Custom Wallcoverings for Graduate Hotels
Graduate Hotels by Hilton aim to bring out the college nostalgia in all of us, exemplified by their tagline, “we are all students.” Each one is located on or near a major college campus, perfect for families visiting students or locals wanting a unique staycation. Throughout all the hotels, Graduate’s attention to detail and maximalist aesthetic unites them into one consistent brand– even though individual hotels have a boutique feel due to college colors, mascots, and local historical references. The design that tailors each hotel to its locale often involves custom wallcoverings. Check out a few of our favorite custom projects below!
At the Oxford, Mississippi location, there are elements of Southern charm and Ole Miss references. The rooftop terrace bar, The Coop, offers Rebel-themed cocktails and a view of The Square alongside homey, cozy decor. Chickens and roosters decorate the front of the bar, while a taxidermy fox on the shelf hunts down the best bourbon. On the walls, Astek’s design team has cleverly woven chicken silhouettes into one of our existing damask patterns, and rendered it in moody green and gold. In the fitness center, a custom version of our Play Ball pattern (scaled up and reworked in cool hues) references the nearby Swayze Field and the Ole Miss Rebels’ stellar baseball record.
Graduate New Haven, steps away from Yale University, has a distinctly Ivy League feel. Decorated in shades of blue and white, with plenty of leather seating and wood paneling throughout, the hotel feels old-school in the best way. In the basement bar, Old Heidelberg, old-fashioned lighting illuminates the moody, cozy interior. On the walls, alternating panels of four different custom wallpaper patterns complement the color scheme and add visual interest. Astek’s design team took inspiration from vintage wallpaper scraps to create these patterns, lending a touch of authenticity alongside the bar’s mismatched chairs and tin ceiling.
Graduate East Lansing is right across the street from Michigan State University and has plenty of decorative references to prove it. Shades of signature Spartan green throughout the hotel accompany cozy plaids and even a replica of The Rock, the landmark boulder of MSU painted thousands of times over by students leaving messages. Astek’s design team created many custom murals and patterns for this hotel, including two that feature local flora and fauna. In the family suite, twin beds are backed by a mural depicting friendly forest animals. In the guest bathrooms, an intricate toile combines local animals and plants.
Located on the doorstep of the University of Virginia, Graduate’s Charlottesville location has an easygoing, eclectic interior. Wood furnishings and a cool nature-inspired palette (including very distinctive blue plaid carpeting in the guest rooms) will make guests feel right at home. In the casual Trophy Room restaurant, a custom scaled-up version of our Through the Trees vintage-inspired wallpaper lends the sun-drenched space a bit of Southern countryside style.
Graduate New York, the only hotel on Roosevelt Island, is located right next door to Cornell Tech. The hotel's design is eclectic, modern, and fresh, with stunning views of Manhattan and Queens (be sure to check out the Panorama Room, the rooftop bar with incredible skyline views thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows). The playful spirit of the hotel is exemplified by the 13-foot-tall statue in the lobby by Hebru Brantley. Characters inspired by Brantley’s Tuskeegee Airmen series, illustrated by the Astek design team, create a fun wallpaper in the guest bathrooms to inspire curiosity.
Located in the heart of the University of Arizona campus, Graduate Tucson revels in design touches referencing the American Southwest. A warm desert palette and easygoing, comfortable furnishings make it the perfect place to relax and unwind after exploring the college and downtown Tucson. In the family suite, a watercolor desert mural by the Astek design team creates a trompe l'oeil effect behind the twin beds, and a colorful custom mural in the fitness center features wildcats (the college mascot) perched atop giant cacti.
A two-minute drive from Penn State, Graduate State College is full of local history and Nittany Lion references. East Coast spirit is present throughout, with plenty of plaid, old books, and vintage-inspired rugs. A delightful custom wallpaper by Astek’s design team displays life-size ice cream cones in the bathrooms. Why ice cream? The pattern pays homage to the school's beloved Berkey Creamery, which supports the school's Department of Food Science (and makes some really delicious ice cream!).
Graduate Knoxville, located on the University of Tennessee campus, is full of college nostalgia– especially the football kind. A playful palette of orange, white, and blue ties together the hotel’s eclectic look, including the boat-shaped front desk. In the fitness center, a custom pattern shows off the college mascot, Smokey. The Graduate team sent Astek’s design team a bobblehead to photograph and turn into a repeating pattern to cheer on guests during their workouts.