Newly opened this spring, the uber chic, booze-themed lodge Vandyke Bed & Beverage is owned by Justin Prince and Doug Martin, who owns Geist bar and restaurant.
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Megan Cencula
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The team collaborated with local interior designer Brooke Prince to bring the concept to life. Brooke infused a hip vibe into all eight guest rooms, each of which captures the essence of a different spirit—rum, tequila, gin, vodka, wine, beer, Champagne, and whiskey.
“We went with colors and patterns that went with the design focus of the room and jumped off from there,” Prince says.
Prince worked alongside Vandyke’s property manager Tinsley Dempsey who curated the art collection, which showcases several works from local artists. The large bar installation by Dustin Hedrick pays tribute to the legacy of Nashville’s musical history.
“East Nashville has always been where artists and musicians have chosen to live,” Dempsey points out. “I think having local art work is important because it gives an authenticity to the space, and elevates the hotel and bar experience. Culture and community bring soul to a space.”
Megan Cencula
This space exudes soul, from the patterned cement tiles in the bathrooms to the eclectic wallpaper selections and the variety of real plants placed throughout the B&B.
“[We wanted to] give each room a different feeling and evoke different attitudes so that people can have fun choosing the room,” Brooke says.
Not only will guests enjoy deciding where to lay their heads, they may never want to leave. Upon entering the lobby, highlighted by emerald green hues and a herringbone patterned floor, guests will be directed to the bar to check in. After sipping one of Vandyke’s signature Trashmopolitans, guests walk through a modern courtyard to their room.
Megan Cencula
The Rum room welcomes guests into what feels like a tropical oasis. Travelers can kick off their shoes and relax in the orange vintage leather chair or partake in another cocktail served in the vintage Piaggio Ape that’s been transformed into an outdoor bar, located steps outside their ground floor room.
Patterns in the adjoining Tequila room reflect the desert, including a peach-colored accent wall reminiscent of the Grand Canyon mountainside and a hand drawn illustration of a Saguaro cactus by local artist Emily Miller (who literally lives down the street). Even the rug is from the desert: Egypt, specifically.
“We wanted to put things in the rooms that maybe everyone doesn’t have in their homes so that when you stay here, it’s a unique experience,” Brooke says.
Megan Cencula
On the second floor, multiple retreats await with views of the Five Points neighborhood and beyond. A midcentury modern dwelling known as the Gin room is covered in turquoise and navy blue hues mixed with pops of mustard tones. A brass light fixture with smoked glass globes hangs above the sofa, illuminating wall-to-wall, black and white plaid carpet.
“We didn’t want to be a typical hotel because we’re not large,” notes Brooke. “Being smaller allowed us to customize a little bit more and to add in some more of the thoughtful touches.”
Thoughtful touches are further evident in the “top-shelf” suites on the third floor.
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The Champagne room design is described by the Vandyke team as “Paris meets Brooklyn.” A pink velvet sofa sits in the room’s center across from a repurposed loft window from historic Cummins Station.
Next door is the Whiskey suite, a room full of eye candy. A colorful abstract painting by local artist Jodi Hays adorns the wall connecting two bathrooms. The green velvet sectional demands attention, as do the black-and-white curtains in the bedroom that “look like a vintage floral pattern at first glance but actually they feature a group of women sitting in a circle,” Brooke says. With accommodations for six, Whiskey also has a private terrace suitable for an outdoor dinner party.
There is one thing for sure—picking a favorite room is tricky, especially for Prince.
“Champagne and Tequila are definitely two of my favorites, but I do like them all. Next week it could be different,” she chuckles. “I think it makes it a fun thing to come back and try.”
Vandyke Bed & Beverage, 105 S, 11th St., 615-730-5023; vandykenashville.com