eye on design

—— Clockwise from top left: Superordinate Antler Chandelier; white Jed Linen and shearling chair; artist Gray Malin’s photograph, “El Paradiso Sun Loungers St. Moritz”; safari leather chair.

ALPINE AESTHETIC

Wimberly Interiors infuses the spirit of the American West into Exclusive Resorts’ new Jackson Hole residences.

written by LEILANI MARIE LABONG

“JACKSON HOLE IS NOT MIAMI. IT’S NOT MANHATTAN. IT’S SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AND JUST AS WONDERFUL,” says Liana Hawes Young, creative

director of Wimberly Interiors. The global design firm’s hospitality portfolio spans opulant, gold-rimmed suites on the Orient Express, Caribbean-style breeziness at Nassau’s Rosewood Baha Mar, and, now, what she calls the “modern meets mountains” vibe of Exclusive Resorts’ new Jackson Hole residences.

“AS DESIGNERS, WE ALWAYS WANT TO TAP INTO THE SOUL OF WHERE WE ARE.”

-- LIANA HAWES YOUNG, WIMBERLY INTERIORS CREATIVE DIRECTOR

For the Nashville-based Hawes Young— whose family has been regularly visiting Jackson Hole for decades (as a non-skier, her preferred activities include traversing the Jenny Lake Trail in Grand Teton National Park, wandering the galleries at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, and having dinner at the Snake River Grill)— “capturing the spirit of the American West” for these modern residences is practically second nature.

Luckily, the history and culture of Jackson Hole (the 50-mile valley nestled between the Teton and Gros Ventre mountain ranges in western Wyoming is often confused with the town of Jackson, located at the valley’s southern end) is rich with design inspiration: More than a century before the area’s world-famous Corbet’s Couloir was ranked a doubleblack diamond ski run for its near-vertical entry chute and the landmark Million Dollar Cowboy Bar installed its kitschy saddle-topped bar stools, Jackson Hole was a pit stop for the Lewis and Clark expedition, fur trappers, and other brawny mountain men of legendary repute. Foregoing that burly yesteryear, the forested frontier was originally populated by the Blackfoot, Crow and Shoshoni, among other indigenous tribes. “All of this culture and history informs the design story,” says Hawes Young, who is also crafting culturally relevant settings at other Exclusive Resorts locations, including Whistler, British Columbia, and Sea Island, Georgia. “As designers, we always want to tap into the soul of where we are.” Here, she gives a sneak peek into the not-so-wild but thoroughly westerly tableau at the Club’s Jackson Hole residences.

RAW MATERIAL

To evoke the style and substance of a place, an authentic use of regional materials is in order. “A lot of the worn, knotty woods, weathered leathers, and darker metals we’re using are quintessentially western,” says Hawes Young. Shearling chair upholstery and fur throws for the beds add snug to the appealingly textural palette.

BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE

Though the origins of the iconic safari chair—which historically could be folded down and flat-packed for easy transportation—are traceable to the British military circa World War I, its hard-wearing leather and utilitarian sling seat conjure nights around a crackling campfire, an iconic trope of the American West. As such, Hawes Young considers the weathered, whiskey-colored leather safari seat the design’s “hero chair.”

HORN OF PLENTY

A dining room chandelier made of faux antlers is a nod to Jackson’s famous elk-antler arches, located at each corner of the town square. “We always want to anchor people in their environment,” says Hawes Young.

ART OF THE MATTER

Taking cues from Teton County’s National Museum of Wildlife Art, where an exhibit titled National Geographic: 50 Greatest Wildlife Photographs is currently on view until April 24, 2022, Hawes Young will source paintings and prints by regional artists to portray Jackson Hole’s wild kingdom. Photographer Gray Malin’s imagery featuring skier-flecked slopes in Aspen, Deer Valley, and St. Moritz, has also been a design inspiration.

PATTERN BEHAVIOR

Rugs and pillows will feature interpretations of Native American geometric motifs—admiring echoes, if you will, of sacred shapes and designs. “We do this in a way that’s tasteful and meant to honor the history and tradition of the culture,” adds Hawes Young.

SOUND UP!

SONOS DEBUTS AT CLUB RESIDENCES.

Ready to up-level your vacation? In partnership with Sonos, the world’s leading sound experience company and inventor of multiroom wireless home audio, Exclusive Resorts is debuting a Sonos pilot program in Lake Tahoe, Kapalua, La Jolla, and Kiawah Island. Members can also access personalized playlists at each Club destination. Expect mountaininspired vibes to get pumped for powder days or chill beach tunes to elevate seaside escapes. As part of the new program, Sonos is outfitting residences with a variety of products, including the Roam, Beam, Arc, One, and Move speakers.