Through The Mind of a Hospitality Architect
Taavo Somer: The Hospitality Renegade Who Created a Hudson Valley Haven
Photo by Mark Sommerfeld
Inness, a 225-acre resort in Accord, New York has a dream-like quality. Named after Hudson River School painter George Inness (and aptly so), the hotel feels like an invitation to step into one of his paintings and bring it to life with your presence.
The cabins are simple yet sophisticated, the restaurant serves farm-to-table cuisine, and the grounds are idyllic. Design, hospitality, and nature come together in perfect harmony. What makes Inness truly magical, however, is its sense of community.
Taavo Somer, the architect and visionary behind it all, wants you to have a good time. Really. He believes that hospitality is about creating a space where people can connect with each other. Inness has a communal fire pit, a bocce court, an honor bar, two pools, two tennis courts, and a barn that's perfect for hosting events. You are escorted in a Jeep to your cabin, yet another way you can have a shared experience of the land with others.
Back in 2016 Somer and his family simplified. They moved from New York City, making their second home in Accord their full-time home. These days this is a familiar story, but when Somer made the move there wasn’t much happening in the area. He felt the desire to create a place where he could hang out and gather with friends (without always being left with wet towels and dirty dishes).
Where exactly to realize his vision was less clear. His search took him all over, until fortuitously, he discovered the golf course not far from his house.
It was a long road to bring his dream to fruition. “Inness was dead a thousand times,” Somer explains and credits his training as an architect with being able to continually break things down into digestible pieces and problems that could be solved.
Designed in collaboration with Post Company, Inness is a marriage of old and new. He looked to the vernacular architecture and drew inspiration from a nearby barn. His background in commercial architecture also informed his process. He’s worked with such firms as Vincent James, Julie Snow, and Steven Holl noted for their modern minimalism.
The farmhouse, newly constructed but made to look much older, is a nod to another Hudson Valley resort, the iconic Mohonk, which began as a family-owned home. Over the years, more structures were created to build out the compound and retreat center that it is today. Somer liked this layered approach and crafted a similar narrative with Inness.
The cabins are made of cedar and reclaimed wood, and they feature large windows that let in plenty of natural light. The interiors are decorated with simple yet elegant furnishings. The muted tones and natural materials contribute to the overall effect of warmth and serenity.
The restaurant at Inness is also beautifully designed. The space is open and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer stunning views of the surrounding countryside. There’s also a retail shop in the greenhouse, two pools, and a golf course. A spa and gym are expected to open next year.
Inness offers memberships, which grant pool privileges and preferred tee times, as well as more opportunities to connect with others through classes, events, and programming.
Spend the day, spend the night. Nothing makes Somer happier than seeing “people enjoy what we’ve made.”
Photo by Mark Sommerfeld
Upstate Down Q&A
With Taavo Sommer from Inness
What’s your favorite farm / farm stand?
Montgomery Place
What’s your favorite restaurant?
Tie between Inness, Lola, and Kinsley
What’s your favorite thing about your house?
The setting, the landscape, how it’s sited, is magical
