While there is a whole load of reasons we get excited about jetting off to various locations around the globe, one of the main things we look forward to are the hotels we’re staying in. Before you get accusatory, taking in the sights is obviously a top priority but when it comes to the things that we’re always writing home about, it’s often the ultra-stylish and directional interiors in the places we luckily frequent.
Staying in a hotel is all about the experience – it’s escapism – whether it’s disconnecting for a weekend or simply being able to take a few moments out and finally start reading one of the books on the ever-growing stack on our bedside tables, what better way to soak in the moment than doing so in a beautiful setting?
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We were talking about this at The Lifestyle Edit HQ recently. Somewhere around your late twenties something seems to change and it’s no longer enough for a hotel to just be a stay over spot to rest your head before taking in the sights each day. And that’s what’s so good about the new crop of lifestyle hotels springing up right now. Aside from offering the kind of luxury service (without breaking the bank) that you would expect from the big guns, they’re brimming with the type of top-notch interiors Pinterest boards were made for.
Somehow we figured that the quest for the ultimate design hotel is one in which we’re not alone. And while we’re not at the stage where we’re able to ball out and drop serious money on uber expensive spots (you know we would if we could), thankfully we don’t have to because there are so many purse-friendly options to choose from, some you can pay for without thinking, other you’ll have to spend that little bit extra for. Here, we round up the top six spots you need to know.
The Ham Yard Hotel, London
With her quirky and charismatic style, Kit Kemp has created another Firmdale gem with The Ham Yard Hotel, Soho. The Firmdale hotel group have a real home away from home feel. There is something effortless about the way Kit manages to combine texture, colour and print in a luxe yet homely way. The fact that none of her hotels have a trace of branding doesn’t hurt either. This homely feel is accentuated by the urban village concept that they have adopted in Soho. Tables from the hotel’s restaurant and bar spill out into the leafy courtyard lined by boutique shops and the rooftop terrace, complete with its own herb and vegetable garden, suggests that guest are supposed to feel that they are guests in someone’s home rather than a hotel. The colour junkies amongst us will love Kit’s signature bold fabrics, used throughout the hotel as wallpaper, padded headboards and furniture covers, skilfully interspersed throughout with antique furniture from around the world. Whatever you do, be sure to check out the 1950s Texan bowling alley in the basement!
Ett Hem, Stockholm
Situated in a peaceful, residential area of Stockholm, Ett Hem is the hotel we always check into when we’re there. A super, chilled out home away rom home, it’s steeped in that functionality meets beauty aesthetic that the Scandi’s do so well.
Built in 1910, this stylish red brick residence has been carefully converted into a hotel, with care to ensure that the property retained its individuality and personality. This is all down to the combined efforts of owner Jeanette Mix and the design queen of Soho House, Ilse Crawford. While Jeanette scoured Europe for incredible vintage finds and design staples to ensure each of the 12 rooms were individually decorated, (think Michael Anastassiades lighting, glistening brass cabinets, tactile sheepskins and a veritable treasure trove of coloured glass ornaments) Ilse has ensured that the property maintains a home away from home feel with the layout and interconnectivity of the spaces. Our favourite room is undoubtedly the duplex attic suite, where wooden panelling on the sloping mezzanine bedroom ceilings gives added warmth to the room, complete with its own brass cocktail cabinet. The beautiful marble roll top bath is enough to make us want to splash the extra cash on the largest suite.
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Mondrian Sea Containers, London
The Mondrian is a great example of how interior design can be about more than just about aesthetics. Designed by British designer Tom Dixon and the Design Research Studio, Dixon drew inspiration from the site’s history. Using the original building as a starting point, the interiors embody the elegance of the 1920s transatlantic liner including the giant copper-clad ship’s hull in the hotel lobby. The best part? Dixon’s flamboyant style is apparent throughout the hotel with metallic details like the original light fittings in the lifts, offset by a palette of rich, punchy colours. The rooms itself come with custom-designed furniture from Design Research Studio in vivid colours and stand out metallic pieces are contrasted with muted gunmetal grey walls. It’s without doubt one of our favourite hotels in London.
The Ocean View Club, Bahamas
Although much more low-key to the others, The Ocean View Club is a real gem. This stylish, 9-room boutique is run by uber trendy couple Ben Simmons and Charlotte Phelan and offers guest real Bahamian charm. The hotel occupies the somewhat sparse spot between the glossy Caribbean resort and the bed-and-breakfast; this is a family home first, hotel second. The interior is eclectic and quirky, with each cottage colourfully decorated with a collection of art and furniture gathered from around the world. Some of our favourite features include the vivid yellow claw foot tub in the Kitchen Cottage, and the 1940s painted dressing table from Ireland. If you love good food, engaging conversation, discreet relaxation and the company of those who appreciate the same then this is the place for you!
Mama Shelter, Paris
Proving that design hotels can be both stylish and affordable Mama Shelter is our top pick for Paris. With interiors by one of the biggest names in the hotel design industry, Philippe Stark, you’d expect prices at a premium but Mama Shelter is a refreshing take on the design hotel in Paris and all at prices that won’t break the bank. This fashion industry favourite avoids Parisian design clichés and offers a monochrome, minimalist and faux-industrial vibe with theatrical touches. Think graphic bedside lights, black board walls and ceilings emblazoned with graffiti. The monochrome bedrooms complete with concrete walls, crisp white linens and black and white carpets include modern luxuries like as multimedia iMac stations. If you are there to celebrate, we recommend booking dinner on the private rooftop terrace.
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The NoMad Hotel, New York
If you want to find us during fashion week, the NoMad is where will be. And just as Sea Containers House sets the tone for The Mondrian, so does the Beaux-Arts façade for The NoMad. Designed by go-to designer Jacques Garcia (whose portfolio includes La Mamounia in Marrakesh and Hotel Costes in Paris), and the brainchild of hotelier Andrew Zobler, the NoMad is a modern, downtown Manhattan take on 17th and 18th century French elegance.
Furnished with Jacques’ signature red velvet curtains, faded Persian rugs, reclaimed hardwood floors and barely-there lighting, there’s a strong sense of turn of the century glamour and romance on a grand scale downstairs. Be sure to have a look at Jacques’ pièce de résistance too, a two hundred year old, marble fireplace. The rooms have a more understated elegance with distressed leather furniture, original artwork, and soaring ceilings.