Nashville hotel takes authenticity to the extreme with dedicated recording studio, performance spaces

The recent renovation of the Hutton Hotel in Nashville, Tenn., points to an important trend: using design to create a distinctive sense of place.

Music City has experienced a hotel construction boom in recent years, making for a more competitive market. The owners of the Hutton, a downtown boutique hotel, remodeled some common areas to appeal to prominent musician clientele.

As part of the project, two Writers Rooms were added to the hotel grounds, just steps from the main building.  

The two spaces, at 379 sf and 422 sf, share kitchen and dining areas and can host up to 15 people at a time. The rooms are decked out with studio recording equipment so that visiting musicians can tinker with new songs and record them. It’s an ideal situation for a musician spending several days or more in the city.

Studio 11 Design collaborated with Red Light Management and singer/songwriters Dierks Bentley and Ryan Tedder on the project. Bentley, drawing from his Arizona roots, suggested Saltillo tile, refined rustic elements, and layered Navajo area rugs for one of the rooms. Tedder’s contribution included natural materials, a loft-style feel, and unobstructed daylight for the other room.

The hotel also added a 300-person performance space, for intimate shows. 

Curated artwork and antique furnishings throughout the hotel reflect country music luminaries and local history.

This type of authentic regional flavor is something travelers are looking for, says Kellie Sirna, Principal and Co-founder, Studio 11 Design. Accordingly, employees will have another duty: “Hotel staff members are going to become storytellers as they provide background on the various pieces,” says Sirna.