To honor its famous patron, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and celebrate the release of Baz Luhrmann’s big-screen adaptation of The Great Gatsby, New York City’s Plaza will debut The Fitzgerald Suite on May 10, 2013. Designed by Catherine Martin, costume designer, production designer and co-producer of the movie, the 700-square-foot suite on the 18th floor of The Plaza has been transformed into an art deco space that channels the dynamism of the Jazz Age using authentic, period-inspired pieces from luxury home furnishings brand RH, Restoration Hardware.
We hear the suite was furnished by RH to reflect the luxury and style of the upper class during the time period…but it’s far from old-fashioned, coming complete with a Samsung 3D TV (where, inevitably, guests will be able to watch the movie when it is released on Blu-Ray).
“The Fitzgerald Suite at The Plaza is a suite that F. Scott Fitzgerald and his character Jay Gatsby would be at home in – a dramatic deco space that evokes the danger, the sexiness, the glamour and a certain nostalgia for the hedonistic days of the 1920s, while still encapsulating all the comforts expected at The Plaza,” Martin said. “I was thrilled to collaborate with RH for its unique stylistic point of view and period-inspired collections that translate so well for modern-day living.”
The suite has been built from the ground up with new oak floors, wall coverings from Catherine Martin Home, custom built-in shelves and a comprehensive range of well-curated furnishings, lighting, bath fixtures, bedding and unique accessories from RH. Channeling art deco style, dome ceilings surrounded by an antique mirror showcase RH’s 1920s Odeon Glass Fringe Chandeliers distinguished by optical-quality prisms, arranged in concentric rings that hang in counterpoint to the iron frame. The living space has RH pieces such like the Madsen Leather Sofa, while the bathrooms will be outfitted with RH fixtures and Pharmacy Vanities. A focal point in the study, RH’s Mayfair Steamer Desk draws inspiration from antique steamer trunks, calling to mind the luggage once used by rail or ocean voyagers. Throughout the suite, rugs from Catherine Martin Deco Collection for Designer Rugs adorn the floors.
Perks for fans of the book or movie: The bedspread and towels are custom embroidered with the Jay Gatsby and Daisy-inspired monogram, which are his initials outlined by a daisy flower, seen frequently throughout the film. The walls are decorated with portraits of the 2013 film cast taken by Hollywood photographer Douglas Kirkland, images of Fitzgerald and his wife, and 1920s photos from Vogue and Vanity Fair, while the bookshelves are filled with the author’s complete works and books that inspired the filmmakers throughout production. Guests can find entertainment from RH’s vintage board games, including Monopoly, which originated during the era and iconic Gramophone-shaped iPhone and iPad speakers, custom Tiffany & Co. playing cards, and coffee table books. To complete the experience, guests are welcomed to the suite with the Moët Imperial Gatsby, a special champagne cocktail crafted exclusively for The Plaza by mixologist Jim Meehan.
Visitors to the New York icon are welcomed to experience the style and glamour of Baz Luhrmann’s film and F. Scott Fitzgerald through a display in the Fifth Avenue Foyer of The Plaza. At the center of the display are the costumes designed by Catherine Martin and worn by the cast of the film – Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton and Elizabeth Debicki – during the climactic confrontation scene that unfolds at The Plaza. In an exclusive behind-the-scenes video, guests will be able to see the intricacies to how Martin, with the help of the hotel, was able to recreate an authentic suite inspired by The Plaza’s history that also emphasized the tension amongst the characters, all on the Australian soundstage where the movie was filmed.
Reservations are currently being accepted for stays starting on May 10, the day Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of “The Great Gatsby” hits theaters nationwide.