In Community With: The Amelia Hotel

The folks at The Amelia were incredibly kind and welcoming, and generously invited us to spend a day there styling a few of their beautiful bedrooms and common areas with MINNA. It was such a fun and rewarding experience, and we feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to collaborate with them. Today we are sharing a little of what they're about and what community means to them. 

Photos by Tasha Hurley

What’s your name and pronouns? Tell us about your work at The Amelia Hotel.

KATIE: I’m Katie Giovannucci (she/her) and I am the manager of The Amelia. I am here to ensure everyone feels at home during their stay with us.

How did The Amelia Hotel get started? What inspired the design choices?

KATIE: The Amelia was opened in June 2021 by Shannon Wu (she/her). From Shannon — "My intention behind The Amelia was to create a relaxing weekend escape that is inviting and comfortable — less of a hotel, more like a country home. We put extra care into every little detail of the home, from the curated in-room libraries to the locally sourced bath amenities and beyond. Since it is my first hotel, I'm especially eager to start welcoming guests and hope that The Amelia will provide a place of sanctuary for those looking to retreat to the growing town of Hudson, New York."

The design of the home mixes the original Queen Anne-style residence with a modern aesthetic and feng shui layout. Shannon adores clean, simple design, however, her childhood in Beijing inspired a fondness for the history and character found in older homes. All the rooms are filled with natural light making sure each room projects positive energy. “I enjoy mixing old and new and maximizing comfort. Preserving historic architectural integrity is important to me. At the same time, I do not want the house to be a period piece. So, we used mid-century modern furniture that works well with the period details.”

How would you describe The Amelia’s ethos and values? How do your values influence space?

KATIE: Hudson is a thriving town filled with incredible art and culture and we are excited to be part of it. We strive to create a space where our guests feel at home and comfortable to relax and enjoy the beauty of upstate New York. It is important to us that all of our guests feel like they are visiting their own home rather than staying at a hotel. That could be enjoying a book from our library in front of the fire, having their morning coffee on the front porch, or relaxing by the pool in the afternoon sun. Our main floor is much like a home with communal spaces for guests to enjoy a quiet moment, and our rooms upstairs all have their own unique identity. 

What does rest mean to you and how does it relate to the offerings at The Amelia? 

KATIE: Rest means being able to escape the day to day, to be able to seek quietness and center your mind and body. We keep this in mind when making decisions about what goes into the hotel. Each of our guest rooms and suites are comfortable and naturally lit. From the modern furnishings to the vintage charm of the house, everything is placed with intention yet free of anything extraneous.