The Sofia Hotel, formerly the Pickwick Hotel, has been beautifully transformed from dodgy flophouse, to San Diego’s best value in boutique accommodations.
Timing is Everything
“My husband bought the Pickwick Hotel in 1986,” says Judi Carroll Winslow, Vice President of Winslow Investments Limited, Inc. “When the mortgage was paid off in 2006, we decided to renovate and re-brand as the Sofia Hotel. This beautiful old hotel deserved it—and we knew the time was right in San Diego.”
Ugly Duckling to Gorgeous Swan
Unfettered by humongous mortgage payments, Winslow, and her husband Ken, embarked upon an interior transformation of the old girl. “We kept the rooms the same size, but optimized the space with custom built furnishings—like solid mahogany headboards, dressers, built-in closets, and modernized bath fixtures. We redid everything short of starting from scratch,” says Winslow, who was also the projects’ General Contractor. “The hotels’ entire infrastructure, from plumbing to electrical, has been updated.
“We worked closely with Anjum Razvi—an extraordinarily talented interior designer—who also holds an architectural degree. Every inch of space in these rooms was carefully thought out—down to the custom reading lights over the bed and laptop safes in the closet. Her attention to detail resulted in beautifully appointed rooms where no comfort or convenience was spared.”
