Morrison House to Undergo Multimillion-Dollar Renovation

PHOTOS: New guest room design at Morrison House to be completed in April 2016 at Kimpton’s Morrison House; photo by David Phelps

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Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants announced Wednesday it will embark upon a top-to-bottom, multimillion-dollar renovation and redesign of Morrison House and The Grille in Old Town Alexandria this winter encompassing all guest rooms and public spaces.

The 45-key hotel, located at 116 S. Alfred St. (see location on map, below), will temporarily close for enhancements beginning Feb. 1 and is slated to reopen in April, the company said in a news release.

The Grille at Morrison House will permanently close on Jan. 18, after the holiday season, to make way for a stylish new 70-seat restaurant and bar with a dynamic culinary and bar team.

While the project will include a sophisticated new design, the largest modification will take place on the hotel’s main floor, according to Kimpton.

The space will be completely reconfigured to offer more open and engaging areas, by bringing the restaurant and bar to the forefront of the building where guests can easily flow from check-in to the cozy living room to relaxing at the bar in one connected space, Kimpton said. Additionally, the hotel’s updated layout will feature a new signature ballroom with 985 square feet of meeting and social event space fit for anything from corporate meetings to weddings of up to 80 guests.

New interior design will be introduced at the hotel with the help of Los Angeles-based designer David Hill, who also redesigned Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Alexandria in early 2015. Hill’s notion for the design was inspired by beloved American literary masterpieces set on and around water – a modern take on Morrison House’s original bookish concept that also incorporates the hotel’s close proximity to the banks of the Potomac River.

Guests will be welcomed with whimsical, progressive designs featuring botanical and water elements and bespoke artwork inspired by the storytelling in beloved classics from “The Great Gatsby” to “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Nods to local tradition include incorporations of signature tartan plaids – a tribute to Alexandria’s rich Scottish heritage. With these carefully curated elements, Hill hopes to create unique, magical touch points that speak to the romance, mystery and poetic allure of Old Town Alexandria.

Renowned for its award-winning service, Kimpton’s Morrison House will continue to deliver its signature attentive care for guests, which has earned it the prestigious recognition as Alexandria’s only AAA Four Diamond rated hotel for 29 years. With a new look and feel, the hotel will create an elevated experience for in-the-know travelers with its unique style and warm, personalized services when it makes its debut as one of northern Virginia’s top hotels in spring 2016.