SPRING '23 | Birdstudio

NEWSLETTER/ SPRING 2025

NEWSLETTER/ SPRING 2023

Bird Studio is excited to embark on work at The Bellevue Hotel, one of Philadelphia’s most historical spaces. The lobby of this 1904 wonder is in need of much repair, and we are proud to be leading the way on several jobs that will restore its former glory.

Bird Studio was created to provide custom finishes for some of Philadelphia’s finest venues and institutions. We are the place to call when you need to “go back in time” and get things repaired the right way, and we are proud to be putting that knowledge to use in this project.

The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel was built in 1904-1912 by George Boldt who was by then already well known for being the proprietor of the Waldorf-Astoria in NYC. It was designed in the French Renaissance style by G.W. & W.D. Hewitt. Boldt and, at the time of its completion, the Bellevue was described as the most luxurious hotel in the nation.

Inside, it hosts a huge marble staircase, decadent embellishments, and even lighting fixtures designed by Thomas Edison himself. Generations of Philadelphians have held events in the vast ballroom, stayed in the unique period rooms, and maybe caught a glimpse of a President (the Bellevue has hosted every US President since Franklin Roosevelt). Today, the Bellevue was recently acquired by one of our clients, Lubert-Adler Co., who understands that restoring these priceless buildings correctly matters.

In the grand lobby, there are 8 beautiful faux marble columns. They were created to match the unique marble of the surrounding walls, and are a focal point of this elegant space. Bird Studio is repairing and restoring the columns to their original glory with a polished plaster finish, hand-applied to mimic the rich marble of the surrounding walls.

Watch our Instagram and Facebook for progress!

This winter, Bird Studio was tasked with creating several dramatic focal point elements in new spaces- something we love to do! This ombre wall feature was installed in a beautiful new construction, and wraps around the 2-storey central wall of the living room. The hand-troweled, metallic patterning complements the contemporary design elements the homeowners chose.

We were also excited to contribute to Kalaya Restuarant’s opening at their new space in Fishtown. The 24-karat gold Thai lettering was applied to the brick facade, adding the right level of glam to this classic yet contemporary spot. Be sure to check out the spectacular southern-Thai cuisine at Kalaya, which now boasts 4 times the seating and a full bar.

In Chestnut Hill, new shop Occassionette was able to acquire grant-money to have Bird Studio apply a fresh gold-leaf sign on their front window. We’re delighted that local neighborhood associates see the value in good quality signage. Good luck on your new space Sara!

One year ago we were finishing up a massive speciality paint job. This Rittenhouse law office conference room needed a serious facelift, as the wood had been painted all black (likely in the 70s, a time of questionable decisions all around). We painted over 1000 square feet of wood to a faux oak finish to match the floors, and faux wood grained each varied surface.

The result? A seamless finish that, if we did our job right, no one will notice!

Ironic, isn’t it.

Keep an eye out for a whole lotta Palladium. This summer we’ll be hand-applying this beautiful warm metal into two large ceiling coffers. And the best part? We’ll be enjoying spectacular views since this job is at the brand-new Laurel building in Rittenhouse Square.