Hotel style: Hotel Gansevoort

The hotel
Manhattan's first full-service luxury hotel in the ultra-trendy Meat Packing District gets its name from the Dutch; "gans" meaning goose and "voort" meaning ahead, which implies that this hotel is ahead of its game. And it certainly is. Anchored on the corner of Ninth Ave. and 13th Street, the Hotel Gansevoort is in the center of the hip and stylish historic Meat Packing District. The swanky digs boast 187 stylish rooms on 14 floors, a 45-foot heated rooftop pool and lounge, a spectacular spa, and hot-spot neo-Japanese restaurant ONO. Not to mention the lofty nine-foot ceilings and amazing views you get of the city from every room. Keep your eyes and ears open Torontonians -- a Hotel Gansevoort is set be opened in Canada's largest city in the near future.

The look
This hotel is nothing short of urban sophistication at its best. One-third of the rooms have balconies and many have bay windows to allow you to soak up the city lights. Classy and minimalist, the rooms feature a colour palette of neutral, greys and rich blackberry shades. Throw in elegant sheets and plush pillows in contrasting colours, lavish leather detailing, slick and modern dark wooden furniture, textured walls, and the latest in technology and you have an uber-glam oasis in the city.

The inspiration
One look around the Meat Packing District is all you need to find the inspiration of the Hotel Ganesvoort. Architect Stephen B. Jacobs kept with the neighbourhood's architectural traditions of meat warehouses and created a building clad with zinc-coloured metal panels, glass balconies and projecting bay windows. For the interior, designer Andi Pepper gathered inspiration from stylish boutiques, such as Stella McCartney, Theory, Alexander McQueen and Catherine Malandrino's flagship stores -- all within walking distance of the hotel.