The Whitby Hotel review, New York: A bold, brave and beautiful property

THE PLACE

The Whitby Hotel, New York

THE LOCATION

The hotel occupies an enviable spot between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in midtown Manhattan, three blocks south of Central Park.

THE SPACE

This is the second Firmdale property in New York by husband-and-wife hoteliers Tim and Kit Kemp and their 10th worldwide. Much has been written about Kit's bold use of colours, textures and patterns and she's upped the ante again here, covering almost every surface of the hotel with an astonishing array of contemporary art (some of which she designed herself). In the lobby alone, there's a ceiling-mounted multi-coloured loom by up-and-coming artist Hermione Skye, a video installation of a man inside a grandfather clock by designer Maarten Baas and three striking alabaster sculptures by Stephen Cox. The whimsical theme continues next door in The Drawing Room, where a violin case plays sounds from the English seaside town of Whitby, and downstairs in the book-lined library and 130-seat private cinema, whose adjoining bar features a towering wooden bear. All in all, it's a delightful assault on the senses and a refreshing respite from the predictable palette of greys, browns and beiges found in so many upscale hotels.

THE ROOM

All of the property's 86 rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows, marble-swathed bathrooms and sumptuous beds with colourful, oversized headboards. My junior suite also has a private terrace, a well-stocked library and a lavish standalone bathtub. Once again, there's a riot of colours and patterns at work (think gold fabric-lined walls, a coral pink sofa and bold contemporary artworks), but the space still feels inviting and homely. Needless to say there's all the expected gadgetry, including a Samsung flat screen TV, Bose speaker, Blu-ray player (with free movie rentals) and USB charging points.

THE FOOD