Americans are not getting smaller, and they are not demanding smaller motel rooms. While each square foot you build has an undeniable cost, nothing is less "changeable" after the fact than room size. So, our rooms are not the smallest -- but we don't build excess square footage either. To maximize use of that space, we place the remote-controlled TV high over the closet where it can be seen from everywhere in the room without taking up important work-surface space. The larger workspace has a convenient desk top level phone jack and electrical outlet so the phone can be moved from the nightstand, and the phone has a dataport for modems.
As operators of so many properties, we also want to make sure our designs are easy to clean, and to keep clean. We want housekeepers to be able to clean a room thoroughly in 20 minutes, so our entire room is designed to be easier to service. An optional flush window has no sill to gather dust. The light fixtures, with their flush surfaces, are easy to wipe clean. Rounded corners on the furniture make cleaning easier. The list goes on and on.
A fresh room design demands a fresh approach to fixtures and casegoods, and that's just what we've done. We believe an inexpensive room can still be functional and make the best use of its space. With our purchasing power and long-term supplier partners, we can secure favorable prices on custom items. We use a custom-designed desk/shelf combination and integrated valet/closet which also serves as a TV stand. All casegoods have a laminated finish for durability, sealed on all bottom edges to resist moisture absorption. The light "beigewood" finish gives a modern, clean appearance and enhances the apparent size and openness of the room.
The open desk has a cantilevered top to allow a second chair to be used on one end. Shelves eliminate the maintenance problems of drawers, and reduce "lost and found" problems after check-out. The closet accommodates large hanging items and places the TV where it is visible throughout the room.
There are no sharp edges or recesses to hamper cleaning. Trim strips on the headboards, nightstands and other casegoods are flush with the other surfaces. The vinyl chair upholstery looks like textured fabric, but resists stains
Spread and drape fabric colors coordinate, but the patterns do not match, to lessen the effect of
differing replacement cycles and fading. One-way-draw drapes with an external
baton eliminate troublesome draw mechanisms. Our custom, piece-dyed nylon
carpet wears longer and reduces staining at a small incremental cost. Carpet
cove base absorbs vacuum-cleaner "bumps" without harm. Long-life, energy-efficient flourescent fixtures have no lampshades to deteriorate or require straightening. Textured paint wall finishes cost less and simplify maintenance. The entire room is designed with durability, long life and ease of cleaning in mind. We select and design interiors not for the lowest initial cost, but for the lowest cost over time. We have tested and refined our furnishings and materials in tens of thousands of real-world trials in our own rooms.
We have a lot of experience maintaining motel buildings, and no interest
in creating more work for ourselves. We use non-slip ceramic tile floors
in the entryway and durable carpet in the rooms. The room walls are a textured,
washable-paint surface. The roof is made of heavy composition shingles,
or standing-seam metal. We recommend that the building "skin" be an exterior
insulated "EIFS" system, which is seamless, durable and can be patched
and painted. Sure, we could save a little money with cheaper materials,
but we'd pay more in the long run.
We can send you a list of general building standards and suggested configurations for our prototype building. Deviations from our suggested materials or designs must be approved by our New Product Development department. Our Procurement Department can assist you in obtaining any manufactured items specified.
We can provide complete prototype plans and guide specifactions on CD ROM, on diskette in "AutoCad 14" format, for standard designs and room counts. Your architect and structural engineer can adapt these to your particular site, local codes and conditions. The design is "modular" and can be adapted to your prefered size by adding or subtracting rooms, and sizing other facilities as appropriate.
We invite you to visit one of our prototype facilities to experience the advantages of our new design firsthand.