Fourteen years after landing in the Gold Coast, the Waldorf Astoria received a multimillion-dollar facelift in an effort to keep up with a hot luxury hotel market. Chicago-based KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group, which led the original design in 2009, revamped public spaces and guest rooms and suites starting in January of last year.

“The redesign evolves the property’s tradition of timeless, refined luxury while giving it a modern edge,” said Jessica Alexander, KTGY SDDG senior design project manager.

The design team drew inspiration from French fashion and architecture. The black and white palette in the lobby highlights the original architecture of the space, including the existing marble floor. 

The front desk and concierge were refreshed with new Carrara marble; the Swarovski chandelier resembles the brooches Coco Chanel wore on her tweed suits.

The bar at Bernard's at Waldorf Astoria

Adjacent to lobby is the new Peacock Lounge, a much moodier space than the light and bright café it replaced. A marble-surround fireplace, mohair velvet sofas in a deep plum shade and wall niches lined in peacock feathers make better use of the space, with appetizers and champagne available from the menu. The jewel-tone parlor, outfitted with brass accents and Impressionist art, is a nod to the brand’s Peacock Alley at its flagship Waldorf Astoria New York. 

On the 2nd floor, Bernard’s restaurant, which closed in 2016 and most recently was used as meeting space, has been resurrected with a new look and menu. It’s a little hideaway with an intimate atmosphere and rare spirits, some of which can be stored in private antique brass lockers for patrons with the budget. 

Peacock Lounge at Waldorf Astoria

“All details had to feel exclusive, bespoke and create a stage for the food and beverage to continue the design story,” said Carrie Tolman, an associate principal at the design firm. KTGY SDDY looked to the Scottish Highlands, including Chanel’s estate there, for inspiration. 

Tweed patterns, dark walls and leather accents conjure a seductive vibe. Smoked-glass windows peer down to the lobby and hint at the activity below while still creating a sense of intimacy. Millwork paneling is detailed with custom herringbone-tweed inserts. There’s a choice of seating from cozy upholstered banquettes to bar stools. 

Cocktails at Bernard’s focus on brown spirits, though there is a limited beer selection. For $15 to $30 each, concoctions include an espresso martini poured into a teacup; a hickory-smoked reposado served smoking in a wooden box; and, in a nod to the iconic fragrance, Chanel No 5, a vodka presented in a diffused perfume bottle and finished with a spray of rosewater. Bernard’s also offers caviar service, lobster pico with house tortilla chips and hand-carved Iberico ham.

A renovated suite at the Waldorf

Two cavernous guest suites, reminiscent of pied-à-terres in Paris, received major upgrades during the renovation. Cerused white oak flooring runs throughout both suites while black-and-white pinstriped stone trims the entryways. They are furnished with curved sofas and paneled headboards and accented with polished brass and black-nickel finishes. 

Both suites feature private entrances to a butler’s kitchen for caterers. The new, 1,500-square-foot Astoria Suite combines three former standard guestrooms and now includes two fireplaces, a kitchenette and a furnished terrace. The suite also has the ability to add a third bedroom, bringing the square footage up to 1,900. (Rates run $4,000 a night for the one-bedroom and $5,000 for the two-bedroom.) 

A suite at Waldrof Astoria

A suite at Waldorf Astoria

Inside the Presidential Suite, there’s a full-size kitchen, dining room, fitness room and two terraces with views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. The master bedroom has a private lounge positioned in front of a gas fireplace and a Carrara stone bathroom, with a large walk-in shower and soaking tub. The Presidential Suite can expand to 3,000 square feet with the addition of a third bedroom. (Rates are $10,000 per night for the two-bedroom and $12,500 for the three-bedroom option.)

A suite's bathroom, Waldorf Astoria 

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