The Hotel Zed properties are known for their ‘ridiculously fun’ interior design and their new location in Tofino is no exception. Mandy Farmer, President of Hotel Zed, collaborated with Interior Design firm Kimberly Williams Interiors to create the retro chic style of the new hotel.
The 70s inspired look of the fun-filled hotel is filled with special touches and unique pieces. We asked Elaine Martel of Kimberly Williams Interiors to take us on a tour of the elements she’s most proud of – perhaps you’ll be inspired to add some of these to your own abode?
6 Ways to Incorporate Retro Style Into Your Home

Display a Collection of Antiques
Each piece in the Retro Office is vintage and authentic. It feels like grandma’s home or your dad’s office, from the lamps to the credenza and radio to the wall paneling.

Get Creative with Wall Decor
The clock wall was a collection of pieces that Mandy found through endless hours of searching and shopping, painstakingly sourcing authentic pieces. It helps set the tone of the space and add a bit of fun. Displaying a collection like this adds an amazing layer to the interior and it was fun laying out its install details.

Add a Sunken Living Room
The sunken living room, is the heart of Zed Tofino – revisiting that 70s vibe when many homeowners stepped down into their living rooms. The seating here was specially constructed as an actual sofa piece by the team at Gabriel Ross/Fawcett. It was really important that it be comfortable and promote lounging – hours of sourcing went into finding just the right hue of green shag carpet!

Incorporate Velvet for Texture
Elevator lobbies are spaces of transition. We wanted to create a real feature here and not miss an opportunity for a Zed photo op. The vintage velvet wall incorporates the colours of the hallways and speaks to the more glam side of the 70s.

Add Some Macrame from Julie McCracken
It was important to collaborate with local artists to bring that authentic Tofino vibe to the space. The large macrame piece greets guests when they enter and also is a backdrop to the bike storage area.

Use a Retro Colour Palette
Tones of gold, deep vintage woods and orange accents create a really retro motel vibe for the aesthetic of the rooms. The well-appointed bench seating, wall paneling and desk millwork was all custom designed by our team. The carpet plank in the herringbone pattern was one of the first finishes we selected for the suites and really helped guide us in developing the rooms.
Learn more about the design of Hotel Zed Tofino: Behind the Design of Hotel Zed Tofino