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THE DRAKE, CHICAGO

Design Firm

Photography

Todd Kaminski, Kaminski Studio

The Story

Since it opened in the 1920s, The Drake in Chicago has never compromised on quality – an attribute shared with Ulster Carpets.

This legendary, historic hotel reportedly once refused to install ice machines until they could match the quality of handmade cubes. On the other hand, The Drake led the way in terms of luxury and opulence, being the first hotel in the city to install air conditioning and to have colour TVs in the guest rooms.

Decade after decade, those same high standards have been retained, with icons from Bing Crosby, Walt Disney and Princess Diana through to Queen Elizabeth II, Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimaggio just some of iconic names who enjoyed The Drake.

To help retain that sense of history and inimitable style, we worked with Anderson/Miller, Ltd. (AML), to design and manufactured custom carpet for The Grand Ballroom, The French Room and the adjoining pre-function.

AML are renowned for the creation of an authentic experience, and this was integral in maintaining the sense of grandeur in this beautiful beaux-art hotel.

The 5,000+ square foot carpet in the Grand Ball room is another example of The Art of Ulster. The Grand Ballroom was built in the ‘Roaring Twenties’ at the height of The Charleston craze and the new wool-rich carpet will put a spring in your step.

The same richness of design can be found in The French Room, where the custom carpet had to match the ornate beauty of the wall mouldings, faux silk wall coverings and crystal chandeliers. Our designs for the pre-function areas are equally as impressive and add a sense of continuity to the overall interior style.

The bespoke carpet at The Drake illustrates the meticulous design capabilities of Ulster. The large scale artistry delivers a visual impact deserving of The Drake’s timeless elegance, yet a closer look unveils another layer of detailed intricacy.

This depth and texture is why The Art of Ulster can be found in beautiful spaces around the world. See more examples of this in our Project Gallery – View more of our projects at https://ulstercarpets.com/contract/projects/