I'm just back from upstate New York, and I'm completely smitten. The Brentwood Hotel is the remaking of a classic motel sitting astride the Saratoga racetrack, that Brooklyn's Studio Tack has remade into something really special. Saratoga Springs itself seems to be benefiting from being rediscovered for its small-town charms, only three hours distant from New York City.

What I especially admire about Studio Tack's work here is the way the update is sensitive to the setting, the old motel vibe replaced by a lively updated equestrian atmosphere perfect for Saratoga Springs--whether or not you're going to the track. Maybe it makes a difference that the designers are also the hoteliers--just as we are at Blue Hill Properties--and every detail, every gilt-framed painting and every paint color, feels thought through. Look at the choice for the do not disturb, for example. And with just 12 rooms, they could stay focused.