I Keep On Hoping...To Vacay Like POTUS By The Ocean (And You Can)

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. January 17, 2017

CAPE MAY, N.J. January 17, 2017 - Congress Hall, America's oldest seaside resort located in Cape May, NJ, just celebrated its 200th anniversary with a stylish multi-million dollar makeover. Today, the beachfront property is owned, operated and designed by Curtis and Colleen Bashaw, a brother/sister team. The pair spent their childhood summers at the classic American hotel, when their grandfather previously owned it.

As the lead interior designer for the project, Colleen, spent countless hours in the historical archives of Congress Hall seeking inspiration for the new design, while keeping intact everything guests love and expect from America's oldest seaside resort.

The total makeover of the hotel's 110 guest rooms includes new suites named after the presidents who stayed there, while serving in office: Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Ulysses S. Grant, Chester Arthur and Benjamin Harrison. President Harrison referred to the property as his “Summer Whitehouse.” These presidential suites have design elements that relate to each president and their tastes, as well as archived art from their presidency (front page covers of The New York Times announcing their elections, etc.)

Colleen's room designs feature a grown-up beach cottage vibe with:
- All new furniture - chairs, dressers, side tables and beds modeled after American heritage furniture with antiqued brass hardware
- Black and white painted furniture
- Four-poster beds and 6-foot dressers with lots of storage for the many guests who stay a week or more
- New striped carpet featuring overall blues and greys with just pops of color
- A whimsical hand-dyed linen by Brunschwig and Fils called “Gillian's Zebras” on the club and desk chairs
- White polka dot fabric from Kravet for a seated bench
- Fantasy Blue wall color by Benjamin Moore
- Bathrooms retiled with Carrera marble, reminiscent of the renovation done by Annie Knight, former owner of Congress Hall

Colleen's main focus for the redesign was to create rooms that were comfortable and soothing, yet slightly whimsical, at the same time.

“A driving force for me is the thought that generations of families call this their summer home. I want my work to be part of the reason they return,” said Bashaw.

About Congress Hall

Providing hospitality since 1816, Congress Hall in Cape May is a haven of relaxed elegance, fun, historic charm and luxury at the New Jersey shore. Set amid landscaped grounds overlooking Cape May's broad sandy beaches, the iconic Congress Hall is just a few steps from the ocean in the heart of Cape May's famed historic district. Guests can dine at The Blue Pig Tavern, the hotel's signature restaurant which features farm-to-table menu items from Beach Plum Farm. Additionally, Congress Hall guests, Cape May visitors and residents can experience the luxurious, accessible and relaxing Sea Spa. Recently acknowledged by Conde Nast Traveler in 2013 as one of the top 75 Hotel Spa's in the United States, the Sea Spa is designed to look like the inside of a beach cabana to further enhance the feeling of a seaside getaway. Congress Hall was additionally honored by Conde Nast Traveler in 2012 as one of the top US hotels in the Northeast and again in 2013 made their list of the Top 10 Hotels in the Mid-Atlantic, and was recently awarded the #2 spot on Conde Nast Traveler's 2015 Reader's Choice Awards Top 20 Hotels in the Mid-Atlantic. The property offers a wide variety of entertainment including the Boiler Room, a live entertainment lounge with great food, a fun atmosphere and New York downtown nightclub vibe, and the Brown Room, a lounge where hotel guests and locals mix and mingle enjoying cocktails and tasty appetizers. Congress Hall is located at 200 Congress Place, Cape May, NJ 08204 For more information please visit: www.caperesorts.com

Media Contact:
Lisa Johnson
Lisa Johnson Communications
[email protected]
609-788-8548