What was the inspiration for the Longfellow Hotel’s design and aesthetic?

The Longfellow is named for Portland native Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, whose poems were inspired by the wild, untamed beauty of the New England coast. Much like the poet’s enduring words, the hotel reflects the location’s rugged charm and the extremes of the environment—from cold, blustery winters to sun-soaked summer months.

Archetype Architects was instrumental in the design of the hotel. The team led all massing and exterior detailing to ensure the hotel would complement the historic neighborhood while still having a notable street and sidewalk presence. We collaborated so that the overall flow of the interiors would be conducive to an inviting guest experience.

Our interior design marries the historic allure of the port city with a residential feel that nods to the West End neighborhood’s distinctive architecture and character. We aimed to create a residential and timeless experience for guests that also celebrates the contemporary design of the new construction. It is important that a hotel of this nature can endure and improve with age in the years to come.

How do the materials you selected enhance or influence the hotel’s spaces?

We wanted the hotel to feel approachable and effortless and chose materials to help reinforce this goal. Leathers, velvets, oak, marble, and granite speak to a sense of quality, while contemporary detailing, moulding profiles, and lighting fixtures evoke timelessness.

We established a sequence of spaces in this hotel that invite visitors in with handsome details and materials that encourage them to linger and indulge. In the guest rooms, for example, the design is restrained and balanced: wide-plank white oak floors are accented by monochromatically painted trim and crown and baseboard mouldings, while high-contrast doors with long, exaggerated handles and cased openings draw guests into the space. Furnishings skew toward the elegant, with a hand-hewn attention to detail, and thoughtful layers of accessories, textiles, and materials make the rooms ever inviting.

Located on the hotel’s top floor, Henry’s Study has a melange of vintage and contemporary furnishings. Darker natural wood floors are complemented by kilim flat-weave rugs, while a large chandelier, wall sconces, and task lights illuminate the space; two commissioned landscape paintings of the Cliff Walk in Prouts Neck by Portland-based artist Timothy Powers Wilson hang on the wall.

Why was it important for you to source interior elements from Maine makers?

We try to integrate local artists into our work to spark new conversations and honor the creativity in the area—this approach not only honors the rich history of the locations we work in but also supports the local community and opens a dialogue between these creators and hotel visitors.

Strategically placed artisan furniture by Maine-based designers imbues the hotel with craftsmanship and warmth, creating pockets of intimacy, privacy, and comfort. Commissioned tables and case goods by Kidwell Fabrications (Portland) and Bicyclette Furniture (Brunswick) are showcased in the bar and spa; shaker chairs by Windsor Chairmakers (Lincolnville) ground the communal table in the lobby; paintings by artist Timothy Powers Wilson (Portland) and photographic prints by Jonathan Levitt (Lincolnville) hang throughout the hotel; and custom ceramic table lamps by ANK Ceramics (Portland) are dotted throughout the spaces.