Craving a change of scenery during our long drives down to North Carolina, we decided to mix things up a bit during last November’s trip, and stop in Richmond, VA in lieu of our usual Charlottesville or Milford, PA stopovers. Having a chance to explore Richmond for the first time in far too many years was certainly a driving factor, but the real reason we decided to venture off our standard road trip course was for a stay at the Quirk Hotel.
Prior to our trip, I kept seeing the Quirk mentioned in some of my favorite magazines – Garden & Gun and Travel + Leisure, among many others – and I was determined to experience this early twentieth century department store turned art-centric hotel firsthand. Although the sun was long gone once we arrived after our drive down from Maine, I could see that I’d have my work cut out for me in the morning, photographing this incredible space. The details of our room were plentiful and such a treat to shoot – the Cedar & Moss sconces, the bright wall art and punchy pillows, the Quirk-branded (pink!) white noise machine, and the custom-built furniture – all accented by the room’s pink walls, tall ceilings, and beautiful large windows. Michael and I were both in awe of the room’s design, and how so much character was infused into such a minimal space.
Traveling with Orvis, we’re always delighted when beautiful hotels are accommodating to dogs, and the Quirk was no exception. He was happily greeted by the staff, and as we walked around the bustling Saturday night crowd of the hotel’s restaurant to get to our room, people seemed genuinely happy to see him. A bigger, somewhat gangly dog in such a nice space is always a juxtaposition that brings a few smiles, but Orvis sure loved the attention he received during our stay.
Sadly, we missed being able to stop in the Quirk Gallery during our stay. The gallery and its boutique gift shop are two things that I’m positive would have only added to our already great experience at the hotel, but I’ve chosen to look at this as the perfect excuse to return to the Quirk during our next drive down south!
Photos by Meredith Perdue for Map & Menu.