CHM Blog

Ken, who authored a book on the history of The Carolina Inn titled The University's Living Room, explains that plans for the renovation project were first hatched in January 2009 at a charrette (which is a French term for a collaborative session of designers). The group discussed "what the inn was about and what made it special," said Ken. It was decided that the ultimate goal of the project would be to uphold the intentions of John Sprunt Hill, who gave the inn to the university in 1935 to serve as "a cheerful inn for visitors, a town hall for the state and a home for returning sons and daughters of alma mater."

The last renovation of the hotel took place in 1995 and the the inn has actually undergone renovations every 12 or 15 years since it was built in 1924. Ken explained, "Popular hotels get a lot of use. Even luxury hotels have wear and tear." One of the most important facts about the renovation that Ken wanted us to understand is that "The Inn is self-supporting. It does not take a dime from the university or state." This is because when Hill gifted the inn to the university, he did so with one stipulation: after expenses, all profits from the inn must go to the university library, especially to support The North Carolina Collection.

Guest rooms have been beautifully updated and decorated. (You can check out a few of them in our slide show to the left!) Changes include new furniture -- 80% of which was made in North Carolina (the remaining 20% was manufactured within 500 miles of Chapel Hill in an effort to reduce carbon emissions during delivery). Although most of the pieces are new, they maintain the "colonial revival" look that the inn is known for. However, nothing about these rooms is stuffy or antiquated. While furnishing may be more traditional, designers had fun with color -- one of the guest rooms we visited featured a hot pink leather chair.