What

An opulent, 11-room respite nestled among the antique and design stores, restaurants and galleries of downtown Hudson, the creative and social epicenter of Upstate New York.

Who

Husband and wife Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg, the Russian-born co-founders of the global beauty brand Fresh, and their managing partner, hospitality guru Damien Janowicz, put their heart and soul (and profits) into every element of the property.

The surrounds

Located at the western reaches of Warren Street, the proverbial Main Street of the picturesque 18th-century whaling port, the property is set across three historic buildings: a Georgian mansion, a utilitarian Greek Revival structure, and an 1800’s carriage house. It is snugly situated amidst high-end furniture stores and a range of cafes and farm-to-table restaurants. Inside the hotel, which can be accessed through the all-day cafe, guests are ushered toward an ornately carved central staircase and into the hotel’s library and salon. As if passing through the most elegant decades of the 19th and 20th centuries, the extravagantly realized interiors are a refined reflection of the owners’ love of opulent textures and romantic design. Harmoniously blending details from a variety of over-the-top design eras, like Victorian industrial, the Belle Epoque, and Art Deco, guests are met with jewel-toned velvet sofas and mid-century Italian chairs, shimmering crystal chandeliers, wraith-like glass lamps, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves stocked with titles curated by New York City’s famed Strand Book Store. Just beyond the library is the conservatory, a glass enclosure filled with potted fiddle leaf fig trees and birds of paradise plants, which shade diners who settle into the sofas and tufted armchairs for dinner. Executive chef Michael Poirkoff fuses a continental menu of decadent dishes like steak tartare, chilled crab, classically prepared duck, and pressed chicken with a local and seasonal ethos that the surrounding Hudson Valley is known for. Beyond the conservatory and the piazza-like courtyard is the Maker Lounge, an intime bar housed in the former carriage house. The speakeasy-like space offers a classics-filled cocktail menu to match the velvety, tasseled mood.

Much of the property’s interior architecture is original. But the owners also sought out the expert knowledge of a local craftsman to execute the finer details: sixth-generation furniture restorer Gary Keegan reconstructed intricately carved fireplace mantels along with antiques and furniture; the pastoral work of artist Michael Allen, inspired by Hudson Valley landscapes, is featured on the burlap wallcovering that spans a full wall in The Maker Restaurant, and lighting designer Steven McKay collaborated with Glazman to create custom light fixtures throughout.

The rooms

While the common areas offer a beautiful mishmash of maximalist design, the real reason to visit the Maker is to stay in one of the hotel’s playfully designed guest rooms. With names like The Gardener, The Artist, and The Architect, each suite expresses its character. The Artist, situated on the topmost floor of the Georgian mansion, feels—fittingly—like a turn-of-the-century artist’s loft, from the painting-lined easel to the cozy fireplace nook (complete with secret compartment) and a sunny bathroom outfitted with a claw-foot bathtub. The Architect has a more masculine, though no less seductive, aura. The living area, furnished with a gray bouclé-upholstered 1950s’ Edward Wormles sofa and modernist brass lamps, is positioned in front of a black and white granite fireplace. A sleek desk and wall-length, mid-century bookshelf bring to mind a futurist designer’s bachelor pad (or a scene from The Fountainhead). The suite’s highlight is the spacious bathroom, half of which is dominated by an oversized olive granite soaking tub.

While mini-bars are typically not stocked, guests can order snacks from the restaurant; we quickly became addicted to the homemade salt and vinegar potato chips and fruit leathers. And each morning, the hotel’s thoughtful staff deliver complimentary “eye-opener” service: A carafe of coffee and a basket of pastries, placed outside the room’s door, await guests whenever they rouse from their peaceful slumber.

Also worth visiting is the Fragrance Library, hidden on the second floor. With just enough room for a small settee and a glass-front hutch, the library houses Glazman’s personal collection of fragrances from around the world, and guests are welcome to enter, spend some time with each scent, and make one theirs for the day.

The scene

While other hotels in the area cater to younger, more budget-conscious travelers, The Maker sets itself apart by offering a luxe, more personalized experience to guests, who tend to be young, well-heeled visitors from the city. The lounge opened in 2018, so it already attracts its share of loyal locals.