The Douglas, a 16-room boutique hotel in Savannah’s Historic District, brings new life to an 1853 townhouse through a careful balance of preservation and modern design.
Over its 170-year history, the townhouse has played many roles—from a banker’s private residence and a gentlemen’s club to wartime apartments during World War II and even a Girl Scouts annex. These architectural and cultural layers informed the restoration, which was led by locally based firms Reggie Gibson Architects and Glenn Keyes Architects.
Restoring the 1853 Savannah townhome
The team preserved defining elements—including original Murano glass chandeliers, stained-glass transoms, and heart pine floors—while updating the structure for modern use. Where historic materials were missing (like damaged Victorian tiles at the bar fireplace), the team worked with craftspeople to replicate the features as precisely as possible.
Ceilings were raised and reworked for both design and function, ADA accessibility was added via a sloping entry, and the central kitchen was rebuilt as a commercial-grade facility.
Kirby Caldwell reimagines interiors for the Douglas
For the interiors, designer Kirby Caldwell approached the project through the Vitruvian principles of “firmness, commodity, and delight,” with a particular emphasis on delight.
The vision leans into the idea of the hotel as a home, resulting in an eclectic yet refined aesthetic layered with antiques and custom pieces that conjure a sense of intimate hospitality.
Tactile fabrics and rich velvets pair with antique furnishings—like 1930s French sofas, Turkish Oushak rugs, and a dramatic 1940s credenza—sourced from across the South. These treasures sit alongside clean-lined bespoke pieces and contemporary art, creating interiors that feel timeless yet personal.
The color story blends restraint and richness: creams, beiges, dusty blues, and rose tones provide a calm backdrop, while aubergine, sage, and ochre punctuate the spaces with warmth. Mohair, marble, velvet, and polished nickel create a rich material palette, which is rounded out by warm, ambient lighting.
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