I am obsessed with boutique hotels. There is a chain called The Lark Hotels that is fantastic. This is the lobby at Whitehall boutique hotel in Camden, Maine.
A boutique hotel has so much more ambiance than a standard chain hotel and is available at comparable prices. They are usually run by the proprietors, or a small group of local people who really focus on customer service. Check out Whitehall if you are ever in the area, or look for another cool boutique hotel in the Lark hotel group in your travels.
Prana: Clothes with a Conscience