Hospitality design and branding firm EDG recently completed interior design and branding for Appellation Healdsburg, the flagship property for Appellation, a new culinary-first hotel brand founded by Chef Charlie Palmer and hospitality veteran Christopher Hunsberger…
Located in Healdsburg, the luxury resort Appellation Healdsburg redefines what it means to stay and dine in Northern California – where the kitchen forms the heart of the hotel and every space tells a story of craft and connection. EDG Hospitality Design & Branding applied their integrated approach to interiors and identity to express the brand’s unique culinary-first philosophy. The result is a property that captures the agrarian spirit of Healdsburg with the refined energy of a modern Wine Country retreat – crafted for guests who seek authenticity, artistry, and a sense of place.
Image credit: Appellation Healdsburg / Dylan Patrick
Guests arrive into a space that evokes the casual welcome of a Wine Country residence, where craftsmanship and comfort set the tone. The reception area centres on an end-grain butcher-block table and a fireplace that leads into Folia Bar & Kitchen, the hotel’s open-concept restaurant and bar. Layered materials – smooth oak, hand-glazed tile, and burnished metal – evoke the vernacular design of local farms and wineries.
“Our collaboration with Charlie Palmer and the Appellation team was about translating a shared passion for craft into every sensory detail,” said Jennifer Johanson, President and Principal Designer of EDG. “Folia embodies the spirit of a true culinary hotel, where design becomes an extension of the chef’s art and every guest feels connected to the land and its makers.”
Image credit: Appellation Healdsburg / Dylan Patrick
The design of Folia Bar & Kitchen blurs the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. Expansive windows frame vineyard views and rolling hills, while earth-toned concrete tile floors, light plaster walls, and oak tongue-and-groove ceilings create a natural, layered environment inspired by the surrounding landscape. Hand-painted white and green tiles, inspired by the pattern of cultivated fields, wrap the show kitchen and bar. Custom lighting and live-edge oak tables reinforce the brand’s dedication to craftsmanship and the tactile beauty of raw materials. The warm hues of oak and clay, along with hand-wrought details throughout, establish a visual rhythm that connects guests to the land.
Adjacent maker spaces, enclosed by operable glass doors, invite guests to join culinary or creative workshops, or to gather for intimate dining experiences. The rooms’ white oak millwork, farmhouse sinks, and concrete countertops echo the brand’s ethos of hands-on artistry and communal connection.
Image credit: Appellation Healdsburg / Dylan Patrick
“Every element supports the brand’s belief that hospitality begins with connection,” added Akiko Hrovat, EDG Design Director. “The tactile materials, warm light, and open kitchens let guests experience the craft up close.”
Upstairs, Andy’s Beeline Rooftop Bar & Lounge introduces a moody, sophisticated retreat –a sensory contrast to the light-filled restaurant below. The palette moves from the amber glow of dusk to deep indigo tones of late night, carried through in sleek wraparound velvet banquettes, warm metals, and prismatic faceted glass. An arcing infinity-mirror bar glows with bottles from local distilleries, while marbled-glass globe pendants nod to moons and constellations. The result is a space that feels intimate yet expansive – a contemporary Wine Country lounge defined by EDG’s layered approach to texture, form and materials.
Image credit: Appellation Healdsburg / Dylan Patrick
Across the 108 guestrooms, EDG extends the same artisanal sensibility with a lighter, more residential touch. Earthy greens, golden yellows, and soft wood tones echo the vineyards and rolling hills beyond. Each room features custom white oak cabinetry, sliding barn doors, and leather headboards, complemented by handcrafted pendants and wall sconces that cast a diffused, restful glow. The interplay of beautiful natural materials with meticulous detailing embodies the understated luxury of the property’s design ethos.
Main image credit: Appellation Healdsburg / Dylan Patrick
