When Todd-Avery Lenahan, the president and chief creative officer of Wynn Design and Development, took on the task of reimagining the six villas at Wynn Las Vegas, he went above and beyond expectations. The project didn’t come cheap, clocking in at a groundbreaking $70 million, but Lenahan aimed to create the finest accommodations in the world, providing a challenge that was far from simple.
The villas, initially designed almost a quarter of a century ago, were once considered the best that Las Vegas had to offer. However, times have changed, and many new competitors have come into the picture. This made it essential for Lenahan to ensure that the renovations would not only make the villas the best in Las Vegas but the best worldwide.
The intention was to create something superior to even the most prestigious hotels in world-famous cities such as Paris, London, New York, and Dubai. As such, the renovation requirements were ambitious, involving a return to the drawing board to determine what was achievable for their customers. Given this, the designs would have to reflect the lived experiences of the customers, themselves acquainted with the global travel scene and leading the lifestyle of luxury at home.
Impacting the renovation project was the hefty average cost, around $11.6 million per villa. Every remodeling detail, including the gallery sections serving as entrances, had to be taken into account carefully. The redesigned villas consisted of two larger, two-story setups including four bedrooms and 10 bathrooms each, and four smaller, single-story units housing two bedrooms and six bathrooms each.
The designs were carefully curated to evoke a sense of uniqueness and comfortable intimacy. They emphasized supreme luxury and sensitivity to function, coupled with surprising elements that made the experience more memorable and emotionally positive. Highlighting the uniqueness, the villas borrowed elements from one’s home—providing an incredibly relaxing sanctuary without the conventional association of hotel mega-suites.
The redesigned villas also catered to discerning and well-traveled guests used to world-class comfort. Their design was filled with bespoke details and included private elevators for seamless access. Opening the door, guests were welcomed by an impressive gallery hosting a variety of artworks and artifacts from different eras, ranging from the 20th-century vintage to unique oddities dating back to the 17th century.
Each villa, amounting to a grandeur size of 13,000 to 18,000 square feet, was a piece of luxe art offering multiple master suites, media rooms, and gardens with swimming pools. They also featured updated furnishings, finishes, lighting, bedding, and advanced in-room technology to ensure a remarkable stay.
The design philosophy aimed to provide ‘intimacy within grandeur,’ merging elements from Classicism, Cubism, Fauvism, and an impressive collection of furniture that was purposely bought, collected, or crafted. Each villa was also bestowed with a collection of rare art pieces, with a few purchased from the well-known Getty estate’s collection.
More antiquated pieces were previously gathered for decades. Over time, Lenahan cultivated a network of relationships with various art dealers and auction houses, notifying him about remarkable items available for purchase. This allowed him to acquire these timeless pieces and incorporate them into various projects as needed.
It’s worth noting that some furniture and artwork pieces will vacate the villas by 2025. These items are set to be incorporated into Wynn’s upcoming Al Marjan Island resort project in the UAE. The current villas, with their blend of classic and contemporary, serve as a palette for the design and development of future ventures.
