New York City-based boutique hotel operator Life House added the Maidstone Hotel and Maidstone Restaurant in East Hampton, N.Y., to its portfolio of luxury properties across the U.S.
Since acquiring the hotel in 2008, hotelier Jenny Baker and husband Jonathan Baker have operated the 19-room hotel and its well-known restaurant. Both will remain involved in the property’s creative direction moving forward, while allowing Life House to oversee day-to-day hotel and restaurant operations.
More than 150 years old, the Greek Revival was built just before the Civil War. For much of the 19th century, the building was used as a tannery, and first took in overnight guests while their saddles were being repaired. In the mid-1920s, the home began service as a full-time inn and became known as The Maidstone Arms.
As creative director, Jenny Baker has overseen its repositioning to a “Scandinavian Cozy” hospitality concept, a term she coined to describe the hotel’s blend of American ease and sophisticated Scandinavian sensibility that embodies quirkiness, personality and professionalism. The hotel offers a mix of environmentally friendly spaces, modern design blended with Old World charm, curated art and locally sourced food and beverage offerings.
"We are really excited to be working with Jenny and Jonathan to steward their Maidstone Hotel, a partnership that represents our strong commitment to leveraging software to meaningfully improve even the most special and nuanced independent hotels out there," said Rami Zeidan, Life House's founder and CEO.
Life House will operate the hotel through summer 2021, after which the group’s award-winning in-house creative team will collaborate with ownership on a new restaurant and bar concept.