Driven by Design

Fifteen stories above Manhattan lies a piece of Crewe, England, the Cheshire town that is home to British automaker Bentley Motors. Inside a 15th floor suite at The St. Regis New York, incredible city views are balanced by subtle, but equally incredible, elements that reflect the world-class craftsmanship of the Bentley brand.

Fittingly named the Bentley Suite, the 1,700-square-foot space combines exquisite Bentley leather and polished wood in a contemporary design.

“The Bentley messaging and details inside the suite are subtle,” says Paul Nash, general manager of The St. Regis New York. “People who know Bentley will know what those design elements are; those who don’t will appreciate the modern, yet glamorous, look and feel of the suite.”

Perfect Partnership

The only one in the world, the Bentley Suite offers unparalleled New York City views. The suite’s architecture—including its 15-foot ceilings—gives the space an open feel that perfectly suits its decor.

The concept for the one bedroom, 1.5 bath suite began more than two years ago and involved an extensive design and planning process between Bentley and The St. Regis New York.

“The synergy of the two luxury brands, Bentley and the St. Regis, speaks for itself,” Nash says. “We’re very fortunate to be in an iconic building in New York City, and Bentley has an impressive history in making its vehicles, which are highly coveted throughout the world.”

Joe Ashworth, head of customer relations for Bentley, says it made absolute sense to partner with The St. Regis New York.

“At Bentley, we are committed to maintaining our position as the definitive British luxury car company,” Ashworth says. “It is therefore important that we partner with a pinnacle brand that underpins our own values of craftsmanship, style and sophistication.

“Our current and prospective customers recognize the heritage of both brands, and with The St. Regis New York, we aim to broaden the appeal and experience of Bentley,” Ashworth adds.

A Detailed Vision

Designed by Wimberly Interiors, the Bentley Suite celebrates and complements the extraordinary workmanship found in the Crewe, England, factory where the new 2013 Bentley Mulsanne is made.

“The exhilarating suite is both sleek and refined, reflecting Bentley’s debonair aesthetic and progressive vision within the Beaux Arts architecture of The St. Regis New York,” says Liana Hawes, creative director at Wimberly Interiors. “The suite features a seductive and sophisticated slate of neutral colors […] punctuated with exquisite soft Bentley leather, highly polished wood and brightware details that evoke the interiors of a racing car.”

Upon entering the suite, guests walk through a set of double doors and are greeted by the defining characteristics of the high-end automotive brand—a blend of cream and neutral tones set against rich wood finishes that are found throughout the suite.

The suite’s design boasts a unique juxtaposition of Old World elegance and modern sleekness that reflects the bespoke elements of both Bentley and the St. Regis brands.

A black leather floor pairs perfectly with the foyer’s linen-colored, perforated diamond leather wall, which is stitched with one of Bentley’s 42 custom leathers. A metallic silver mirror, inspired by a carbon fiber wheel rim, sits above an accent table that is evocative of the dashboard of a Bentley.

The Bentley Suite alone incorporates 500 different elements of Bentley leather—from the ottoman in the living room to the media wall in the dining room.

In the living room, ivory walls are accented with crisp black crown molding, while an ultra-plush stuffed leather sofa and wing chairs provide comfort and relaxation. Menswear-inspired herringbone drapery hangs from floor to ceiling, framing the windows that provide unforgettable views overlooking Fifth Avenue and Central Park.

Even the bed itself is a work of art. The bedroom features a custom sleigh bed with the classic Bentley burled wood, complemented by the warm color palette of aubergine, warm grays and ivory. The root-burrow wood throughout the room is reminiscent of the signature Bentley Mulsanne’s exotic natural wood veneers.

Such design details are found throughout the suite and are as uniquely handmade as the Bentley itself.

“In the 2013 Bentley Mulsanne, everything is hand-stitched,” Nash explains. “There are 48 different types of stitching, with 100 different leather tones, giving you 6 million different combinations. The Bentley Suite at The St. Regis New York is equally as customized.”

Perhaps the most captivating space in the Bentley Suite is the dining room, which creatively blends formality with multifunction.

“It is more geared toward the male guest,” Nash says. “It is a place to play cards, smoke cigars or dine formally. ”

The dining room features an expansive media wall that includes a large TV as well as four Breitling clocks that mark the time in New York, Riyadh, London and Moscow. Bold black trim is set against cream walls, where hanging artwork tells the story of the Bentley brand through photographs from the brand’s founding to the present day. A sumptuous leather rug and dark-stained white oak floors also evoke the understated elegance of the brand.

“Many of the fittings reflect jewelry features in our cars, and the use of leather and colors convey the special cocooning that drivers and passengers feel when they experience the interior of a Bentley,” says Daniele Ceccomori, senior Bentley designer.

Automotive Excellence

When guests are not inside the suite, they take their Bentley experience one step further with a chauffeur-driven ride in a custom-made 2013 Bentley Mulsanne, the first in the U.S.

The St. Regis New York has an exclusive partnership with Bentley, giving guests the opportunity to ride in the Mulsanne within 10 blocks of the hotel. The metallic bronze vehicle has one-of-a-kind St. Regis touches, including St. Regis tread plates and headrests.

Inside the Mulsanne are St. Regis-inspired details, including magnolia-colored leather balanced by saddle-hued leather. The interior colors, combined with the metallic bronze paint color, match the St. Regis’ color scheme. In addition, the vehicle has a frosted glass refrigerated bottle cooler with beautiful crystal Champagne flutes in the back seat.

Bentley isn’t the only Designer Suite at The St. Regis New York: The hotel also has a longstanding relationship with Tiffany and Christian Dior, both of which have their own custom-designed suites.

“The suites are what differentiate us from the competition,” Nash says. “When staying in the Bentley Suite, our guests have use of the Bentley car and they have the signature services of the St. Regis butler. Staying in the only suite of its kind in the world in an iconic hotel in New York City—with the legendary St. Regis butler service at your fingertips—simply doesn’t get any better than that.”

Inside the Bentley Mulsanne

No two Bentleys are exactly alike, and that’s particularly true of the 2013 Bentley Mulsanne, custom-designed for The St. Regis New York. The metallic bronze-colored vehicle, complete with St. Regis tread plates and stitched St. Regis head rests, is one of a kind—just as its riding experience is unmatched by any other vehicle.

The 2013 Mulsanne, a testament to Bentley’s sporting heritage and passion for power and speed, blends classic Bentley heritage with clean, modern lines. The vehicle features a bold frontal design dominated by the traditional Bentley matrix grille and prominent round headlamps with chrome surrounds. The Mulsanne’s long hood complements its sharp, sculptured lines to give the vehicle a powerful, sporty look.

To accentuate its bodywork, the Mulsanne features polished stainless steel brightware for its sill tread plates and matrix grilles. The door handles reflect the company’s attention to detail, while the front wing vents and wide oval tailpipe finishers speak to the vehicle’s sporting capability.

Performance is key, with the 6.75-liter twin supercharged V8 engine allowing the car to reach speeds of 60 mph in 5.1 seconds.

“The new Mulsanne is a thoroughly modern flagship that captures the essence of the Bentley [brand],” says Franz-Josef Paefgen, chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors. “It is elegant yet distinctly sporting in character, delivering effortless performance while within its sumptuous cabin, advanced technology sits discreetly with handcrafted luxury.”

The Mulsanne takes nine weeks to build, with 170 hours spent on crafting the interior of the vehicle. The use of wood and leather hides creates a refined, luxurious cabin. All leather, from the seats to the iPod drawer, is hand-selected, and a team of talented, highly experienced craftspeople applies attention to every detail.

“No other car maker can offer such a blend of performance and refinement in a single vehicle,” Paefgen says. “The Mulsanne is a car that evokes the Bentley philosophy of building the best luxury grand tourers in the world.”