michelle kaufmann designs

Northern California wine country is one of the most beautiful regions in the world.  Thanks to the gorgeous wines produced there, names like Napa and Sonoma are now world famous.  However, what I recommend to anyone who ever comes to visit the area is that they stay outside of the main tourist hubs in the smaller but no less picturesque town of Healdsburg.  Healdsburg is home not only to some of the world’s finest vineyards, restaurants, and shops but also the Hotel Healdsburg, which I simply adore.  And if you’re planning a trip for sometime after the spring of 2010 then you will have the opportunity to stay at the Hotel Healdsburg group’s newest hotel, h2hotel: a stylish, relaxed, LEED certified eco-friendly hotel.

I have a huge soft spot for eco-luxury, which h2hotel is going to have in spades. The environmentally-sensitive interior design will combine sleek finishes with natural materials and furnishings, including sustainable hardwood floors. Soft earthy tones and ample light will enhance the open, airy feeling created by 11-foot ceilings in all guest rooms. Many of the custom furnishings are unique designs, fabricated from reclaimed woods such as American elm, acacia, and black walnut. All textiles, including rugs and seating fabrics, are loomed from all-natural fibers. The rooms will include luxurious organic linens and robes.

h2hotel will be built with a relatively small footprint, rising four stories with 36 standard rooms, junior suites and larger suites, a bright and open lobby that will feature an all-in-one “Receptobar”, a terrific example of how multi-function can help save space. It will serve as a front desk for staff to accommodate guest check in, provide concierge services, and host a daytime coffee bar that becomes a wine bar in the evening. The “Receptobar” will also serve as a mini-bar stocking station and entertainment counter where complimentary DVD’s, games and outdoor supplies are available to all guests.

Water will be a central theme highlighted throughout h2hotel. The aquatic connection will be expressed in the hotel’s remarkable “Spoonfall” installation: a whimsical water sculpture fed by an underground cistern replenished by natural rainfall. Created by internationally recognized Sonoma based public artist Ned Khan, “Spoonfall” brilliantly features thousands of espresso spoons sending water droplets down in a beautiful cascade. The focus on water is further emphasized by h2hotel’s commitment to the Foss Creek Restoration Project, a partnership between h2hotel and the Russian Riverkeepers and Trout Unlimited organizations.

h2hotel will encourage environmentally-friendly stays for guests by providing complimentary Dutch cruising bicycles for exploring Healdsburg as well as an on-site bike storage cube and service station. h2hotel is located near the historic Healdsburg Plaza where world-class restaurants and genial cafes, wine tasting rooms, locally-owned shops, and art galleries are just steps away. It’s hard to think of a better combination for a holiday: Sonoma Valley wine country for your setting and a luxuriant, relaxed eco-friendly hotel in which to stay.