – founded in 1999 in Atlanta by Libby Patrick, who leads the firm together with Jenny Rutledge and Melissa Wylie – stems from observation and exploration. Art, books, music, travel, history, nature and culture become inspirations for a refined, intimate approach to design that comes alive in hotels like The Grady in Louisville, Kentucky, the historic Bellevue Inn at Belleair, Florida, the Sonesta Resort at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, or in “cabinets de curiosités” such as Bijou at the event BDNY. “We are explorers, researchers and observers. We find the story’s thread by searching everywhere – on our travels and here at home, in our inner creative worlds and recorded in books, music and art. For every project, it’s there; we only have to look.” The founder Libby Patrick talks about the studio with IFDM.design.

When did you start Sims Patrick Studio and how do you define your design philosophy?
I started Sims Patrick Studio in early 2000. I was a Principal at TVS and left on a leave of absence because we had a young son and I wanted to have the flexibility to spend time with him. My design philosophy always revolves around a meaningful narrative. Having curiosity about the audience, the building and context and the significant influences from the culture, nature and history that surrounds the location.

Does the solution meet the goals of the narrative?
To me, our design process is similar to the medical profession in that there is always a problem to solve or an opportunity to achieve something extraordinary. We listen and research to find the answer by extracting the information to form a solution that works with the story that we develop. Once the narrative is set, we develop a 3 dimensional solution. We go back and forth with the development of the interior architecture and the finishes, furniture and artwork. Before thinking in color, we visualize the placement of dark vs light, polished vs matte, old vs. new, high vs low, textured vs. smooth etc. The spaces and finishes can be any color or any neutral once you determine the interior language; the shape and form of the space and furnishings as well as where to place the emphasis and where to have a pause.

Glenn Hotel, Atlanta, USA

From the hospitality world – bars, restaurants, hotels, spas – to the luxury world – residential, retail… is there a common fil rouge or a representative element that defines your creative vision?
I love using the metaphor of the phases of someone’s life as a filter for all of our work, from play to practicality to wisdom. We perform our lives in three stages: As children, we love to play, laugh and be surprised. As we mature, we step up to the footlights to become more practical, responsible and structured. As we grow older, we take our bow of wisdom (hopefully), good character and confidence, despite our scars and wrinkles. I like to infuse these three parts into each of our projects: 1) Childlike whimsy through the shapes, forms, pops of color and surprises 2) Maturity through a framework of organized lines, classic proportions, beautiful joinery and distinctive details and 3) Finally, depths of character through finishes with texture and patina.

Important names such as JHM Hotels, Paramount Hospitality Management, Hilton, Marriott, Sonesta, Hyatt are your clients. How did you start these collaborations?
We are fortunate that we have received much of our initial work through referrals. I have always said that great relationships are as important to us as great design. We work hard to make sure that our clients get added value from working with us through our experience, research, creative problem solving and delivery from start to finish. We are very proud of our long term relationships and do not take them for granted.

The Grady Hotel, Louisville, USA

Color is a fundamental element in your designs. How do you select colors and how does this play a role in your projects?
We love the use of color. We typically pull colors based on the narrative. We start with the local flora and fauna in the location of the project. Something that seems appropriate, energizing or calming. It changes per project, based on the mood and the story that we are trying to tell. One project may be seeped in color whereas another may be mostly neutral with accents of color in the accessories and artwork, and another may be a combination of both. We use color mainly in the items that are fashion forward, things that can be changed out easily but there are always exceptions!

Bijou, BDNY 2021

What were your inspirations for this spectacular “box of curiosity?”
This futuristic speakeasy, inspired by the designs from the roaring 20’s, allowed us to feature our comprehensive design concept and skills while collaborating closely with our industry partners to give attention to and highlight their products. This took a lot of teamwork and collaboration with manufacturers that could create custom products that we designed to make the full concept come to fruition. We were able to create a very focused environment that was fully branded with many layers of storytelling and discovery to appeal to the senses. We included emerald green tones, comfortable and beautifully detailed lounge furnishings, 20’s inspired costumes on flapper ladies serving drinks and dancing on the stage, digital artwork, carefully curated lively music, dramatic custom lighting and the signature Bijou cocktail!

What design are you working on now?
Currently we are working on a boutique hotel in the historic district of Roswell, Georgia; an Atlanta seafood restaurant called Siren which is inspired by the dangerous female Sirens of Greek Mythology; a custom Embassy Suites on the river in Chattanooga, TN; a high tech hotel featuring NFT artwork and a cryptocurrency experience… and much more!