Bookmark This Coastal-Cool Hotel For Your Next East Coast Getaway
The Massachusetts summer scene has been due for a shake-up for some time now. Of course, there's something to love about the coastline's old time-y B&Bs, campsites, and just-above-basic roadside inns. But Meg Butcher and Rob Blood (of full-service creative shop Butcher & Blood) were looking to do something a bit edgier when they decided to update a midcentury motel in Provincetown. Now called AWOL, the 30-room property opened earlier this summer.
"It was your typical coastal motor lodge," says Blood. "It was dated but well cared for." That left the duo with the freedom to create a hotel that embraces the oceanside — sans cheesy nautical knots or sea glass. They kept the decor simple and earthy with linen bedding and rattan details. Or, in Butcher's words: "Layers of fabric that felt a little bit tattered, a little bit burlap-y, and lived in." The goal, overall, was not to distract from the environs, so each AWOL room has a private outdoor space. "At high tide, it's just beautiful blue water," Blood says.
1. Exterior
Cypress and Brazilian walnut wood were added to the exterior. "It really brightened up the [old] motor lodge," Blood says.
2. Suite
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Considered the hotel's penthouse, the 1,200-square-foot Lark Suite spans the entire third floor, with Serena & Lily chairs and Restoration Hardware dome pendants.
3. Suite
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Daybeds on the roof deck attached to the Lark Suite are from Restoration Hardware.
4. Room
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Most rooms rely on a calming, neutral color palette that let the gorgeous landscape take center stage.
5. Room
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Some rooms begin with a neutral palette and elevate it with details that feel a bit more glamorous. Here, Anthropologie wallpaper in a gold palm print still feels beachy.
6. Room
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Lighting from Roost is a unique find for design fiends because it's "a trade-only store that sells through Modish," says Butcher. Vivre Luxe's high-end throws are on each bed.
7. Pool
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The reimagined property is loaded with quirky, vibrant accents, including pool floats resembling orange slices. Umbrellas were a find Butcher & Blood stumbled upon at a design show in New York City.
8. Outdoor Space
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In designing AWOL, Butcher & Blood wanted to create more outdoor spaces to congregate than you might have found in typical midcentury motor lodges, which were largely designed around family vacations and as a place to sleep, not necessarily hang out.