IN THE MOOD FOR MICHIGAN

Once synonymous with neglect and urban blight, the American city of Detroit has reached a milestone in its ongoing revival with the launch of Shinola Hotel ( shinolahotel.com; doubles from US$225), a collaboration between high-end watchmaker and leather goods manufacturer Shinola and local developer Bedrock. The property merges two downtown heritage buildings—an eightstory art nouveau structure from 1915 and the 1930s Singer sewing machine store—with three sympathetic additions. Flanking the lobby is a colorful lounge that features an original staircase and plenty of fabric print artwork, while the 129 guest rooms upstairs are laid out in more than 50 different configurations. All are characterized by a remarkable attention to detail: think customdesigned beds, desk clocks, and faucets, alongside reproductions of marble-pattern wallpaper found during the renovation. And there’s still more to come, with a garden conservatory and a terracotta–ceilinged ballroom set to open in March.