The Bellyard, West Midtown Atlanta, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel stands prominently at the corner of 14th Street and Howell Mill Road in the thick of Atlanta’s West Midtown neighborhood. Part of the mixed-used development The Interlock, the 161-room boutique hotel marks the first of its kind in this industrial-chic part of town.
It would have been easy to design just a beautiful hotel, but for lead designer Mallori Hamilton, it was important to pay homage to the neighborhood’s grittier roots as an industrial area once home to factories and stockyards. The stockyards, specifically, are what Hamilton paid tribute to in the hotel’s design.
“We wanted to tie into the history of the local area. We wanted to tell the story of the area, not just produce a really pretty hotel,” says Hamilton.
The tone is set when you enter the lobby — perched above the street on a mezzanine level — and are greeted by a striking cow sculpture that recalls the stockyards that once comprised the neighborhood. The vibe is upscale but inviting.
“We really wanted to create this cool ‘resi-mercial’ feel of the hotel, where you’re not just staying in a hotel. You can come; you can hang out. You can work there, have a cocktail,” she says. Big comfy couches and seating spread throughout the space feel intimate, inviting people — guests and locals alike — to work or catch up with friends.
The modern space imbued with warm tones feels more like a living room–dining room combo, and the restaurant, Drawbar, is blended into the space rather than kept separate. Look up and you’ll see lighting beams on the ceiling reminiscent of railroad tracks (another playful homage to the industrial neighborhood).
An artful stockyard motif is woven into the hotel’s design as a way to remind guests of the neighborhood’s history. Washed white oak, for example, is used throughout because it’s reminiscent of fencing colors. It’s found in the wood paneling at the bar, on the walls and built-ins in the lobby, and the flooring in the corridors and guest bedrooms.
“We have a lot of natural materials in there. The concrete, the steel, the wood, and all of that is back to what would you really find where stockyards are,” says Hamilton, who started on the project as the lead designer under Wakefield Beasley and finished it under Uncommon Studios.
Another hallmark feature of the Bellyard is the carefully selected art, most of it from local artists or thoughtfully chosen craftspeople. An abstract metal sculpture, for instance, hangs on a wall in the lobby. It was created by Hamilton’s father, Randy Hamilton, a rancher who uses recycled agricultural equipment in his craft.
“It was made from materials that you would find in the stockyard, and it was made by somebody that actually did all of that, but turned it into something modern, which is basically the essential approach to our hotel,” says Hamilton. In addition, all of the hotel’s wooden stools, benches and tables were made by local craftsperson Josh Hardesty.
No detail is overlooked, including the elevator landings where Hamilton created a playful experience to denote which floor you’re on.
When you step off the elevator on even floors, textile art by Lauren Williams greets you with a number woven in macrame dyed to depict a Blue Ridge Mountains scene. On odd floors, though, wood discs (inspired by dowels used at stockyards) are strung together to create a textural wall hanging that depicts the floor number.
“We just wanted to make sure that there were all of these thoughtful moments so that as you move throughout the space, you’re experiencing something,” says Hamilton. “It starts conversations between the people experiencing the hotel.”
On any given day guests will likely find themselves surrounded by locals when visiting the hotel, especially in the outdoor courtyard and terrace. Each space is an oasis that balances the other — the terrace is sunny and energetic thanks to its proximity to the street, while the courtyard is shaded and tranquil.
The terrace, located off of the mezzanine-level lobby, is completely outdoors and has a skyline view. Guests can grab a seat on one of the couches on the terrace or at a bistro table and sip cocktails from Drawbar while taking in the city’s energy.
Greenery is draped overhead and an adjacent herb garden supplies the bar with ingredients and adds to the lush aesthetic.
Inside the lobby is a courtyard with a vibrant mural depicting flora painted by local artist Lacey Longino. “The courtyard’s one of my favorite places to hang out, even more than the terrace,” says Hamilton. Since the courtyard doesn’t get much sunlight, it’s cooler and the vibe is more subdued.
The hotel seemingly flows into the Interlock — the open archway between the hotel lobby and the Interlock allows for people to easily move in and out of the development — offering access to its many attractions.
There’s mini-golf experience, Puttshack, and Holiday Bar, an open-air bar for cocktail and coffee aficionados. The ease of access to and from the Interlock is another of the Bellyard’s charms, making it an ideal stopover for happy-hour revelers or overnight guests who want an all-in-one destination.
From out-of-town guests to locals hanging out, the Bellyard is an inviting space that welcomes all. Thanks to Hamilton’s design, the hotel is a reminder that while Atlanta is always in progress, it’s important to remember its history.
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