A photographic tour of new it spot, the Thompson Hotel
A photographic tour of new it spot, the Thompson Hotel
By Stephanie Saunders | August 5, 2010
By Stephanie Saunders | 08/05/2010
Today we’re launching Design Scout, a series of photographic tours through stunning Toronto spaces. Our first is a look at the newly opened Thompson Hotel, the first international venture by the luxury hotel chain behind the famous 60 Thompson in New York and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. And though the Thompson feels like a Manhattan hotel, it has constant reminders of its Toronto locale: a huge lobby mural depicts our sky-line while the roof-top lounge showcases killer views of the cityscape. Take a look in our slide show >>
34979 The front entrance of the hotel. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-2-Sign.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-2-Sign.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-2-Sign.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/style/a-photographic-tour-of-new-it-spot-the-thompson-hotel/slide/slide-2-sign-2/ slide-2-sign-2 0 0
34727 Modern glasswork on the roof both reveals and reflects the skyline. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-14-Glass-Door-21.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-14-Glass-Door-21.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-14-Glass-Door-21.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/a-photographic-tour-of-new-it-spot-the-thompson-hotel/slide/slide-14-glass-door-21/ slide-14-glass-door-21 0 0
34726 This bar is truly spectacular: the counter is a rare Italian marble that is making its North American debut at The Thompson. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-13-Bar-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-13-Bar-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-13-Bar-2.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/a-photographic-tour-of-new-it-spot-the-thompson-hotel/slide/slide-13-bar-2/ slide-13-bar-2 0 0
34725 This breezy space allows for the city to be both observed from a distance and happily forgotten. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-12-Bar-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-12-Bar-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-12-Bar-2.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/a-photographic-tour-of-new-it-spot-the-thompson-hotel/slide/slide-12-bar-2/ slide-12-bar-2 0 0
34724 One of the hotel’s gems, the private rooftop patio—complete with an infinity pool, spectacular panoramic views—was designed by Toronto’s II by IV, the firm behind the ROM’s C5. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-11-CN-Tour-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-11-CN-Tour-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-11-CN-Tour-2.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/a-photographic-tour-of-new-it-spot-the-thompson-hotel/slide/slide-11-cn-tour-2/ slide-11-cn-tour-2 0 0
34723 Visible from the bedroom, the glass shower has been altered in some suites with frosted glass for more privacy. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-10-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-10-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-10-2.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/a-photographic-tour-of-new-it-spot-the-thompson-hotel/slide/slide-10-2/ slide-10-2 0 0
34722 The adjoining bedroom is spacious with high-thread count Sferra linens from Italy. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-9-Bedroom-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-9-Bedroom-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-9-Bedroom-2.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/a-photographic-tour-of-new-it-spot-the-thompson-hotel/slide/slide-9-bedroom-2/ slide-9-bedroom-2 0 0
34719 This luxurious one-bedroom suite is comfortably modern with sharp white cabinetry, white marble details and contrasting dark oak floors. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-7-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-7-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-7-2.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/a-photographic-tour-of-new-it-spot-the-thompson-hotel/slide/slide-7-2/ slide-7-2 0 0
34721 This space is pretty damn sexy for a boardroom. Aside from the long creamy-looking table, the stunning lighting (Viso) and black cabinetry (Studio Gaia) are standouts. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-6-Boardroom-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-6-Boardroom-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-6-Boardroom-2.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/a-photographic-tour-of-new-it-spot-the-thompson-hotel/slide/slide-6-boardroom-2/ slide-6-boardroom-2 0 0
34718 This show-stopping glass chandelier—designed by Studio Gaia and hand-blown by Viso—hangs over the main lobby bar. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-5-Chandelier-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-5-Chandelier-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-5-Chandelier-2.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/a-photographic-tour-of-new-it-spot-the-thompson-hotel/slide/slide-5-chandelier-2/ slide-5-chandelier-2 0 0
34717 Part reception area and part nightclub, the lobby lounge is punctuated by a hand-painted 3-D mural by Spanish artist Javier Mariscal. The orange chair is made by Skypad, an international supplier of custom furniture to clients such as the W Hotels and the MoMa. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-4-Mural-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-4-Mural-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-4-Mural-2.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/a-photographic-tour-of-new-it-spot-the-thompson-hotel/slide/slide-4-mural-2/ slide-4-mural-2 0 0
34715 The reception area is framed in dark oak and illuminated by globe pendant lights that were custom-designed by New York’s Studio Gaia, the interior design firm behind the Thompson, and made by local lighting wizards Viso. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-3-Front-Desk-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-3-Front-Desk-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-3-Front-Desk-2.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/a-photographic-tour-of-new-it-spot-the-thompson-hotel/slide/slide-3-front-desk-2/ slide-3-front-desk-2 0 0
34716 The exterior is a shining new example from one of the city’s top architectural firms, ArchitectsAlliance, the team behind the Distillery District, the Bloor Street revitalization and the soon-to-open Four Seasons Hotel and Residences. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-1-Exterior-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-1-Exterior-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Slide-1-Exterior-2.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/a-photographic-tour-of-new-it-spot-the-thompson-hotel/slide/slide-1-exterior-2/ slide-1-exterior-2 0 0
(All photographs by Stephanie Saunders.)
Canadian culture certainly doesn’t mean including short-term visitors to our fun places, like cottage country.
Our business people actually go international with American companies, because their business people don’t have the balls. Coke, McDonald’s and Home Depot are all shoved into Canadian territory to hit the world. Duh.
Fraud? The US calling Canadians fraudulent? Read your own bloody news. Oh, I might add, your news services are rife with Canadians as well.
Our banks didn’t have to get bailed out, and didn’t cause a worldwide recession. In fact, Canadian banks quite lauded.
Canadians might seem a bit boring, but that’s because we call it sophistication. Americans can be plain self-centered, insulated, and plain old skool dumb.
Did somebody shoot these photos with a point-and-shoot? Toronto Life and Thompson Hotel — you surprise me. Please invest in a professional photographer next time. Someone who can make the “sharp white cabinetry” look white and not grey, and make the bedrooms look more inviting. I hold TL in high regard, and expect a higher caliber Photographic Tour than this. Onward and upward!
Who chose these shots and who wrote the captions? There is so much more to this than what is offered in this “photo essay” for lack of a better term.
No I don’t live there.
Tomson Hotel is not a new spot, it was open in the middle of fall!!!!
Toronto is too slow!!!