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Hotel of the Week: This Circa-1923 Dallas Destination Once Shaped by Dorothy Draper Gets a Stunning Refresh

The city's second-oldest hotel, The Stoneleigh undergoes an atmospheric rejuvenation by London and Los Angeles design firm Fettle

By Jill Sieracki
Elegant vintage-style bar with pink chairs, green walls, ornate lighting, and a stocked bar counter in a cozy ambiance.
Bar Leonessa at the Stoneleigh hotel in Dallas. Photo: Helen Cathcart

Originally opened in 1923 as The Stoneleigh Court Hotel, this Dallas landmark established the standard for luxury accommodations at the time. Over the years, the Beaux-Arts building by architect Frank J. Woerner set a number of other benchmarks, including the first penthouse in Texas, and welcomed a cognoscenti of stars like Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, Elvis Presley, Frank Lloyd Wright, and more.

Of course, such a prestigious address needs an equally esteemed designer, and the hotel, later renamed The Stoneleigh, found it in Dorothy Draper, the grande dame of decoration whose colorful interiors enlivened such storied resorts as The Greenbrier in West Virginia and Mackinac Island, Michigan’s famed Grand Hotel.

Now, the property has been reborn once again, this time under the direction of UK studio Fettle, whose glamorous portfolio includes Los Angeles favorites Olivetta and Chez Mia, Bar Issi in Palm Springs, and the Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica.

Elegant hallway with patterned wood floor, red drapes, ornate mirrors, and colorful velvet chairs under warm chandeliers.
The Stoneleigh in Dallas, Texas. Photo: Helen Cathcart
Elegant lounge with red velvet curtains, plush seating, marble tables, and chandeliers, creating a cozy and luxurious ambiance.
Library at The Stoneleigh in Dallas, Texas. Photo: Helen Cathcart
Elegant dining room with green chairs, ornate gold drapes, and flower arrangements on white tablecloths in a luxurious setting.
Private dining room at The Stoneleigh. Photo: Helen Cathcart

Taking cues from how they imagined Draper would update The Stoneleigh, Fettle renovated the public areas and guest suites with color and pattern, drawing from the collections of Lee Jofa, House of Hackney, and Sogni di Cristallo to craft bespoke furniture, lighting, wall coverings, and decorative accents. In the lobby, low-lying furniture, plush wool-and-silk rugs, and a skirted reception desk accented with playful tassels let the soaring volumes of the building shine while a series of cabinets of curiosities filled with artifacts from the same period as the hotel’s birth lead visitors to Bar Leonessa. There, the sultry boîte channels the look of the Prohibition era with an onyx and marble bar, fringed lamps, and art that paints a mischievous backdrop for salon-style gatherings and mahjong nights.

Elegant restaurant interior with plush chairs, white tablecloths, dim lighting, and framed art on deep red walls.
Lion’s Den restaurant at The Stoneleigh in Dallas, Texas. Photo: Helen Cathcart

In the on-site restaurant, Lion’s Den, channel-tufted velvet seating, leather, millwork, and swing-arm lights coalesce into a sultry atmosphere for enjoying dishes conjured by chef Michael White, like a truffled lobster pot pie, Dover sole in brown butter, or veal chop prepared with asparagus, morels, and Marsala red pearl onions. The 176 guest rooms too are a step back in time with lacquered burl bar cabinets, Venetian glass lighting, and a custom wallpaper designed with a hidden gold key inscribed with the Stoneleigh “S.” 

However, guests with an affinity for the cinematic will gravitate towards the Stoneleigh’s signature suites, where spaces are conceived as an homage to some of the hotel’s most illustrious history. The Draper Suite is planned to welcome the famed designed with an exaggerated bed draped in an Oscar de la Renta fabric, while the 12th-floor penthouse nods to the hotel’s one-time owner Colonel Harry E. Stewart, who had an affinity for Asian design. Tucked away on the second floor is Maggie’s Suite, a sultry boudoir crafted for a hotel manager’s alleged mistress, who is reported to still haunt the hotel.

Elegant hotel room with a king-sized bed, vintage decor, patterned curtains, and a large window illuminating the space.
Draper Suite at The Stoneleigh. Photo: Helen Cathcart
Luxurious hotel room with patterned wallpaper, plush bed, wood paneling, and red curtains opening to a hallway.
Maggie’s Suite. Photo: Helen Cathcart
Luxurious hotel room with floral wallpaper, green velvet sofa, patterned curtains, large windows, and elegant chandelier.
Presidential Suite at The Stoneleigh in Dallas. Photo: Helen Cathcart
Elegant dining room with floral wallpaper, green chairs, a large table, floral centerpieces, and decorative vases.
Dining room at The Stoneleigh in Dallas. Photo: Helen Cathcart
Vintage hotel reception with floral curtains, green walls, an umbrella stand, and a luxurious chandelier hanging above.
The Stoneleigh reception desk. Photo: Helen Cathcart
Luxurious hotel pool with pink loungers, striped umbrellas, and a large 'S' design on the water, surrounded by city buildings.
Pool at The Stoneleigh in Dallas. Photo: Helen Cathcart

While the interiors trend towards moody and atmospheric, the Stoneleigh’s exterior spaces favor light and bright. Bocce and brunch take place around the pool outfitted in coral and green. Imagined as the playground of the society swans of the 1920s and 30s, the convivial landscape and pool garden is ready for those looking to see and be seen. It’s the refreshing antithesis to the more seductive scene inside, where clandestine gatherings only add to the rich tapestry of this storied address.

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