The Clifton
After a change of ownership, the historic inn was shut down temporarily for a cosmetic refresh by Blackberry Farm Design.
The walls throughout The Clifton were painted in Farrow & Ball’s Stone Blue, and the trim was gussied up with the complementary shade of Stiffkey Blue by Farrow & Ball.
In the foyer, Phillip Jeffries’ tranquil blue Fade Sea Spray wallpaper gives a subtle nod to the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains, which guests have views of from the property.
Off the foyer, what was originally the check-in area for guests was turned into a swanky lounge, featuring a round "sociable sofa," upholstered in Kravet Verbier Diamond fabric in Leaf/Teal.
In the lounge, banquettes are upholstered in Lee Jofa’s Saranac Cord fabric in gold.
The most hands-on part of the inn’s facelift happened in the bar and adjacent lounge area, where the front desk was removed and the bar was elongated. A new bar-back was constructed out of wood shelving and supported by copper piping.
The Library, which serves as a dining room at the inn, was given a bold color scheme. The walls and paneling were painted in Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue, and the ceiling was given a lighter shade. The Dallas Chandelier from Arteriors adds a sleek, contemporary edge to the space.
In the Library, built-in bookcases and a long banquette (upholstered in Kravet’s Versailles Velvet fabric, color E25600) were installed on the far side of the room.
Before the inn opened in 1985, the veranda was an open-air front porch, with guests arriving from the river side of the property. However, in 1985 the porch was enclosed and the back of the house became the entrance.
After a thoughtful remodel, a boutique hotel outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, is now inviting guests to embrace its luxurious dosage of Southern charm. There is no doubt The Clifton has had a fascinating past. Originally built in 1799, the historic 100-acre estate once belonged to Thomas Jefferson’s son-in-law, Thomas Mann Randolph Jr. Husband to Jefferson’s oldest daughter, Martha, Randolph was a senator, delegate, and governor of Virginia, and used the land as an outpost for trade up and down the Rivanna River. Since the mid-1980s, the 1,850-square-foot historic building has operated as the acclaimed inn, The Clifton. Due to a recent change of ownership, the interiors have been beautifully revamped by Blackberry Farm Design to give the space a more contemporary aesthetic.