Château Élan Winery & Resort, a château with winery located in North Georgia’s foothills, unveiled plans for a $25-million renovation to be completed in November.
The transformation will include an overhaul of 251 guestrooms and 24 suites, four new food and beverage outlets, the winery, as well as the resort lobby. The property will also renovate the existing pool terrace and spa. The transformation will introduce a modernized design while delivering a distinctly southern concept dressed in French undertones, honoring the existing estate’s 16th century-style influences.
Atlanta-based interior and architectural design firm Blur Workshop conceptualized the new design, with the design team tasked to formulate a design concept representative of the resort’s southern location, drawing inspiration from the surrounding hills and vineyards. Accessorized with local artwork to define its sense of place, the new design will use a palette in variations of gray and taupe with pops of chartreuse, turquoise and gold. There will also be wood accents, new lighting, white Calcutta marble and industrial touches including tufted leather, wrought iron and carved limestone. In a nod to its topography, the design will include vineyard-inspired details throughout, with the most dramatic being a custom-made glass chandelier hand-blown in Crystal Valley of the Czech Republic, shaped to mimic grape vines.
After the full redesign of the 251 guestrooms and 24 suites, these will have custom-designed carpeting, and bathrooms with freestanding vanity areas made of wood and stone. The selected color palette for the rooms include greys and taupes. The rooms will also abundantly use walnut and oak, and there will be a studded, leather-tufted headboard.
The corridors will be upgraded with local Georgia carpeting, a raw silk inspired wall covering layered by local art and iron sconces.
The renovation will similarly include a fully refurbished lobby, which will have a custom-carved limestone fireplace and hand-tufted rugs. The atrium will also be transformed with white marble and natural details complimented by polished bronze and gold accents, in addition to adding a vintage-inspired library and 2,000-piece crystal chandelier.
Also as part of the renovation, some of the F&B venues will be revamped, while there will also be new additions.
The Marc Bar will be added to the back of the winery restaurant, incorporating French oak, iron accents and soapstone. The new Atrium Bar, designed to anchor the grand room, will be crowned with a 40-foot Douglas fir wood sculpture.
The revamped areas will include the Versailles, which is located in the Atrium; and a full overhaul, including rebranding, of the existing L’Auberge Lounge to Louis’ House of Bourbon, which will have wood paneling, leather furniture, eclectic art, neon signage and a curated bourbon display behind the amber bar.
The renovation of Château Élan Winery & Resort follows the purchase of the property by an affiliate of the Connecticut-based real estate investment firm, Wheelock Street Capital, in January 2018.
Ed Walls is the general manager of Château Élan Winery & Resort.
Photo credit: Château Élan Winery & Resort