For an artist, laboring for love is a way of life. Paying the bills to support that passion is another matter. At a luxury resort in Upstate New York local artisans have a found a patron who’s helped make their dreams come true. His name is David Garrett, and he’s the co-founder of the Garrett Hotel Group in the Adirondacks. An artist himself, Garrett has supported the work of local craftsmen since Garrett Hotel Group bought the resort in 1994.  

Aware of the unique furniture and decorative arts made locally, the Garrett Hotel Group approached Adirondack furniture makers when it needed to refurbish the resort. Out of necessity, Garrett turned to local furniture makers and wood carvers, and in turn, offered his property as a gallery. The most talented craftsmen were each given one of the resort’s fourteen luxury cabins to use as a showcase for their talented works.  

“We needed each other,” says David Garrett about the hotel’s relationship with local artists. “We didn’t have the means to furnish the resort when we first bought it, and a major renovation was in order. The artists needed exposure, and we were happy to promote their crafts because I am one of them, so to speak. The idea really stemmed from my own attraction to gnarled Adirondack ‘tree’ furniture.” Garrett began building “tree” furniture as a hobby, and then it became a necessity in order to fill in the empty spaces in the public areas of the Lodge. Every artist has a particular style that differentiates him or her from all the rest. Garrett’s “signature items” are wine corks. And yes, he is pleased to announce that the corks he uses are only from bottles that have been consumed at the Lake Placid Lodge. 

Don’t mistake the aesthetic Garrett is talking about with the ubiquitous wooden lawn chairs with slatted fan backs that everyone has come to associate with Adirondack style. To understand the difference, imagine a rustic cabin filled with singularly memorable chairs, tables, and beds so organic in form that it’s hard to figure out whether they grew out of nature or were wrought by a woodcarver with an eye for the fantastical. “Elegant Tree Furniture” is a simple way to describe what guests encounter at the Lake Placid Lodge. And every piece of furniture is unique because a different artist makes it with whatever he or she found on the “floor of the forest.”  

Despite their genius, the artisans that Garrett Hotel Group supports are a humble lot. They’re a little more than surprised at their own success. Through this partnership, a number of the artists have developed long-standing client relationships with guests of the Lake Placid Lodge. Some have sold over $300,000 in a year.  

The staff loves to tell the story of the “Beer and Nuts” chair that’s the focal point of the bar area of the Lake Placid Lodge. Resembling a set of antlers perched atop a knotted base, the chair was made entirely of random pieces of rare wood collected in the forest. As the tale goes, a guest arrived at the Lodge and decided to have a cocktail in the bar before going to his cabin. He had been taken by the uniqueness of the Lodge’s furnishings, but was immediately interested in the chair in which he was seated. The guest inquired about purchasing the chair and was informed that most of the furnishings in the hotel were on consignment – except for that particular work. Given the rarity of the wood used for this piece, the craftsman set a high price for the chair so no one would be enticed to purchase it. The bartender tried to discourage the guest by indicating how expensive the chair would be, but the guest was determined to take it home.  He spoke directly with the artist and without any indication of wanting to bargain, he just asked for the price. After a few minutes, the artist blurted his price of $15,000, thinking the guest would say no. Not going twice or three times but sold on the spot to the man in the bar. A funny thing though, the chair had only been at the property for four hours.