Founder and President of Cornerstone Interior Design Suzie Hall recently spoke with Stacy Garcia for Design Uncensored. Highly regarded as a mastermind expert in the field of interior design and procurement, Hall gives insight into how she sees the hospitality industry reshaping and some trends we can expect to see!
3 Key Takeaways
1. RESHAPING HOSPITALITY
After 32 years of designing hospitality interiors, Hall certainly sees things changing in the industry due to the pandemic. First and foremost, she mentions that they still want the guests to have the entire hospitality experience where they are greeted by an actual person and feel they can be serviced when needed. They want the experience to be warm and welcoming to lessen people’s fear and anxiety with things like comfortable textiles and furnishings that are cleanable and healthy. One of the areas that will change the most is the lobby which Hall says will be socially distanced in layout. She said they are currently doing a lot of research on this idea!
2. FLEXIBLE DESIGN
Hall says her firm is currently designing with the idea of “guiding through flexibility”. This type of design speaks to social distancing as certain furnishings are smaller and/or easily movable. For example, former community tables have become small two-top or four-top surfaces to allow less people to sit at one table. Foldable Flip-flop tables will be easier to move and they won’t take up as much space when in storage. This design concept will ultimately allow for less contact as there will be more free flow space in an area.
3. MOVING TOWARD MODULAR
For those who don’t know, Modular design in hospitality is the concept of independently creating and manufacturing each room of a wood and steel frame, then having them individually trucked to the construction site so that they can be separately modified or replaced if need be in the future. Hall has been designing a lot of these types of properties and says it’s because they do have helpful advantages such as quieter and safer working conditions for those who construct each piece. They also design geodesic domes which are a unique modular solution popular for many restaurants.
About Suzie Hall
Suzie Hall, ASID, LEED AP ID+C, is highly regarded as a mastermind expert in the field of interior design and procurement, with a specialty in modular design, and is one of the most sought-after designers and consultants in the West. Hall is that unique blend of a creative visionary and left-brained facilitator. Results-oriented, innovative, and a strategic thinker, Hall has led numerous design teams to award-winning results over her 32-year career. Passionate, intuitive and communicative, Hall brings a powerful combination of skills to each relationship and project she undertakes. Her portfolio spans the corporate, hospitality, luxury residential, and multi-family markets.
