From Campy to Classy: The Modern Hotel in Boise

 A recent road trip from Albuquerque to Seattle offered an unrivaled array of eye candy: plunging canyons, wind carved rock formations, star crusted skies, and the occasional modern marvel.  Topping the list of manmade spectacles was The Modern Hotel in Boise, a rehabbed Travel Lodge better suited for craft cocktails than a continental breakfast. 

Fresh white paint and contemporary furnishings lend purity to the traditionally seedy space, while innovative design details give character. The courtyard is dotted with fire pits salvaged from a defunct swimming pool, the balcony is emblazoned with sculptural steel cutouts, and the exterior staircase flaunts an angular wood and metal enclosure. 

The juxtaposition of linear and campy; refined and tired; clean and novel is not inherently good. Yet with proper balance of whitespace and design details, The Modern Hotel manages to defy expectation. This success is more than a visual spectacle- it is a lesson for any home renovation process.  

Any space (even a Travel Lodge) bears the potential to be transformed without a total overhaul. By simply toning down less favorable design elements and investing your resources in a few strong details, you can reconcile and redefine your space. 

Mary Anne Carter

Assistant Director of Marketing