Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124

On fifty acres of forest in upstate New York, Piaule it sits as a small constellation of modernist structures connected by pathways neatly tucked away on a west-facing rise that overlooks the Catskill Mountains. The horizontal hotel first debuted in 2021 with two dozen cedar guest cabins on stilts, along with a common area, a restaurant focused on local dishes, a spa and wellness facility within walking distance, and an intricate network of trails that criss-cross the site.
For founders Nolan McHugh and Trevor Briggswho conceived Piaule after creating a homeware line of the same name, design decisions have been guided by contemporary precedents and respect for the natural environment. That focus now carries over into a new partnership with Design Within Reach (DWR)featuring updated furnishings in common areas, cabins and the newly completed Oak House. From dining rooms with Arne Jacobsen’s Series 7 chairs to fireplaces flanked by John Pawson’s low Drift sofa, regular works of modern design appear alongside new classics and original Piaule furniture, shaping the interiors and their relationship with the landscape beyond.
Collaboration is based on shared references built up over time. From the early stages of Piaule, McHugh and Briggs drew from DWR’s portfolio, incorporating pieces that resonated with the property’s architectural restraint and material sensibility. “We share a belief in the role of contemporary design as both educational and experiential,” says Debbie Propst, President of Global Retail at MillerKnoll.
“Piaule’s vision of how architecture, interiors and nature intersect strongly aligns with DWR’s longstanding commitment to inspiring people through well-designed spaces.” As DWR’s range expanded to include a wider range of projects, the partnership evolved gradually. The choices emerged through continuous dialogue, with particular attention to material and proportion.
In addition to Piaule’s main cabin complex, the Oak House occupies a twenty-acre parcel uphill from the Main House. Formed as a three-bedroom residence, it is oriented to the landscape on all sides, allowing light, weather and sound to be continuously recorded inside. The view changes from room to room, opening out to meadows and mountains, pines and stands of mature oak and wild foliage. Each advantage is registered differently in the interior.
The furniture follows suit, with most made of solid wood and placed in direct relation to the landscape. “Placing these pieces in this context gives them even more beauty and weight and gives the visitor a greater appreciation for the artistry of each piece,” says McHugh. “The original material, decades old and 60-plus feet high, is visible in all its glory just outside.” Seating by Herman Miller and Fritz Hansen is paired with tables and storage from USM and Cassina, along with furniture developed in-house by Piaule.
Vaarnii’s lighting brings a soft, diffused presence to the interior spaces and continues to the outdoor deck, where dining and seating frame the fireplace and views beyond. “Each room has its own door to the deck, so everyone can control the interactions between the inside and the outside – leaving the door open to let in the breeze, walking in one of the chairs with a cup of coffee, or gazing at the stars while lying comfortably in bed,” adds McHugh.
Piaule’s twin cabins and 3,200-square-foot main house display the same modernist sensibility. For the hotel’s signature two-bedroom accommodation, which connects to a communal lounge, furniture from DWR’s collection was chosen with a focus on design that enhances the spaces without imposing on the site. “Inspired by our surroundings, there is a whole palette of materials that ensure a luxurious experience for guests, but do not distract from the landscape outside,” says Briggs.
Updates to the main residence are based on references already in place throughout the property. The Oak Tabouret stools designed by Charlotte Perriand for Cassina echo the three-legged form of traditional Alpine milking stools, a traditional object that Piaule has long incorporated throughout the hotel. “When we are so closely connected to both the starting material and the finished product, a deeper gratitude for these earthly gifts emerges,” says McHugh.
The collaboration between Piaule and DWR is based on contemporary precedents and sources of material based on the conditions of the site itself. The furniture is placed in direct relation to its surroundings, allowing the landscape to remain a constant presence that evolves with the interiors over time.