The Lake Estate on Winnisquam
It’s all about understated luxury at New Hampshire’s newest resort.
Exposed beams, a paneled ceiling and accent wall, and an elegant stone fireplace make The Dining Room a welcoming place to dine.
Photography courtesy of The Lake Estate on Winnisquam
In an era when luxury hospitality often means minimalist design, The Lake Estate on Winnisquam stands out. The new 114-room resort, situated on 36 acres on Lake Winnisquam in Tilton, fully embraces the warmth and grandeur of New Hampshire’s 19th-century grand resort hotels.
Oak beams, molding and paneling warm the lobby; a large custom-designed light fixture is inspired by lighting found in American grand hotels.
“We envisioned building a resort that is more of a grand estate than a hotel, something that felt like the home of a wealthy relative,” says Ed Rocco, co-owner and general manager with his wife, Patti.
During several months of conversations between the Roccos, Lake Estate owners Dan and Elaine Dagesse, Samyn-D’Elia Architects and Boston-based interior designer Manuel de Santaren, the property’s architectural features and furnishings were as important to discuss as its hospitality and customer service.
For their designs, the Samyn-D’Elia team and de Santaren drew on historic inspiration from other grand hotels around the country and elegant lakefront homes. “It was important to get the language and ethos of this property correct,” says de Santaren. “It needed to feel elegant but welcoming. A place where you wouldn’t feel out of place wearing a sweater and a pair of corduroys or a tuxedo.”
Adds Cris Salomon, principal architect at Samyn-D’Elia, “We want visitors to feel like they’ve left their busy lives behind and are coming someplace to really relax and disconnect.” The wood-timbered lobby is representative of the high level of architectural detail found throughout The Lake Estate. Visitors enter under an Arts and Crafts-inspired 16-foot-high light fixture, custom designed by de Santaren and Samyn-D’Elia Principal Architect Clay Hayles. On the wall facing the entrance hangs a 17th-century tapestry that anchors the high-ceilinged space.
De Santaren was given unusual latitude to assemble a collection of art and antiques to create The Lake Estate’s atmosphere of subtle refinement. Hung throughout the resort’s public spaces are Hudson River School and American Impressionist paintings spanning the late 19th and early 20th centuries; antique decorative objects and objets d’art are tucked into bookshelves or grace tabletops. “I wanted to convey the feeling of a great lakefront home that had evolved over decades,” de Santaren says.
Comfortable seating areas in the Living Room off the lobby as well as in an area known as the Library Lounge contain vintage Oriental rugs and overstuffed chairs and couches in complementary fabrics. “Once we had everything in place, with artwork on the walls and objects on the shelves, it just shimmered,” de Santaren says.
Decorated in complementary shades of blue and green, guest rooms feature high-end details like white crown molding and paneling, wool carpeting, custom-designed furnishings and original artwork.
Wall coverings and fabrics were chosen with a similar aesthetic in mind. De Santaren worked with the famed British decorative arts company, Morris & Co., founded by 19th-century artist and designer William Morris, to recreate some of their iconic wallpapers in vinyl, a material appropriate for hotel and lodging spaces. (“Paper wall coverings don’t meet the fire codes for hotels,” de Santaren notes.) Even the lavatories are noteworthy for their vivid walls.
Decorated in blues and greens, nearly all the guest rooms and suites have balconies with lakefront views. Rooms are warm with high-quality finishes, handmade quilts and original landscape paintings by New Hampshire artist Rebecca M. Fullerton. “All of the furnishings throughout the guest rooms and public spaces were custom designed,” says Salomon. “Every detail was drawn and carefully considered, from details like brass feet on the bedside tables to the number of pleats on the custom curtains.”
The design team created a prototype guest room in a warehouse near the property that enabled Dagasse and the Roccos to see what each material and fabric looked and felt like. “For example, we would compare how a wool carpet felt on your feet versus the standard hotel nylon carpet,” says Salomon. Those were important details to invest in.” So were solid wood doors with brass handles and genuine hardwood flooring. The wedding and events center features a soaring timber frame structure by Timberpeg of Claremont; Timberpeg also fabricated the oak beams in the lobby and adjacent Living Room space.
Now that The Lake Estate is open and welcoming guests, the design team can take a breath and appreciate their accomplishments. “We really pulled it off,” de Santaren says. “It’s been one of the proudest moments in my career.”
PROJECT TEAM
ARCHITECT: Samyn-D’Elia Architects, PA • 603-968-7133 • sdarchitects.com
INTERIOR DESIGNER: Manuel de Santaren, Inc. • 617-330-6998 • manueldesantaren.com
BUILDER: Daniel Hebert, Inc. • 603-237-4454 • dhigc.com
TIMBER FRAME & BEAMS: Timberpeg • 800-636-2424 • timberpeg.com
LANDSCAPE DESIGNER: SE Group • 802-862-0098 • segroup.com
