Cedarbook Lodge once hailed as the meeting place for WAMU execs has now been re-imaged as a casually upscale hotel for out of towners and weekend vacationers alike. The Lodge inspired space was built 5 years ago by Washington Mutual Bank and boosts over 18,000 square feet of high tech meeting space complete with Herman Miller chairs and equipped with enough AV equipment to handle a large geekfest.

I however was not there for the meeting space, no matter how impressive. I was there for the hotel. Now a full service hotel, Cederbrook Lodge welcomes its guests with the friendliness of sleep-away camp complete with common areas decked out with stocked freezers of Haagen Dazs and chocolate goodies lining the counters. Upgrades are apparent when walking around the space, a complete gym is located on the ground floor and talks are underway to potentially add a spa or yoga studio. Sitting on 18 acres of lush Wetlands the Northwest ambiance is apparent, Cedarbook  Lodge is the perfect place to steal away for a casual weekend to recharge and relax.

Just to be clear, when you hear the word “Lodge” think less Chevy Chase digs a la National Lampoon’s Vacation and more Ralph Lauren Fall/Winter 2010 Collection.  With an overall color scheme of tone on tone browns with pops of ruby, green, yellow and blue the similarities are apparent. The beauty in the RL Collection as well as Cedarbrook is the texture. Mohair chairs and iridescent blue/purple silk pillows dot the dining rooms while supple latte leather chairs and chenille awaits you in the sitting areas.

The color scheme continues into the guestrooms where crisp linens are topped off with bark chenille throws and grounded with velvet bed skirts. Quarter sawn oak headboards and accents are complemented with black and white photography. The bathrooms are a country yellow tile with granite counters- clean and tidy. The oversized tub (yeah, it can probably fit two people) played host to my hour long soak which was divine, I only wished I had noticed the bubble bath beforehand, next time.  It isn’t until you are in your room for awhile before you notice the planes- or the complete lack of hearing planes. While sitting less than 3 miles from Seatac Airport, I didn’t hear one plane, even though they were in constant rotation outside my window.

So if you have read my previous posts, you know how much I love my spa services, always a welcome gift (hint, hint). Anyway, I had to write about Duque Salon and Spa. The services are wonderful, the customer service is spectacular and the shabby chic décor is a breath of fresh air from the [...]

So anyone that knows me can tell you that I am a massage freak. Back in my corporate days aka the high life days, I use to get on every couple of months. I have had the pleasure of being rubbed down at some of the best spas in the country: The Ritz Carlton, The [...]