Best Accommodations Design: Sosuite
We are proud to announce our 2020 Tastemaker Awards winner for best accommodations design: Sosuite. Learn how the co-founders of Sosuite transformed an old industrial building into a gorgeous short-term rental property.
Wayfair Professional members shared hundreds of stunning images from their portfolios in hopes of impressing four industry-leading judges and becoming our 2020 Tastemakers. Taking the top prize for best accommodations design is Sosuite, a hospitality company providing accommodations for business travelers looking for a reliable stay, couples out for a romantic getaway, and families and friends yearning for authenticity without compromising quality.
With these goals in mind, Simon Seroussi, interior designer and co-founder of Sosuite, set out to transform part of an old industrial building erected in 1917 into a hotel. Judge Ariela Kiradjian was blown away that Simon was able to create an immense feeling of openness in such an urban environment.
“The unique marble-effect wall covering is definitely what stands out most here, and I really give a lot of kudos to the designer for being able to balance different objects with such a busy wall covering and still keep the feeling of simplicity,” Kiradjian said. “I also love how this project focused on two aspects of light and balance that when used together encapsulate a feeling of openness in an urban environment, which is something very hard to pull off.”
Q&A with Simon:
We got to discuss this winning project with Simon. Here’s what he had to say:
Can you tell us a little about your company?
Myself and my co-founder, Jean-Emmanuel Losi, started Sosuite in January 2019. Sosuite democratizes the 5-star hotel experience. We want travelers to experience luxury design at a great price point. Sosuite designs rooms with a mix of mid-century and contemporary pieces, and signature pops of color to evoke a playful and sweet feeling.
To cohabit harmoniously with the residents of the neighborhoods we operate in, we create thoughtful partnerships with property developers and landlords. Our focus is on ensuring underutilized real estate is put to good use — we’re currently working to turn another derelict industrial Philadelphia building into Sosuites! Most of our units are in West and Center Philadelphia, and we have plans to expand to new Philadelphia neighborhoods and new cities in 2021.
Can you describe this particular project and how you went about completing it?
We wanted to incorporate the feel of the adjacent Callowhill neighborhood — known as the Loft District — into the space. Each Sosuite is created to embody the neighborhood it finds itself in so travelers can feel like locals. Using all Wayfair products, we installed modern marble wallpaper in one bedroom and painted dramatic geometric patterns in another. We also set out to embrace the original architecture of the building, and played with the constraint of some rooms not having natural light. In the second bedroom, we brought to light the concrete tones and ceiling height. In the middle, a colorful living space links to two.
Have you received any feedback from guests yet?
We opened these latest Sosuites in March 2020, right as the pandemic reached US shores. For the past few months, we shifted our efforts to welcome displaced international students, traveling medical professionals, and locals in need of a staycation or a calm space to work. Many guests have already stayed, and we’ve received lots of rave reviews! One was from a guest who said, "How whimsical. I cannot talk enough about how uniquely designed this space this is. It made me feel like home, or rather the home I wish I had!"
How did Wayfair Professional or your Account Manager help with this project?
We’ve worked with three Account Managers, and they’ve been great! They help us stay realistic about logistics including delivery dates, total time needed to complete a project, and more. We now create a wish list for our Account Manager, Katie, and she sources all the products so we can consistently meet our goals. Wayfair's Super Browse filtering feature has also helped a lot when it comes to finding great pieces at the right price.
