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Sweat the Small Stuff

March 25, 2008

By Tara Mastrelli
Photography by Matthew Millman Photography

To create a brand for the young, urban set, Auberge Resorts turned to San Francisco interior design firm Dowling Kimm Studios. "They wanted it to be something that was hip and modern and young like the Delano in Miami, but something that was more pertinent to the area," says lead designer Lorissa Kimm of Solage Calistoga, her firm's first completed hospitality project. "They also wanted it to be very green." And though LEED certification turned out not to be a good fit with the layout, the 89-room cottage-style resort and spa does obviously value sustainability.

Thanks to local hot springs, geothermal energy heats various parts of the resort, including the floors and soaking pools at the 20,000-square-foot spa, and solar panels contribute to the resort's energy needs. "We tried to use as many natural materials as possible," says Kimm, noting natural wool upholstery, low-VOC paints, reclaimed lumber, hemp curtains in the spa, and a conscious effort to select manufacturers with green processes in place. "It's a lot of little things."

To meet the design brief "urban loft meets the country barn," massive multi-function headboards (which include the minibar, closet, and vanity) separate the bedroom and bathroom in the loft-like guestrooms, and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors open onto an outdoor living room space. Bathroom amenities are locally sourced and all natural; housekeeping products are non-toxic and biodegradable; an ozone-based system helps keep water clean and minimizes chlorine use in the pools; the restaurant serves locally sourced and organic produce; room service is delivered via bicycles; and guests have complimentary use of cruiser bikes to pedal around the resort and nearby Calistoga.

For more info, visit www.solagecalistoga.com or www.dowlingkimmstudios.com.

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