To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. My eyes were immediately drawn to the antique desk at the far end, which looked like itd been pulled straight out of an office from the 1970s. The Smithsonian Institutions National Portrait Gallery, which youll find in D.C.s Penn Quarter neighborhood, is offering a temporary exhibit titled Watergate: Portraiture and Intrigue featuring a collection of visuals depicting the politicians linked to the break-in. However, it wasnt until I looked at my room key after checking in that I discovered my first break-in reference: No need to break in was printed on the front side. LP: As well as designing the space to "feel" like you were stepping back in time, Rakel and I also added little touches that would remind one of the DNC office space: a midcentury steno chair; a vintage red Ericofon phone to ring room service, a Crosley record player so you can spin tunes from the period.
Throughout the seven seasons of the television show Paolo used design and aesthetics to help move the plot along. Before these themes became recurring plotlines in film and television shows, they were a real life snapshot of the goings on at The Watergate Hotel in June 1972. I enjoyed this experience of expressing a part of history through design. For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. In a city full of historical buildings, it takes a lot to stand out from the rest. "We pay homage to the past with small details throughout the property.. Just this week, the Watergate Hotel unveiled The Watergate Scandal Room 214, which embraces the historic break-in with design elements created by Emmy-winning Hollywood costume designer Lyn Paolo, along with Rakel Cohen, co-owner of the hotel and senior vice president of design and development. 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Eventually, I caught a glimpse of one of my favorite room features: the safe next to the bright red sofa. When main character Olivia Pope was "wearing the white hat" and "being a gladiator" she wore soft, white ensembles. In the room, on a desk from the '70s, sheplaced old-fashionedbinoculars (for looking out for futureburglars), a typewriter (for writing up the story if it does happen), and a record and cassette player (for entertainment in case no scandals occur.) A drab fixture of an otherwise stunning skyline full of marble-clad monuments, charming brick buildings and an expansive performing arts center, the six towers of Washington, D.C.s Watergate complex are far from appealing to the eye. Follow this author to improve your content experience. Our website, archdigest.com, offers constant original coverage of the interior design and architecture worlds, new shops and products, travel destinations, art and cultural events, celebrity style, and high-end real estate as well as access to print features and images from the AD archives. Soon after it became the home for congressmen and Supreme Court Justices who partied late into the night with actors, models, and musicians, no doubt causing their own mischief. What elements did you bring in to do so? The fact that it is also the 45th anniversary of the notorious Watergate break-in only added to my sense of excitement. A RED VENTURES COMPANY. Although I did receive free internet access as a result of my entry-level Insider status in the I Prefer Hotel Rewards program, that perk did little to soften the blow of the Scandal Rooms nightly rate. She filled one wall with framed newspaper clippings from the scandal. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. On the heels of the 45th anniversary of our nations biggest political scandal, one of Washington D.C.s most chic and infamous addresses is making headlines again. EFE/EPA/WILL OLIVER, A view of the Watergate Hotel and Office Complex in Washington DC. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". A post shared by Scandal Official Account (@scandalabc) on Jul 21, 2017 at 2:41pm PDT, Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Washington, D.C.s Watergate Hotel is forever attached to scandal and infamy as on June 17, 1972, E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy stationed themselves in room 214 where they used a radio to stay in contact with burglars stealing documents at the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate Complex, adjacent to the hotel. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. A spa-like bathroom with custom amenities and two custom Cover Up robes to enjoy during your stay. Architectural Digest: What did you think when you were approached by the Watergate Hotel to help design this Scandal Room 214? Deciding it needed to do something bold to commemorate the space, the hotel askedLyn Paolo, the costume designer for Scandal, the woman responsible for Olivia Pope's famous black and white ensembles, to turn it into a unique room. Flew to D.C. so I could just sit in the room, see the space, the bones. While the Watergate scandal of June 17, 1972, took place more than 15 years before I was born, as a resident of the DMV D.C. and its Maryland and Virginia suburbs for the past seven years and a self-professed history nerd and political junkie, Ive long wondered what lay inside this ugly complex Ive passed more times than I can count. The hotel certainly hopes the room will serve as a fun place where the next chapters of American scandal will be written. Nevertheless, the eyesore of the Potomac occupies a prominent place in our nations history because of what transpired within its walls 50 years ago: the failed break-in of the Democratic National Committees former office. Instead of there being hold-music, callers will get to hear Nixon speeches. Room 214 has been designed with soft furnishings, in-room amenities and closet items that highlight the propertys significant history, including: Clever nods to its infamous past can be found throughout the hotel, including no need to break-in inscriptions on room keycards, a phone number that alludes to the break-in date (1-844-617-1972) and hold music with Nixon speeches. AD: Were you aware of the rooms history before you were brought on for the project? Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Last year the complex received a $200 million facelift that turned it into a quirky, luxury hotel. Other design elements include an old-fashioned tape recorder, a library with everything Nixon and terry cloth bathrobes that read cover-up. If you take a book, theres a stamp inside that says stolen from The Watergate, Paolo says. Modern amenities are also included a 48" flat screen TV with episodes of Scandal available for viewing. But the cold concrete facade and chunky balcony railings which look more like bottom rows of teeth than railings outside highly sought-after condos, mostly occupied offices and luxury hotel rooms feel out of place in a city packed with architectural treasures. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Just in time for the 45th anniversary of the notorious Watergate Hotel break-in, the Watergate Hotel has teamed up with Lyn Paolo, the costume designer of the Shondaland hit series Scandal and the John Well's show Shameless, to redesign room 214. I love interior design, politics and of course I am inspired to help design a room with such a scandalous history," shesaid in a press release.Working with Rakel on this project is an unexpected dream, and it is the perfect fit for my next design adventure.. Linda Kearns, vice president of branding and communication for the costume designer division at Matchbook, set up the collaboration between Paolo and Rakel Cohen, co-owner of the hotel and its senior vice president of design and development. The partnerships are a way to recall the era of when the hotel was the ultimate playground for powerful people while making it pop-culture relevant for todays luxury-focused traveler. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 
Lyn Paolo: I was thrilled and excited. But since the room was ours for the night, I stopped, swiped my keycard and entered. A quick guide to electric scooters, bikes, and mopeds in D.C. Getting around the nations capital on two wheels is easier than ever. I quickly got lost in the articles hanging by the door, scanning the Watergate stories on display to soak up as much as possible about the break-in, the subsequent impeachment hearings and Nixons departure from office. Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". As a design experience, it was so out of the ordinary for me as a costume designer, and I loved the challenge. Room 214, the Scandal Suite, in The Watergate Hotel. 12 D.C. area hikes worth traveling to, mapped. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). 
The room, which sets itself apart from others in the hotel due to its distinct look, boasts a number of items reminiscent of the political scandal President Richard Nixon attempted to cover up: binoculars, a typewriter, a cassette tape player, and several pieces of furniture serve as a throwback to the 1970s. "Customers are drawn to the scandal that began here," he said while offering a tour of the space that was immortalized in films such as "All the President's Men" and "Forrest Gump" and the TV series "Gaslit.". The midcentury modern seating, vintage red Ericofon phone, and Crosley record player also offer a glimpse back into the past. Once the suspicious activity was discovered by a security guard, the police were called, the famous cover-up ensued, and, eventually, it led to the 1974 resignation of U.S. President Richard Nixon just before impeachment proceedings were due to begin. Theres such a palpable energy. Also, I would say to your readers that if they get the chance to stand in that room, it is a surreal experience that is well worth a visit to the Watergate Hotel. Where to honor U.S. veterans and military members in and around the nations capital. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Wanting to invoke its past, the hotel keeps adding scandalous elements to the guest experience. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. You may opt-out by. This is the same room where E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy positioned themselves during the burglary at the Democratic National Committee in June 1972. Rakel is such a warm and giving collaborator and we had a wonderful time together. This card offers a 80,000-point bonus after spending $4,000 in the first three months. Now known as the "Scandal Room," everything inside the Watergate Hotel's former Room 214 evokes the failed spying operation planned and carried out by Nixon's re-election campaign. The 50-year-old, 336-room hotel closed in August 2007 and finally reopened in June 2016 under the new ownership of Euro Capital Properties after a US$200 million renovation. Newspaper clippings, White House photos, famous Nixon quotes and even copies of official resignation documents lined the entryway. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Then we added some books, binoculars and a typewriter and record player with some old music.. 
While tours are only available when Room 205 is unoccupied, the rooms high price tag means theres a solid chance the space will be vacant when you visit. In 1972, E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy stationed themselves in what is now the Watergate Hotels Room 214. A little bit quirky and a little bit fun. I had assumed similar details would be evident when I arrived. LP: Rakel and I really had to work within the original footprint of Room 214, so our vision was to transport the guest back in time by selecting a palette and design elements that reflected our modern vision of the period. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Which TikTok airport travel hacks work and which ones will just get you into trouble? The curved design incorporated throughout to maximize views of the surrounding parks and adjacent Potomac River is no doubt interesting. The Watergate Hotel's Room 214 Gets a Makeover by. Even the coasters by the bed featured a playful nod to the building. Some of the many details found in the newly renovated room include framed quotes, original newspapers, and magazine covers, each focused on the break-in and President Richard Nixons impeachment. All rights reserved. Old-school desk accessories, including a red stapler, a Rolodex and a mint green manual typewriter, sat atop the vintage piece of furniture alongside a reel-to-reel tape recorder, an homage to the Nixon White House tapes that ultimately swayed Nixons decision to resign. LP: I am a huge fan of any kind of spy or thriller fiction and also biographies so I will always err on the side of talking about the small library of relevant books that are inside the room: In Nixon's Web, The Secret Man by Bob Woodward, et cetera. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. She relished focusing on real-life drama, not just fictional affairs. From the moment you step foot inside the Preferred Hotels-affiliated Watergate Hotel, you feel instantly transported to another era. In the bookshelves, there are books on Nixon, while on the desk, there is a vintage recording device and a working typewriter. 2022 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC.
Keys read, "No Need to Break-in." I am a huge political junkie, and the thought of working with Rakel Cohen, the owner and senior vice president of design and development at the hotel, and actually getting to stand in Room 214 of the Watergate was a huge thrill. This is the hotel room where E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy stationed themselves as a team of burglars attempted a break-in at the Democratic National Committee in The Watergate Complex. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Instead of heavy materials in uninspired hues, the hotel lobby features a mix of bold design elements with a midcentury modern flair, such as a long brass reception desk and a cool bar with bright red chairs and a curved wall of empty glass bottles. 17 military monuments, museums, and memorials in the D.C. area. And for those who love the ABC television show Scandal starring Kerry Washington, its an opportunity to see Paolos work up close and celebrate its final season, which debuted in early October.