In the heart of Savannah’s Historic District, The Douglas was thoughtfully updated by a team of Lowcountry preservationists (Reggie Gibson Architects, Glenn Keyes Architects, and designer Kirby Caldwell) to honor the structure’s 1853 bones while creating spaces that encourage lingering. “We really wanted it to feel like someone’s impeccably designed home that you are invited into, with furniture and lighting that have been collected over hundreds of years,” says Caldwell. “But it also needed to be pared back and calming, with lots of texture and warmth.”
Marrying furnishings and art from the 1930s—a nod to the building’s history as The Lester boardinghouse—with saturated colors, soft linens, silky mohair, and caned furniture, she fashioned “a laid-back opulence that feels in tune with Savannah’s golden era.” When you step through the grand front door, a sunlit and sage-drenched living room with plush seating immediately conveys a sense of ease. In the adjacent bar and breakfast space, a zinc counter, velvet stools, and banquettes with bistro tables yield a cozy setting that seems more like you’re gathering around a kitchen island than a hotel bar.
Original heart-pine floors, transom windows, and sculptural moldings anchor the architecture, while playful tones soften each room. Antique and vintage pieces layered throughout reinforce a distinctive sense of hospitality. These one-of-a-kind touches extend to the 16 guest rooms, which are each uniquely designed to balance comfort with quiet luxury. “It’s like the way you want your house to feel,” says Caldwell…