In 2007, Royalton proudly re-opened its doors onto midtown Manhattan, re-thought, re-imagined, but still an icon. Morgans commissioned Roman and Williams, the New York design firm, to re-create Royalton’s legendary lobby as a crossroads for international travelers and the New York elite. The design – simultaneously sophisticated and complex – juxtaposes an icy cast-glass vestibule and brutalist steel and brass furnishings with soft suede upholstery, thick leather walls and hide-covered chairs to create a dark, sexy and luxurious space. Design and architectural details include a mammoth floor-to-ceiling hand forged cast–bronze fireplace, a twenty-foot screen that was once part of the façade of a building in France and hand-upholstered leather walls done in a pattern reminiscent of African tribal art.
