INTRODUCTION
In my last series, I described several examples of the fairly recent trend towards historic "boutique" hotels; small scale hotels in historic buildings that offer sophisticated ambience at reasonable prices. In this month’s series, I will explore a phenomenon that is actually bucking the major trends in the hotel industry: family owned hotels in historic buildings, which retain their historic charm even after recent remodeling.

The Bancroft Hotel, Berkeley, California
The Bancroft Hotel is located at 2680 Bancroft Way in the South Campus area of Berkeley, across the street from the UC Berkeley campus and just east of the University Art Museum. The building it occupies was originally built in 1928, and it was designed by Walter T. Steilberg. Mr. Steilberg once worked in the office of Julia Morgan, and was greatly influenced by her philosophy of combining historic elements, modern convenience, and an attention to detail.

The Bancroft Hotel bears all the hallmarks of Julia Morgan’s philosophy. It was built as the Home for the College Women’s Club. This group was a UC Berkeley based academic club that supported women’s efforts to gain equal footing in the arena of higher learning, something Julia Morgan believed in deeply.

The style of the Home for College Women is a sophisticated blend of Art-and-Crafts and Mediterranean, two motifs that Julia Morgan and her associates used quite frequently. It has a pastel stucco façade, wide overhanging eaves, and geometric decorative motifs along the third floor balcony.

The interior of the building has been restored to almost the exact appearance of the historic 1928 décor. The original ballroom is intact, with its raised stage, ornate metal and glass chandeliers, two massive fireplaces, and impressive beamed and coffered ceilings. And most of the furniture in the large common areas downstairs is either original, or are authentic period pieces that fit in with the Arts-and-Crafts style of the building.

In the mid 1970’s, a private developer named Martin Ross bought the College Women’s Club, and decided to convert the upstairs into a coed hotel for students and faculty visiting the UC Berkeley campus. He completed a compatible adaptive reuse, and re-opened the building a year or so later as the Bancroft Hotel. He and his family have operated it as a 22 room boutique hotel ever since. For information or accommodations, you contact the hotel on their web site: www.bancrofthotel.com.


Hotel D’ Arlatan, Arles, France
The town of Arles, France is famous for being the place that Vincent van Gogh lived when painted many of his most famous canvases. It has hardly changed since he lived there in the 1880’s. The historic ambience of Arles has remained intact for centuries. The town was founded by the Romans in the first century BC, and still has many Roman ruins, including a coliseum that is still used for bullfights. The town grew rapidly in the Middle Ages as a trading center, and today most of the buildings in the city’s center date from before the 17th. Century.

In the mid 15th. Century, a multi-story stone residence was granted to the Duke of Arles for his family’s residence (not to be confused with "The Duke of Earl" in the 1960’s pop song!). At the beginning of the 16th. Century, this residence was remodeled in the French Renaissance style, which its appearance largely retains today. In the 17th. Century, most of windows were replaced with new ones in imitation of those at Versailles. The building’s façade has changed little since then. In the 1920’s, after the family of the Dukes of Arles had died out in the late 19th. Century, part of the building was bought by a local family to be transformed into a hotel. This family, (who chose to remain anonymous) has owned and operated the "Hotel D’ Arlatan" as a historic, three star hotel for four generations. A neighboring house of the same vintage was later purchased by the family to expand the hotel.

A painstaking restoration of all of the historic features of the Hotel D’ Arlatan was recently completed, along with an upgrading of amenities in the rooms, such as adding air conditioning. Today, guests can see in various rooms the original 16th. Century vaulted and beamed ceilings, the 17th. Century coffered and painted ceilings, stone Gothic arched fireplaces, and many original pieces of 16th. And 17th. Century furniture. Guests can enjoy a full breakfast in the shaded courtyard, with its ancient stone walls and a fountain in the center complete with large pet turtles.

The Hotel D’ Arlatan is located at 26 Rue du Sauvage in the heart of the Old Town of Arles, just one block from the banks of the Rhone River, (which Van Gogh painted in his "Starry Night; The River"). You can get more information about the hotel by emailing them at: hotel-arlatan@wanadoo.fr.


The Hotel Boheme, San Francisco, California
The Hotel Boheme in San Francisco’s North Beach district occupies a three story, wooden rowhouse from the Edwardian Era. Located at 444 Columbus Avenue, between Green and Vallejo streets, this building was constructed in 1907. The Hotel Boheme is situated on the top two floors. The exterior of the building retains its original false front above the roof line.

Until 1994, this building housed the Mille Fiore Inn, a popular North Beach bed and breakfast. That year, the current owner, (who wishes to remain anonymous) bought the B and B and decided to convert it into a boutique hotel. The interior was then entirely renovated.

The walls of the lobby and the rooms at the Hotel Boheme are now adorned with photos of North Beach in the 1950’s, taken by the late, highly respected San Francisco photographer Jerry Stoll. The theme of the hotel is a shrine to the Beat Generation of San Francisco in the 50’s.

The General Manager of the hotel, Charles Graver, described to me what he feels is the special quality that Hotel Boheme has. "Those of us who work here have been here for years, because we don’t want to work for a large chain hotel, and we enjoy giving the personal attention to our guests that can be found in a small, boutique hotel."

There are sixteen rooms at Hotel Boheme, ranging from $149 to $169 per night. They are furnished with queen size beds, armoires, bistro tables, and wicker chairs. The effect is to create a romantic, period ambiance. For information or accommodations, you contact the hotel on their web site: www.hotelboheme.com.


The Hotel Napoleon, Paris, France
Paris is full of famous hotels: The Ritz, The Plaza Athene, The George V, are all renowned throughout the world for sumptuous elegance. But there is one hotel in this "City of Lights" that posses a unique combination of historic charm, superb location, and the friendly intimacy of a small scale, family owned hostelry: The Hotel Napoleon.

Located on a quiet side street just half a block from the Arc de Triumphe, the Hotel Napoleon occupies a six story building constructed in 1928. It was originally called the Bonaparte Hotel, and changed to its current name eight years ago. Over the past 76 years, the hotel has been host to such famous guests as: Orson Wells, Errol Flynn, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, and the French actor Jean Gabin.

The Hotel Napoleon was started by Mr. Serge Klaguine, a refuge from Russia who moved to Paris after the Russian Revolution. He married a French woman, and they raised their children while living in the hotel in the 1920’s and 30’s. Today his descendants run it, and it is one of the few family owned hotels left in Paris. The theme of the Hotel Napoleon has always been the life and times of Napoleon Bonaparte. The entire hotel is furnished in the Empire Style: the lobby, sitting room, bar, and guests rooms all have reproductions of Empire lamps, chairs, and sofas. The walls in the rooms, as well as the staircases and hallways, are adorned with paintings and prints from Napoleon’s life career, including some authentic period portraits of Bonaparte and Empress Josephine.

The entire hotel was renovated and upgraded during the past 2 to 3 years by the renowned Parisian designer Elisabeth Malphettes. The bar, breakfast room and reception area were redone, most of the rooms were redecorated, and air conditioning was installed throughout the building.

No two rooms at the Hotel Napoleon are alike. Some have "campaign beds", with canopies, like the ones Napoleon used in his tent while planning his battles. Others have king or queen size beds in Empire style. Some of the largest suites have terraces and/or balconies that offer spectacular views of the Arc du Triumphe and the streets of Paris.

The owners of the Hotel Napoleon are planning to organize group tours for guests and visitors to Paris of some of the more important sites around the city from Bonaparte’s life. They also intend to recreate his most famous battles in miniature displays that will be placed in the sitting rooms downstairs.

The rooms at the Hotel Napoleon range from about $380 a night for a standard room, to about $580 a night for a panoramic deluxe room. The hotel is located at 40 Avenue Friedland. For more information or accommodations, you can email the hotel at napoleon@hotelnapoleonparis.com, or visit their web site www.hotelnapoleonparis.com.


The Webster House, Alameda, California
The town of Alameda is justifiably famous for its fine Victorian Era mansions. By far the oldest residence in Alameda is the Webster House, at 1238 Versailles Avenue, on the island’s east end. It was built by Mr. J.N. Webster, a church deacon and money broker, in 1854, ( the current owners have a plan of the house dated 1852, but the Alameda Historical Society gives the later date). The architect of the Webster House was Alexander Jackson Davis, one of America’s most prolific and respected architects during the early Victorian Era.

The Webster House is a fine example of a Victorian Gothic Revival cottage. It has high-peaked gables, icicle barge boards along the eaves, and pointed arches at the top of the porch posts. It was brown shingled around the turn of the century, but other than that, it retains most of its original historic features.

An Alameda couple, Andrew and Susan McCormack, bought the Webster house more than a decade ago, with the goal of restoring the interior, and converting it into a bed and breakfast. They spent several years conducting a painstaking restoration of most of the interior, which had retained its old fireplaces, hard wood floors, and high ceilings.

Several years ago, the current owners received a permit from the City of Alameda to operate a bed and breakfast type inn on the premises. They also operate a tea room in the back of the property, where guests can look out into a private back yard, with its old redwood trees.

The house has 17 rooms and a separate cottage. It is available for home cooked meals by appointment, and can be rented for weddings and receptions. The ambience of the Gold Rush Era has been accurately recreated within the rooms of the Webster House Bed and Breakfast Inn. You can contact the owners at (510) 523-9697.


The Hotel Colon, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Spain is one of Europe’s most elegant cities. Founded by the Romans in the first century BC, the city still has many Roman Era ruins, and an extensive Medieval district. This area of the city is known as the Gothic Quarter, and the historic buildings and streets here are a delight to explore.

In the heart of the Gothic Quarter is a charming family owned hotel, with a unique historic theme. The Hotel Colon stands on the Cathedral Plaza, directly facing Barcelona’s magnificent Gothic Cathedral. The hotel is not an old building by European standards, ( it was built in 1951), but it’s interior has a special historic character.

The Hotel Colon has a six story stone façade, designed in a minimalist version of Neo-Classic style. Inside, the common rooms downstairs all have rich wood trim around the archways, doors and windows. The owners are a family from Italy, (who choose to remain anonymous) and they have a passion for collecting relics objects d’ art related to Christopher Columbus.

On the walls of the bar, restaurant, and sitting rooms, there are prints, engravings, and paintings that depict the life and voyages of Columbus. In the piano room, all of the furniture is from the 19th. Century, and there are statues and busts of Columbus in display cases and above the fireplace. The restaurant, breakfast room, kitchen, and bar were all renovated about one-and-a-half years ago.

The guest rooms at the Hotel Colon were upgraded and redecorated, beginning three years ago. The rooms here are all air conditioned now, and many of them have magnificent views of the Gothic Cathedral from balconies that overlook the Cathedral Plaza. There are 145 rooms at the Hotel Colon. They range in price from about $265 to $420 per night. For more information about the hotel or bookings, you can email them at: info@hotelcolon.es, or visit their web site www.hotelcolon.es.


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