Carla Trivino
Palm Beach Daily News
After months of renovations, The Colony hotel unveiled its revamped lobby, and a new staff addition, on Dec. 18. The lobby, which will now be called the Living Room, has reopened under the supervision of Megan Brolley as the freshly appointed living room manager.
The new space caters to hotel guests and the community alike, serving as a gathering place for check-ins and a quick stop for locals to grab cocktails before dinner or sip coffee with the morning’s newspaper. Guests will have access to all-day beverage and cocktail service, and soon the hotel will add a menu so people can order light bites in the lobby.
Speaking with famed interior designer Carleton Varney, head decorator of the iconic Greenbrier Resort for the last 54 years, certain things become clear.
One, he is the unofficial goodwill ambassador of The Greenbrier. Two, he is passionate about his work. Three, he is a living record of the history of one of the nationâs grand hotels.
It was these things that wove themselves together to form the idea for his latest book, âRomance & Rhododendrons: My Love Affair with Americaâs Resort, The Greenbrier.â The book is a love letter to The Greenbrier, nestled in White Sulphur Springs, with its opulent but inviting decor. The history, memories and sketches told through photographs and commentary from Varney weave themselves into a great romance story.