t r av el+cu lt u r e to sUm it Up casual and effortlessly chic. 428 east boston street, covington, louisiana. southernhotel.com; rooms from $159 southwest insider CheCk In southern hotel In small-town Covington, Louisiana, a boutique hotel struts in true Southern style the look & Feel developer and co-owner lisa condrey ward took great care in preserving the building’s original mission-style architecture. large pier arches framed in tropical landscaping lead into a modern and elegant lobby. a two-sided ﬁreplace anchors sitting other hotels we love four more art-centric hotels T X4 | nooks decorated in serene earth tones. a wall of imposing arched doors opens up to a peaceful courtyard, complete with an elaborate water fountain and plunge pool. bright and breezy, the space feels lived-in and loved, with a reserved nod to luxury. The Windsor Boutique Hotel asheville, nc it’s upscale and art focused. windsor asheville.com; rooms from $269 sou ther n li v ing | nov ember 2014 the service covington is a laid-back southern city with nola on one side and rolling farm country on the other. the residents, and the service community, seem to be just as mellow as their locale. don’t expect the white-glove treatment here, but rather a cozy and comfortable stay, much like at your maw-maw’s house. that is, of course, if your maw-maw is an unequivocally chic southern lady with a penchant for ﬁne furnishings. the sleeping Quarters though small and simple, the traditional King room makes good use of its square footage with architectural elements that suggest the hotel’s previous lives. a wall of exposed brick holds the large, old window frames that let tons of natural light spill into the space. lively prints in sunny colors deﬁne a down- and pillow-topped bed. it’s comfortable and charming without even a smidgen of snobbery. From leFt: guests enjoying cocktails in the hotel lobby bar; sitting room and reading nook; deluxe suite room Hotel Ella austin, tX an extensive collection includes works by many austin artists. hotelella.com; rooms from $250 by Lacy Morris ~ photographs by robbie caponetto bottom, left: courtesy blue ocean photography/windsor boutique hotel; bottom, right: laurey w. glenn U p U n t i l n ow, the little-sister city to new orleans has been left out of the boutique-hotel trend. but thanks to a family of local developers, that has changed. this historic 42-room property, built in 1907, is polished to its original grandeur, an undertaking that was nearly three years in the making. now, it’s the focal point of the charming downtown community. southwest insider the Food & drink Ox Lot 9 executive chef and gulf Coast native Jeffrey Hansell pays tribute to his old stomping grounds with a menu primed with soulful Southern cuisine utilizing fresh, local ingredients. Try the Oyster Patty; it’s “a take on the ones i would enjoy as a kid at family gatherings,” says Jeffrey. gulf oysters are lightly poached in a fennel cream with Pernod, melted leeks, and smoked bacon, then poured in a warm puff pastry. The Seared Scallops are equally refreshing and light. They’re presented with toasted pine nuts, shaved cucumbers, and lemon oil as well as a light and spicy sorbet made from avocados and serrano chiles. Summer melons are compressed with lime juice, agave nectar, and Thai basil and served chilled alongside. with works by local artists. The result is a living museum of sorts. in the lobby, you’ll see pieces by Bernard Mattox and Rebecca Rebouché, two artists who have studios in town. in the Olympia Room (named after Covington’s Mardi gras krewe), peek at a commissioned painting by artist Leslie Dudley. The work shows the krewe in action during a Mardi gras Heywood Hotel Austin, TX Local art and artisan crafts are featured throughout. heywoodhotel.com; rooms from $179 TX6 | sou ther n li v ing parade. Artist Scott Ewen, who grew up in Covington, completed a commanding 7- by 10-foot depiction of a regal white horse. And the suites are stocked with local ﬂair—including images by Covington photographer Harriet Blum and pencilpost beds that are crafted out of cypress wood by local furniture-maker greg Arceneaux. 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville, AR Sleep among quirky works of art. 21cmuseumhotels .com; rooms from $199 | nov ember 2014 BOTTOM, LEFT: COURTESY CASEY DUNN/HEYWOOD HOTEL; BOTTOM, RigHT: BALL & ALBANESE Seared Scallops at Ox Lot 9. above: Chef Jeffrey Hansell the extras With a dedication to tooting a horn for her hometown’s immense talent, Lisa stocked the free walls of the hotel Others We LOve FIGHT CANCER t r av el+cu lt u r e