DE S IGN CENTRE
abound, including wooden dollhouses throughout the hotel: at the reception – holding the room keys – and in the rooms, holding the kettle and biscuits. Explore beyond the lobby and that playfulness steps up a gear with the Marmalade Lounge, a feel-good room in sunshine colours and whimsical touches everywhere. Glass tables are filled with tape measures and bobbins (a nod to York’s lacemaking past). The bar is different again and alludes to York’s railway history with locomotive artwork, and even a toy train that toots and puffs around the room overhead every 10 minutes. “In terms of guest experience, it’s absolutely brilliant, with everyone taking pictures,” says Grierson. “It’s not too serious, and not being too stuffy is what we’ve always been about.” Schumacher has been involved in hospitality since
the 1890s; its first wallcovering was, in fact, for the grand opening of the Waldorf Astoria in New York. At a recent Business of Home WOW!talk held at the Design Centre, Benni Frowein, Schumacher’s CEO of Europe, spoke about the future of hospitality design and suggested that creating a meaningful connection between the guest and the destination will be the strategic focus for the next decade. According to a report Schumacher commissioned, the hotel industry will be largely defined by travellers’ demand for something that is more than a beautiful property, but also offers unique experiences and unforgettable stories to share with friends and family. When it comes to design this will be driven by their wish to connect with their destination and feel good about their choices. Recent Schumacher projects include
designer collaborations with Marie-Caroline Willms for the Marbella Club and Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc with Francis Sultana. Fellow panellist Tim Green, director of The Colefax Group, said that he has seen an increase in requests for hospitality projects, with the brand supplying hundreds of metres of traditional floral fabrics for the Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay, an Ennismore hotel outside Paris with a strong English country house theme. The design of
the new Mandarin Oriental in
Hanover Square is Studio Indigo’s first venture into the hotel business. The brief was to create a sense of
“YOU GIVE YOUR GUESTS AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE – BUT THE REAL THING IS MAGICAL MOMENTS”
place and reflect its location at the centre of London’s luxury shopping district. Different materials such as burl wood and marble bring depth and opulence, while in the dining room of the Mayfair Suite an artisan wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries takes centre stage. “Every detail speaks to a narrative of bespoke craftsmanship and artistic finesse, offering guests an immersive experience that marries the spirit of Mayfair with the exceptional standards of Mandarin Oriental,” says Mike Fisher, creative director and founder of Studio Indigo. “It’s a testament to our dedication to
redefining spaces and creating environments
that
resonate with the soul of the city and those who step through its doors.” Martin Hulbert Design has worked with The Grove
since the hotel’s launch in 2003 and was charged with updating the property while retaining its signature warmth, character and modernity. While the new interiors reflect the evolution of the brand, many of the original furnishings remain. “From a design point of view, it’s stood the test of time;” says Grierson, “We did a lot of recycling, reupholstering and moving things around, giving it a new lease of life and making it really fresh.” This approach was taken not only to retain the hotel’s informal charm, but also to champion sustainability – a theme which is evident across the property. “That’s something guests are really interested in,” says Grierson, “Everything from furnishings down to the food and drink offering, so it’s key to everything we do these days. We’re working more and more in the UK; hotels really like the story of having everything made down the road, and we like it too.” Flooded with natural light, the new Mansion Suites’ splendid views over the grounds are reflected in a new paired-back, calm colour scheme, with furniture upholstered in the Zinc Textile fabrics Martin Hulbert Design devised for Romo. At Glenmorangie House, Sage, too, saw that virtually everything was made and crafted within 15 miles, but the hotel goes further, often inviting local artists
for dinner to talk about their work on
display. According to Sage, “you give your guests an unforgettable experience, that’s the stage set – but the real thing is magical moments.”
ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Every playful detail at Glenmorangie House tells a story: ’Salice’ wallcovering by Harlequin lends a little magic to this bedroom; in the Mansion Suites at The Grove, Martin Hulbert Design’s calm palette includes curtains in Zinc Textile’s ‘Batson’, a sofa upholstered in Holland & Sherry’s ‘Windsor Tweed’ and velvet cushion in ‘Gemmail’ by Elitis
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