This post is in partnership with The Laylow.
Happy Aloha Friday! Those of you that have been following me for awhile know that I try to go back to Hawaii as often as I can. Unfortunately, Life (and finances) got in the way and it’s been a tragic two years since I have been able to return. However, I finally made it back a few weeks ago and it was sooooo very much needed. The last time I was on Oahu, I was so excited to see all the new changes happening in Honolulu and Waikiki. With this trip, it was very interesting to see some of the results.
One of the latest developments is The Laylow, which is part of the Autograph Collection of hotels by Marriott.
When I was looking into new places to stay in Waikiki, The Laylow immediately caught my eye. There’s a distinct mid-century vibe, but done with a modern, fun, and still authentically “hawaiian” approach.
I was really curious about what the story was in the creation of the aesthetic, and I was fortunate enough to get some first-hand answers by the team that was behind it, Portland based design studio, OMFG.
Co-founder and Creative Director of OMFG, Fritz Mesenbrink was kind enough to answer some of my questions.
1) How did the collaboration with the Laylow come about? How early on in the process were you involved?
We were brought in by Rockbridge (the developer) to help create a brand story and attach that to some overarching concepts for the hotel. The hotel was originally built in 1969. It was called the Coral Reef Hotel. Later it eventually became the Aqua Wave Waikiki. When we came on to the project it had three model rooms and everything else hadn’t been touched in over 10 years. We pitched a brand concept that Rockbridge (the developer and our client) loved and at that point we started over. From there we got hired to do the interior design as well. The timeline was a scramble as we were behind when we started, but we were involved early enough to have a big impact on where things were going.
2) Was there an initial direction/concept presented to you when you started, or did you have the opportunity to come up with it and present that? Were there multiple directions initially or was there always one clear vision?
“We were able to come in, do an audit of the current hotel market in Waikiki and look for opportunities of differentiation. We came up with two concepts that focused on those opportunities and ended up with a combination of both ideas in the end. They worked quite well together so it didn’t feel Frankenstein-y, just made it deeper and better.”
3) Can you describe a bit of the final vision for the hotel, and what inspired it?
“Well, we really wanted to make a place for locals and travelers alike. We also really wanted the property to feel innately Hawaiian, but not vintage Hawaiian—trying to strike the right balance between tradition and stereotype or classic and cliché. We focused a lot on materials with an organic quality that made sense there, but didn’t limit ourselves to things like Koa and Monkey Pod wood. The initial concepts for the property were to play into the building’s architecture and the architecture of many places on Kuhio (much of which was developed in the mid-century modern era) and also to create a tropical respite from the bustle of Waikiki within our 2nd floor lobby level, so you could come up the escalator from the sidewalk and escape the city a bit.” Simply put, we say “mid-century modern inspiration meets present day Hawaiian charm.'”
4) Whenever working with interiors, there always seems to be something unexpected that comes up. What were the challenges that you encountered and/or were there any unforeseen problems that came about during the process of renovating or designing?
“There were so many unforeseen challenges with this project, especially given the tight timeline. We came in late and actually started with the vanity, which is not the typical place to start on a hotel. The vanities were first in order to get them made and installed in coordination with plumbing, which happens much earlier than the rest of the furniture in the rooms. We started designing around the time that demo on the hotel started. Normally design happens long before demo starts. So we were always working from behind.”
5) What’s your favorite part of the hotel?
“I really love the Hideout Bar and Lanai, beyond the design (which I’m of course into), there’s just always a great energy there. But on the design side, I love the Marmoreal bar top, the tambour face and sliding doors (that cover the liquor up when the bar is closed), and especially the vintage Arthur Umanoff barstools. All that along with the plant life and tiki torches really set the vibe up there.”
I have to say that I was really impressed with the entire hotel. The bedrooms and bathrooms were a great size, and each had a little balcony. There were so many well thought out details, and the graphic statement wallpaper pattern is just an instagram dream amiright?
Finally, since I had Fritz’s ear, I asked him what would be his three top things to do/see on Oahu.
6) Can you recommend your three top things to do/see in Oahu?
It totally depends on what type of trip you’re on. I’ve been out there a ton of times for work and with my family as well.
“On our work trips, one of my favorite traditions was to grab some beers at the ABC market and go down to Waikiki beach a do a night float in the ocean. We’d spend a lot of our days out there in a conference room and started making a point to get in the water, even if it was already dark outside. Not a normal one on the checklist.
I love Bar Leather Apron for the delightfully weird location and thoughtfulness in general. The Pig & the Lady is amazing. Overall, I’m pretty simple though, I like eating a ton of Spam Musubi, getting udon for breakfast at Marukame across from the hotel (when the line is short), eating fresh fruit—all the stuff we don’t get much of on the mainland.
Waikiki is fun, but I’d highly recommend getting out of the city while you’re there. There are a ton of amazing hikes to do. Last trip we did several. Lulumahu was pretty amazing. A really fun, muddy adventure.
Lanikai Beach is gorgeous and worth the short trip across the island. Great with kids (The lagoons at Ko Olina are really great for younger kids as well).”
So if you’re planning a trip to Oahu anytime soon, I definitely recommend checking out the Laylow. I also wanted to thank Fritz at OMFG for taking the time to share his insights, as well as big big mahalo for the generosity and hospitality from The Laylow and the team at MVNP for coordinating everything.
What do you think of The Laylow? Let’s continue the conversation on Facebook and make sure you’re following me on Instagram and Instagram stories for more #mundaneaesthetic and behind the scenes shenanigans.
This post was in partnership with The Laylow. All opinions are my own.
All photos by Jonathan Lo / J3Productions.com
