Richardson Sadeki Tames Chelsea Hotel Bar

Three distinctive areas channel a speakeasy, a cabaret, and a gentlemen's lounge.

Meaghan O'Neill -- Interior Design, 3/23/2007

At the infamous Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan, nothing ever happens in an ordinary way. So when it came time to revamp the basement-level lounge, owners Charles Ferri and Vekrum Kaushik tapped architectural firm Richardson Sadeki to transform the boutique-sized boite into an offbeat retreat.

Richardson Sadeki, whose previous clients have included Bliss Spa, VirginAtlantic, BMW, and Prada, turned the space, known as the Star Lounge, into an intimate, 150-person haven for late-night revelry comprised of three distinctive areas suggestive of a 1920's speakeasy, a swank cabaret club, and a posh gentlemen's lounge.

The first space, named “Room 100” after the fateful guest room where punk rocker Sid Vicious allegedly murdered his girlfriend Nancy Spungen, is the VIP area, lit by three backlit, silk-screened chandeliers. The next space is for dancing, where guests are encouraged to step up on the banquettes and get their groove on, while their silhouettes are projected onto a wall. The third space is a retro-styled gentleman's bar with a zebrawood bar and wrought-iron bar stools.