At Coverings 2016, we honored fifteen outstanding projects that demonstrated spectacular craftsmanship and creativity in the use of tile and stone. The winner for Sustainable Commercial Design was Fairfield Inn & Suites in Waterbury, VT. Designed by LHK Design, this new hotel maintained the brand’s signature features while incorporating rustic charm that defines this beautiful New England town.

The design concept reflected many nature-inspired materials that were indigenous to Vermont, and LHK Design ensured that it met the area’s sustainable standards as well. This includes incorporation of products that optimize energy performance for floors and walls using thermo conductivity, and green cleaning so there’s little exposure to hazardous cleaning chemicals.

We connected with Lori Kramer, IIDA, LEED AP, and the founder of LHK Design, to discuss the project and her experience at Coverings 2016.

Tell us the story that inspired your submission for the 2016 Coverings CID Awards.
The new Fairfield Inn & Suites in Waterbury, VT, features a variety of types of tile and natural stone to drive our design concept, which reflected many nature-inspired materials indigenous to Vermont.  With the help of Cancos Tile & Stone, we created a warm and inviting rustic lodge with our own inspired custom layout of their Albero 6 wood look plank and parquet porcelain tile (in color: Fresh).  We used the plank tiles in different directions as a way to frame and designate spaces within the open plan of the lobby, breakfast area, corridors and elevator lobby on the first floor. The rustic detailing and deep texture of the Albero 6 tiles in both plank and parquet shapes were a perfect solution for the lobby to create a snow lodge feel and also withstand the snow and salt tracked in during the ski season in Vermont.  Throughout the hotel’s public areas, we featured Alpine Ledgestone cultured stone supplied by Boral Stone Products on various walls to create a natural, yet stark contrast to the wood-inspired tile flooring.

Bernadette White at Cancos Stone & Tile suggested I submit the Fairfield Inn & Suites Waterbury VT project for the 2016 Coverings Installation and Design Awards.

The best part of being an interior designer is to see my ideas and vision become a tangible reality.  I envision every detail of my design intent and how each piece fits together to create a distinct sense of place.  After all of these years, it is still incredibly exciting during each new project to watch the design I envisioned slowly come together during construction and become a reality upon completion.  I love walking through the space with my client when the project is finished to capture all of these details. They’ve been such an integral part of the entire design process, and it’s incredibly rewarding for both of us.

How was your experience as a CID Award Winner at Coverings 2016?
I was honored and thrilled to win a Coverings CID award, especially for sustainability as it pertains to the Fairfield Inn & Suites Waterbury VT project.  I am a LEED Accredited Professional, and I seek to incorporate sustainability into every single project to create design solutions that enhance the quality of life.  Sustainability, as wellness for the planet, goes hand in hand with wellness for the individual.

This was my first time attending the Coverings show, and I discovered so many products that I’ve since specified on projects.

You can still submit a project for the 2017 CID Awards.