Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1225773
OBSESSIONS. DECORATION. SALIENT FACTS. 16 A s the luxurious Trellis Spa at The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa undergoes a facelift — much more than a nip and a tuck, we've been told — and months before it unveils this fall, loyalists have to wander no further than Highland Village Shopping Center to find their favorite aestheticians and stylists ensconced at their new sister property, Solaya Spa & Salon by The Houstonian. Awash in a sea of blue hues, the calming retreat is on the second floor, F or decades, those who flocked downtown from nine to five had limited dining options. But in this customer-service-driven era, commercial real estate firms have realized that to fill all those towers with happy tenants, they must provide every amenity possible. That's exactly why the Wells Fargo Plaza building owners went searching last year for a restaurant group they could partner with to carve out a unique concept. Enter Gary Adair and his children, Nick Adair and Katie Adair Barnhart, the proprietors of 13 restaurants across the city. Their pitch: a 4,628-square- foot four-in-one hybrid creation that melds dishes from their casual concept AH ... SPA in the former stead of Maison Luisant, whose architectural gems thankfully remain in place, from the Charles Winston crystal chandeliers that once hung in The Plaza hotel in New York to the 12-foot carved doors that stood at the entrance of an atelier along the fashionable rue François in Paris over a century ago. As facialists prepared to make the move (they will eventually split their time between the two locations), they trained with the team at Orveda, a vegan line of skincare that's green, clean, and kind to the skin. Favored by models during OH, THOSE ADAIRS fashion week to recover from jet lag or a late night out, the recovery and anti- fatigue facial was created with Orveda's Kombucha black tea-infused skincare made with a high concentration of active ingredients. But unlike traditional facials — which often involve extractions, harsh exfoliations, and steam — this 50-minute one focuses on the physical touch, massaging your face with kabuki brushes and fingers in an effort to sculpt its contours while draining lymph nodes ($175). There are body treatments by Phytomer and massages ranging from gentle pre-natal ($140) to a 100-minute CBD massage purported to alleviate muscular pain and tension and reduce inflammation ($300). Book a color and cut in one of 12 styling stations. We're told that Anna Wintour, Vogue magazine editor in chief, is partial to the product line by Stephen Knoll; Solaya is the only salon in town where you can get your manicured fingers on it. Speaking of manicures, treat your finger and toes to a mani-pedi with gel or enamel lacquers by Londontown, the no-fumes polish with staying power ($28 to $70). Solaya Spa & Salon by The Houstonian, Highland Village, 4059 Westheimer Road, 713.263.6500, solayahouston.com. Laurann Claridge Adair Kitchen with their bistro Eloise Nichols Grill & Liquors, dubbed Adair Downtown. With the help of Gensler Architecture and Julie McGarr of McGarr Design & Interiors, the team created a smart space with wood-paneled walls, antiqued mirrors, brushed-brass globe lighting, and a warm houndstooth- patterned wood floor. Drop in for a power breakfast in the sunlit, full-service dining room, and you might recognize avocado toast ($8) and chicken and waffles ($12) from Adair Kitchen. Or, swing by for an espresso and croissant to go at the coffee bar. Lunch — a sit-down affair, inside or out — brings favorites from Eloise Nichols, such as the Tuna Poke Bowl ($14), as well as new offerings including the bright Thai chopped salad tossed in a ginger sambal dressing ($12) and a mighty steak sandwich ($15). The groaning cocktail bar is covered in a waterfall of honed Calacatta marble; happy hour brings tinctures crafted from the full bar in addition to bar bites including a cheese board ($18), a trio of sliders ($12), and beef tenderloin crostinis ($20). Adair Downtown, Wells Fargo Plaza, 1000 Louisiana St., 713.554.0006. adairdowntown.com. Laurann Claridge SOLAYA SPA & SALON BY THE HOUSTONIAN SOLAYA SPA & SALON BY THE HOUSTONIAN Interiors by Nina Magon, Contour Interior Design The new Adair Downtown