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I am still swooning over my stay at The Crossroads in KCMO last week.

The entrance alone was a tad overwhelming due to the vast size of the building; literally, walking in I felt so small because the size of the space itself was massive just to take in at first look.

I wish I would have had time to ask questions about the space. To me it looked as if it used to be a warehouse or production facility of some sort. I say this because the inside had a lot of exposed brick and piping that was meticulously decorated into the rebirthed concept. The space was homey and inviting- whoever was in charge of the interior design of this place deserves ALL the awards because it can be a challenge to create warmth within the bones of a space once industrial.

Each area of the hotel had it’s own enticing comfort threaded into it’s existence. The jewel tones were impossible to resist and perfectly balanced the brighter aspects of the hotel. Each turn throughout the building felt enchanting. It wasn’t until my last day in town that I was able to take a bit of time and look at the artwork downstairs. It was spread out a schosh in the common area where visitors could linger and I was delighted by the abundance of women featured in said artwork. Each painting had it’s own charm, although my favorite was the woman with the grapes. The third dimensional aspect is what kept me interested and present with this particular painting because I felt like I was there with her. Is she sad over a past lover? Did she lose all she holds dear? Is this a typical Wednesday for her? Who knows, but at least I got to experience the moment with her!

The majority of my free time during my stay was held either at the hotel bar or in my room. Keep in mind that I am a year and half sober, so I wasn’t at the bar… but when the boss tells you that you can charge anything you order to the room to keep expenses for the trip better organized since all the rooms are on the same company card, you listen. This was the second hotel I’ve visited while traveling for Robust that has a banging selection at the hotel. Not just the food either, I was also quite happy with the variety of coffee choices as well as the spaciously aesthetic seating offered in the bar area (the first photo of this post was also taken in the bar area). The food was delicious, although I only ever ordered breakfast there. By the time I got to dinner I was exhausted and Door Dash was quick about getting my queso and chips to me after a long day. I will say though, the dinner menu smelled amazing as I walked into the hotel after I finished work that day and I may have had a tinge of regret not ordering from the hotel that night.

I also appreciate how spacious and inviting my room was. Staying on the road can be mentally taxing in the way that you are acutely aware that where you are staying at is temporary and not home; with that being said, after long days of work it can be difficult to mentally come down when you are somewhere that isn’t your own. I had this problem the first couple months on the road and struggled to sleep, until I found ways to make myself feel at home even when I am away. So I came prepared with a few things to bring my mind ease for the end of the day, but was not prepared with how comfortable The Crossroads would be for me. The room had a rounded corner couch with a small laptop for me to work or write, the bathroom was gorgeous and spacious for me to take a full shower (the girls and gays who get it, get it) with the perfect water pressure, the wardrobe was massive and had two doors to easily hide the clothes and suitcase, and the bed was heavenly! I had a massive wooden, four post bed- which I thought perfectly balanced the aesthetic because when I looked out my window I could see the industrial beams and light fixtures as well as one of the hotel seating areas where people were doing work. It also felt like what I imagine sleeping on a cloud feels like. The mixed prints and textures throughout the room added a layer of luxurious comfort as opposed to the monochromatic schemes one typically sees in a hotel room.

It was a dreamy experience and one that entices that main character feeling out of you. The local KC scene has so much to offer, but I found most of my inspiration came from being present where I was staying.