Dreaming of a Vacation?
Turn your home into a boutique hotel in 10 easy steps.If your summer vacation turned into more of a staycation, look no further than a new boutique hotel for inspiration on how to bring the escapist vibes home. Dreamers Welcome is a new eco-friendly destination located in the heart of historic downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, and is topping our list of retreats that we can’t wait to visit. Housed in a 130-year-old Victorian mansion, the Pinterest-worthy interiors include statement pieces from CB2 and Ikea next to splurge-worthy finds, like Italian marble poufs from 1stdibs. Here, Dreamers Welcome founder, Stephan Watts, sounds off on wallet-friendly design hacks that can be easily recreated in your own space. It’s almost better than being there.
Who knew mink, marble and acrylic would go so well together? For “The Romantic” suite, Watts seamlessly mixed textures and finishes that lend it an extra touch of luxe. The mink faux mohair velvet bed, acrylic bench and marble floor lamp are all from CB2.
Instantly upgrade your bathroom with designer wallpaper, like this splashy palm-print style from Versace’s collaboration with Wallpaper Direct. Sure, you might be spending your Saturday night in the tub, but at least you’ll feel like you’re at a club in 1980s Miami.
Decorating with pink can be tricky; you want it to be sweet not saccharine. On midcentury–style furniture the look is all-grown-up. Watts doubled down with a powder pink sofa from Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop x CB2 collection and a dusty rose backwards couch from Anthropologie—his go-to for affordable furniture with a curated feel. Quality couch-time, indeed.
According to color therapy experts, those with blue bedrooms tend to sleep better, as we associate the shade with clear blue skies, calm blue waters and the like. Design-wise, the color choice has a number of added benefits. For example, at Dreamers Welcome, “The Visionary” suite features 10-foot ceilings; however, by extending the Yves Klein blue paint job from the ceiling to the floor, the room feels cozier.
A floor lamp with a whimsical palm-tree motif is the quickest way to inject your space with sunny California vibes. With a velvet barrel chair nestled under the canopy of leaves, it’s the next best thing to a dose of Vitamin D.
Ditch the curtains and let in the sun with a DIY plywood headboard. By emphasizing natural light in your bedroom without obstructing a window, it’s visually appealing, affordable and practical, too.
Upcycle an out-of-use fireplace with an inexpensive hanging orb pendant light in lieu of wax candles. You’ll achieve the same mood, minus the cost or mess. For maximum effect, line the interior with rose gold mirrors. “It’s like creating your own art installation,” says Watts.
When fresh flowers are scarce, opt for dried arrangements as a seasonless and sustainable alternative. The look was all the rage in the ’80s, and judging by the larger-than-life blooms sprouting up at Dreamers Welcome, it’s poised to make a comeback. No green thumb required.
Interior designers are always looking for creative ways to conceal a TV, which can be an eyesore in any setting. Watts and his partner Roy Delgado, who is also an artist, created custom fabric covers reminiscent of mini tapestries to hang over every flatscreen.
With clean lines and a lightwood finish, the custom-designed closets at Dreamers Welcome have a distinctly Scandinavian feel. Recreate the look at home by removing the doors of your closet and let clothes serve as decor. (Just make sure you do a thorough wardrobe cleanse first.)
To find out, White + Warren’s Editorial Manager, Maria Ward, spent a week in the season’s most feel-good shades. Here’s what happened next.