With successful hospitality projects in Philadelphia’s Old City and Fishtown, the Stay Lokal team—headed up by Courtney and Chad Ludeman—move ‘down the shore’, Lokal Hotel Cape May being the couple’s fourth property and largest to date; the ‘invisible service’ bespoke apartment hotel cum mini resort located mere steps from the beach in New Jersey’s evocative Cape May, renowned for its handsome Victorian mansions and throwback Americana style.
The eight interestingly named (each based on Victorian slang, think ‘Afternoonified’ or ‘Gigglemug’) suites feature bespoke artwork by local artists and, being a boutique hotel/apart-hotel hybrid, are kitted out generously with full kitchens, islands, dining areas and living rooms. The colour palette is a mixture of white, walnut, matte black and ‘olive drab’ green; The Ludemans creating a modern beach house with mid-century modern styling and lashings of natural light thanks to enlarged windows and ceilings that have been raised considerably.
Artist Zara Fina Stasi has painted a whopping six-by-twelve-foot piece that hangs in the entrance foyer; Elizabeth Kirk painted temporary signage on the front façade during the last weeks of construction; and locals Brian and Mike DeMusz designed and painted all the custom entrance doors to the units, hand carved the street number into the façade and painted all the signage on the front door, walkways and interior pool areas. Chad and Courtney Ludeman, who is managing Cape May herself with the support of family members, also worked with local makers, continuing with the Lokal commitment to involve local artisans and makers at every step of their projects; also collaborating with coffee roasters, tea shops and design stores.
Located at 5 Stockton Pl, the property—that “stands out a bit in Victorian Cape May,” but which has been well received—was made from 100% wood with no plastic or fibre cement and, talking of outside, the pièce de résistance at this summer bolthole has to be the 45-foot-long salt water pool with an integrated ‘drinking bench’ along the entire length of the pool, lounge chairs and umbrellas for 16 guests with overflow seating ensuring that each of the 28 adults that Lokal Hotel Cape May’s suites can accommodate may all be seated at once.
Combining the freedom and comfort of living their Philadelphia properties have become known for with the laidback feel of traditional American seaside resorts, Lokal‘s latest is an irresistible project that will have design-savvy vacationers flocking to the Jersey coastline; another triumph.
Photography, courtesy Lokal Hotel Cape May
