Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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open studio Imagine a fitness center outfitted not with white walls, but with rich textiles, warm colors, and one-of-a-kind artwork. Cate Brinch, founder and owner of Boston's first freestanding bike studio, Recycle Studio, provides exactly this in her recently renovated South End location. Brinch worked closely with her cousin John Robshaw, an interior and textile designer, to create "a true community space that calms you and lets you disconnect from your day," she says. Adds Robshaw, whose clients include Carly Simon and Cindy Crawford, "I am inspired by my travels to create unique textiles that end up in special spaces"—like the lush fabrics and pillows he layered throughout the studio. 643A Tremont St.; recycle-studio.com Re:SouRceS Redesign of the Times The Hotel CommonwealtH reviTalized Kenmore Square when iT opened. now iT'S aiming To wow a Second Time wiTh a $50 million renovaTion. What's in a lobby? At the Hotel Commonwealth, situated at the entrance of Kenmore Square and Fenway Park and hous- ing three of the hottest spots in town—Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Bar, and The Hawthorne—the entryway sets the tone for the neighborhood. New York's Dash Design oversaw the $1 million lobby makeover, modernizing the space with elegant houndstooth and plaid fabrics and freestanding check- in stands. But the lobby is just the first step in a $50 million renovation and expansion of the hotel, led by the architec- tural firm Group One Partners. A new wing with 96 additional rooms is set to open in December, featuring a Fenway Park Suite and 2,000 square feet of outdoor terrace space—perhaps even an elevated view of the Green Monster. 500 Commonwealth Ave., 617-933-5000; hotelcommonwealth.com BC // special guest // Beachy Keen Katie Ridder brings island chic to the Designer Luncheon at the annual Antiques & Design Show of Nantucket on July 29. Sponsored by the Nantucket Historical Association, the event will feature a multimedia presen- tation by Ridder, who has created a line of fabric and wallpaper with Holland & Sherry and completed design projects around the world, including Japanese pavilions, Hamptons estates, and Park Avenue apartments. She is also the author of the design book Rooms (with Heather Smith MacIsaac). "Nantucket has a sense of place that is increas- ingly rare," says Ridder. "Antiques have a great history here, but modern and informal furniture also belong." Great Harbor Yacht Club, 96 Washington St., Nantucket; nantuckethistorical association.com // innovate // The WIcKeR Men Pack away the fussy wicker furniture in favor of Madbury Road's new summer collection. The online company's founders, Brady Bartlett and Tim Clement, met at the University of New Hampshire, where they lived in an apartment on—you guessed it—Madbury Road. Both have a background in furniture design and business development. Their Try Us at Home service allows clients to test-drive furniture without fees or obligation. Our favorite? The six-person Burmese teak dining set, made with sustainably farmed wood and featuring a steel frame and stainless steel chairs. 30 Martin St., Cumberland, RI, 866-331-6042; madburyroad.com A cycling studio where you can flop onto comfy pillows after your spin class? Count us in. big deal Katie Ridder mixed modern and traditional pieces in her design for this living room. HAUTE PROPERTY Design Spotlight 114 boStoNcoMMoN-MAgAzINe.coM