Worldly Interior Designer Brings Unique Style to Inns

When arriving at The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls, guests immediately feel a sense of calm and relaxation. Of course, stepping into one of the four Inns or cottages marks the beginning of a true getaway, and the friendly, professional hospitality helps guests feel well cared for, but the ambiance of each space creates an undercurrent of tranquility that brings all the elements of a NH vacation together: simplicity, comfort, beauty, and a connection with the natural surroundings—nothing too much and nothing missing. This subtle balance was achieved by interior designer Patricia Sava, a true artist with a keen sense for creating just the right mood for every space she helps design.

“I have been fortunate to have had design projects all over the country since I started Sava Designs, LLC in 1976,” says Pat. “Projects run the gamut from mid-mountain cafeterias and dining facilities in Vail and Beaver Creek CO, interval-ownership condominiums in Stowe, VT, Loon Mt, Lincoln NH, and Breckenridge CO, boutique hotels in Meredith and Lakeport NH, Breckenridge, and Telluride CO, and an assisted living and rehab center in Meredith, NH, to golf clubs in Beaver Creek, CO and Melvin Village, NH. My own houses in Waterville Valley, NH, Breckenridge, CO, Merida Mexico, and a houseboat in Sausalito, CA have been fun projects as well.”

Pat calls Waterville Valley, NH home again after being away for many years. She brought her varied design experience to the Mill Falls project in 1984 and has been working with Rusty McLear and the Mill Falls team since the very beginning. “Rusty and I started in the basement of what was going to be the Inn at Mill Falls, looking at plans with the architect,” says Pat. “It’s really been a wonderful collaboration.” She has since brought each of the Inns to life with her unique approach.

“They all have a different flavor and different style,” explains Pat. “The Inn at Mill Falls is more like a ‘Country Inn,’ if you will. It has simple, Shaker-style furniture and ‘country’ fabrics and wall coverings. The Chase House leans more to a ‘traditional’ New England Colonial style with rich colors, toile fabric, wing chairs, and fireplaces, with Audubon bird prints and botanicals on the walls. It just has a different feeling completely.

“Bay Point with its gorgeous views down Meredith Bay to the greater lake and mountains is done in a nautical theme. It has bright, happy colors with mahogany stained furniture and baths. Brass boat cleat drawer pulls and nautical details finish the rooms. Antique wooden boat photos and pictures are hung throughout the hotel. The oil painting in the lobby is the view of antique boats in Meredith Bay from the Bay Point Hotel.  It, as well as the mural in the Oval Room at Church Landing, was painted by the artist Wendy Marquis.”

One of Pat’s favorite projects was the original Church Landing hotel. “It was a challenge creating Rusty’s vision of a lakeside Adirondack hotel from a yellow brick 60’s church. The architect David McIntyre and Rusty did a wonderful job with the building and gardens and we enjoyed creating the interior feeling of a much loved, comfortable hotel that has been visited by generations. It was especially rewarding to get to know the craftspeople, Don McCauley and his father, Don, Sr. from Rustic Designs, who built the birch furniture (some of which I designed), and who installed the birch beams and twig detail throughout Church Landing. The new cottages at Church Landing, Birch Lodge and Boathouse Lodge, were also wonderful projects.  Working with Ward D’Elia of Samyn D’Elia Architects, Ashland, NH was very rewarding. Each cottage is unique in feeling and a step up in luxury from Church Landing.”

Another of Pat’s favorite projects sits in complete contrast to Church Landing. “The New Sheridan Hotel in Telluride, CO was a hotel visited for generations since its creation in 1897. Sava Designs was charged with bringing the hotel back to its original glory. The New Sheridan was designated a National Historic Landmark both inside and out and as such the interior needed to be similar to what it had been in 1897. It was fascinating researching the type of products and design of the period and fun finding the pieces that would fit the designation.”

Pat says she likes working with any space. “I think the most important thing is figuring out what your client wants, what their vision is and how they want the space to be used, whether it is a private home, hotel, golf club, or an assisted living facility, etc. . . . and then creating that vision,” she says.

“I like to see people having fun and enjoying themselves in both informal and formal environments,” says Pat. “Rusty and the team at HHH are wonderful to work with. Everyone pulls together to make the vision happen.”

Pat sums up her design philosophy this way: “I love creating spaces people can feel relaxed and good in.” At the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls, she has achieved just that.

For more information, contact:

Patricia Sava
Sava Designs, LLC
PO 117
Waterville Valley,
NH 03215
savadesigns@gmail.com

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team