Guests at the ‘South’s Grand Hotel’ – also known as the historic Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis – are what we would call seriously lucky ducks. This luxury hotel, known for its feathered friends who march to and from their rooftop home to the Lobby Bar every day, has just finished a top-notch refresh of its 464 guestrooms and suites.
Lavendar walls and custom rugs and furniture are just a part of the makeover for the Peabody's guestrooms — Photo courtesy of Peabody Hotel PR
The Peabody opened in downtown Memphis in 1869, and the hotel has a colorful history. During the Yellow Fever epidemic in 1878, when thousands died and thousands more fled the city, the hotel, vacant of guests, served as a hospital.
Following World War I, it seemed that the hotel was doomed, as the old building needed massive modernization. Soon, a new plan formed to scrap the hotel and rebuild a few blocks away. In 1925, The Peabody re-opened in its current location and returned to its former glory as a hub of the Memphis social scene and a luxurious, grand hotel.
In keeping with the hotel’s historic nature, the rooms were designed to feel timeless through a mix of traditional and transitional décor and modern accent pieces. We’re wild about the colors chosen for the guestrooms; king rooms feature lavender walls with plum, magenta and light green accents, while double and queen rooms have pale blue walls, with aqua and light green accents.
The refreshed rooms at the historic Peabody feature soft colors — Photo courtesy of Peabody Hotel
New furnishings mix timeless and modern elements; pretty walnut and dark ebony wood furniture feature accents of polished chrome, antique silver and bronze, and crystal drawer pulls. Upholstered headboards with interesting shapes and inset reading lights bring a modern convenience to a classic look, and lighting details include crystal and polished chrome chandeliers and quirky sculptural lamps.
The Peabody’s Celebrity and Presidential suites have a completely different look than the guestrooms, with neutral colors complemented by pops of fun combinations like peacock and cerulean blues or soft orange and light green. The hotel’s four Romeo & Juliet Suites do feature similar colors to the regular rooms, but with different furnishings that complement the two-story parlors and classic black and white marble floors.
Of course, any redesign of the Peabody’s rooms wouldn’t be complete without a nod to its famous ducks, which serve as the inspiration for artwork and paintings.
In addition to changes in décor, the hotel’s 880 windows – the original windows from 1925 – have been replaced with historic reproduction windows that are more energy efficient and soundproof. New solid oak doors with tamper-proof key card locks complete the makeover.
