This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features historically themed hotel bedrooms by 2024 SBID Awards Finalist, Atrio Design.

Atrio Design was commissioned to design six uniquely themed rooms at Baloci Hotel in Birmingham, each celebrating a significant historical figure or era. The rooms—Alexander the Great, Rumi, Taj Mahal, The Persian Room, Babylon, and Marco Polo Suite—blend artistry and historical significance with modern luxury. Each space features distinctive designs and cultural motifs, providing an immersive and enriching experience. Guests can enjoy opulent furnishings, custom art, and themed decor, ensuring both comfort and a deep connection to history. This project marries historical storytelling with high-end hospitality, creating a unique and memorable stay for all visitors.

What was the client’s brief?

The client envisioned a luxury hotel that offers guests an immersive journey through history. Each room was designed to narrate a unique story, blending authentic historical elements with contemporary luxury to create a distinctive and memorable experience. The interiors needed to be visually striking, historically accurate, and rich in storytelling, all while maintaining high-end comfort and elegance.

What inspired the design of the project?

Our inspiration stemmed from world history and cultural heritage. We carefully selected themes that celebrate Alexander the Great, Rumi, the Taj Mahal, and Babylon, among others. Each room was crafted to embody the essence of its theme through intricate details, materials, and craftsmanship. To enhance authenticity, we incorporated custom finishes, bespoke furnishings, and artisanal decor, ensuring that every element contributed to the immersive experience.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

One of the biggest challenges was achieving a seamless balance between historical authenticity and contemporary luxury. Integrating modern amenities into historically themed spaces required careful planning to ensure they complemented rather than disrupted the overall ambiance. Additionally, sourcing specialized materials and artisans to create authentic textures and finishes added complexity. To address this, we collaborated with ELF Decor UK to develop decorative plaster and stucco feature walls, enhancing the character of each room while maintaining a luxurious aesthetic.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

One of the standout moments was designing the Babylon Room, inspired by the grandeur of the Ishtar Gate. Featuring deep blue and gold tones, intricate bas-reliefs of mythical creatures, and opulent textiles, this space truly captures the splendour of ancient Mesopotamia. Seeing the final execution, complete with detailed craftsmanship and artistic wall finishes, was a proud achievement for our team.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The SBID Awards represent the highest standards of excellence in interior design. We wanted to showcase how the Baloci Hotel pushes the boundaries of historical storytelling through design while maintaining uncompromising luxury. This project reflects our passion for immersive, detail-driven interiors, and entering the awards was an opportunity to share our vision with a global audience and gain recognition for our craftsmanship.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being an SBID Award Finalist is a prestigious acknowledgment of our commitment to exceptional design and innovation. It has reinforced Atrio Design’s position as a leader in luxury hospitality interiors and has opened new doors for future collaborations. This recognition fuels our passion for creating unique, story-driven spaces and motivates us to continue elevating interior design to new heights.

By thoughtfully integrating historical themes, artistic details, and high-end finishes, the Baloci Hotel offers guests a unique and enriching experience, making every stay a journey through time.

Questions answered by Andrii Yeksarov, Founder and Creative Director at Atrio Design.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a moody and opulent hotel suite design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Twenty-Two Twelve Design Inc & You Should Stay Here.

Canadian design firms, Twenty-Two Twelve Design Inc & You Should Stay Here were commissioned to design a 9 suite boutique inn in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, a quaint theatre town modelled after Stratford-upon-Avon. They preserved the historic qualities of the building and were endlessly inspired by Shakespearean drama and eccentricity. Draped in rich velvets and tangled in serpent motifs, moody and opulent describes this space best. Each suite is unique featuring completely different bold colour palettes that are tied together with common themes.

What was the client’s brief? 

The clients wanted to transform the space into a destination for theatre goers in time for Stratfords festival season. They trusted ours (Twenty-Two Twelve’s) and You Should Stay Here’s ability to come up with our own vision.

What inspired the design of the project?

At Twenty-Two Twelve my sister and business partner Haley McDonough and I believe you need to start with three questions: what does the property want, what would the client love and how can we push the boundaries. When Autumn Hachey from You Should Stay Here asked us to collaborate on the project we knew Hotel Julie was going to be a boundary pusher. The clients Jake and Paula love vintage, bold design and were not afraid of colour. The building is a Georgian style row house built in 1890 located in the heart of Stratford which is the theatre hub of Ontario and based on Shakespeare’s hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon. We wrapped the walls and ceilings in heritage paint colours and chose finishes that could have always been there like dark oak floors, classic black and white checkerboard, applied mouldings and unlacquered brass fixtures. We added rich velvets as a nod to theatre and layered in Shakespearean motifs such as serpents and ruffles. The goal was “play”ful and sophisticated”.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The Project was turned into a TV show by Alibi Entertainment which added a layer of complexity and added pressure for deadlines. It was beautifully shot by Matt Braun and produced by Joanne Virgo so while it made it more difficult to pull off, it is amazing to be able to look back at the process.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The highlight of the project was seeing the clients faces when we walked them through the first time. We kept the design a secret along the way so they did not know what to expect. Paula was brought to tears she was so overwhelmed with joy. They said it far exceeded their expectations and that is an amazing feeling.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We have been accredited professional members of SBID for 6 years now and believe in the value and importance of setting standards in the interior design industry. We are proud to be associated with SBID, we are proud of this project and are delighted that SBID has identified it as a finalist in our category.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

We feel being an award finalist for SBID is a prestigious accomplishment in its own right.

Questions answered by Jillian Smith-Moher, Interior Designer and Co-Founder at Twenty-Two Twelve.

The magnificent Grade-2 listed Georgian Cuckney House on the Welbeck Estate, one of the UK’s largest and historically important country estates, has been given a complete interior makeover by Rachel McLane Ltd.

The three-and-a-half-year project converted the vacant Cuckney House into luxury 15-bedroom holiday and event accommodation.

The 15,000-acre Welbeck Estate on the Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire border near Sherwood Forest has a history that can be traced back nearly 900 years and is run by The Welbeck Estates Company.

As the most prominent House on the Estate, it has been thoroughly but sensitively transformed during the £5m redevelopment project to provide a single high-spec property for extended holiday and event-related stays.

Its 15 bedrooms include family suites and a bridal suite, allowing the House to sleep more than 30 people, and it has three reception rooms, including a 28-seat dining room and a 40-seat function room. There is a large, well-appointed kitchen, games room, snug butler’s pantry, and outside, there is a large terrace with two BBQs and a wood-fired pizza oven, a walled kitchen garden and a tennis court.

The transformation of Cuckney House is part of the long-term Welbeck Project to re-purpose and breathe new life into the Estate’s collection of historic buildings.

The entire project was managed by the Welbeck Estate, which made it run like clockwork as the Estate has incredibly skilled teams across different departments, including stone masons and builders, some of whom lived on-site to see the project completed.

Working closely alongside the Estate team, we managed through internal and external structural design changes that included a reconfiguration of the walls on the first and second floors, complete re-roofing, insulation throughout, refurbishment of all flooring, including reinstated parquet flooring, and the raising of the ceiling height in the top floor rooms, as well as electrical drawings, lighting designs, colour scheme and fabrics.

We could respect Cuckney House’s listed status while giving each room its identity and personality, reflecting the original use of the building as a Manor House.

The design intent was to make Cuckney House feel like it had evolved rather than an overly designed modern interior. The overall look is eclectic and traditional, with a contemporary twist suited to today’s living expectations.

The interior design also features a new art collection that the Rachel McLane team procured to make it look like the collection had evolved. We worked with the Estate’s collections team on scans of artwork from the collections and also with a commercial art gallery, mixing traditional and contemporary artwork on the walls and around the rooms.

An added feel of the area’s landscape also comes from the work of a ceramic artist who rents a studio from the Welbeck Estate and whose work is on display in the House.

The restoration of Cuckney House has also been emphatically sustainable with the provision of electric car charging points, renewable energy heat sources, and solar panels. In place of energy-consuming kettles in each room, each floor was designed with a communal coffee and tea pod.

Nigel Porter, Property & Rural Estates Director, said, “For me, the interior design and the quality of the craftsmanship stand out.”

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an inviting hotel space design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Franklin Ellis / Sweeney Ellis in association with IHG Interior Design Dept.

The client’s brief was to convert the former Modernist style 1950’s House of Fraser store (previously Dingles and prior to 1973, Colson’s) located within the City Conservation Area in the centre of Exeter into the defining hotel of the city.

What was the client’s brief? 

The clients brief was to create a unique and stunning IHG branded boutique hotel with a destination rooftop bar, restaurant and an urban spa and sports bar. This was to be achieved by converting a 1950s House of Fraser store which was perfectly situated on the High Street in Exeter within viewing distance of the magnificent Exeter Cathedral.

What inspired the design of the project?

As an IHG Hotel Indigo, it was essential that the design narratives were based on the people and culture of the City together with the unique history of the building. The design Inspiration was greatly informed by the incredible story of Mrs Colson who opened her milliners shop High Street in Exeter in 1782 and over 100 years later the store was listed under the description Colson & Company drapers, silk mercers, milliners, costumiers, mantle makers, ladies’ & children’s outfitters, furriers, hosiers & undertakers, 33 & 34 High St”

Following bombing during the war, the Colson’s building was largely rebuilt in the 1950s in a 1930’s modernist style with horizontal fenestration and banding detail and these elements resonate in the overall design.

From the outset it was important to celebrate the heritage and affection the general public had for the former Colson Department Store. The reception area leans in to the haberdashery element of the buildings history reimagining display elements and utilising salvage items from site such as the Colson Store sign now positioned above the bar.

The Narrative 1 Guestroom celebrates the colour, forms and textures found within the wonderful building including the pneumatic tube cash carrier retrieved during the conversion which is echoed in the headboard and corridor room number light design. A glass fronted wardrobe with bespoke wallpaper prints and labelling, captures the retail elements of the store. The connection to Mrs Colson and her milliner skills are reflected in the bespoke artwork and quirky floor mosaic slogans in the bathrooms.

The Narrative 2 guestroom design leaned into Exeter’s rich heritage of fascinating architecture and detailing. One of the best examples of the quirky local ingenuity is ‘The House That Moved number 16 Edmund Street (or the Merchants House). Dating back to 1430 the house if one of the oldest surviving structures in Exeter and it was painstakingly moved 90 metres up the street to make way for a new road.

The design narrative focuses on all things that can move or are not what they seem. The wardrobe and bathroom door are concealed withing painted timber panelling and the paint colour is moved off the traditional line. Scissor lights and desk and a rocking chair combines with quirky artwork adding to the story. The décor is deliberately layered to capture the historic references of culture and architecture in Exeter.

The Cathedral site has been the heart of Exeter since Roman times and the current building has the longest unbroken stretch of stone ceiling vaulting anywhere in the world. There is also an astronomical clock in the north transept dating back to the 15th century thought to be only one of four in England which has been captured in the design of the furniture in the rooms. The design narrative gains inspiration from the fascinating design details in and around the Cathedral Green and uses brass and timber with sumptuous celestial colours fabrics to give a rich decadent feel.

The rooftop bar was to designed to put the focus on the magnificent cathedral which is in full view from the bar and external terrace. A crafted bespoke wallpaper by Elegant Clutter takes inspiration from the colours of the surrounding landscape and intricate details on the Cathedral stonework. The bar was designed to have a more contemporary feel with ribbed tiles to the bar front echoing the stone vaulted ceiling enhanced by rich gold tones and a modern terrazzo and velvet finishes palette.

The Urban Spa takes inspiration from the local landscape in particular the sea and moors. The aim of converting the basement was to create a light and airy feel using natural materials and tactile surfaces. Low level lighting and soft calming geometry combine to create a unique spa experience offering hydro pools, sauna and steam room together with treatment rooms.

The Sports bar is nestled in the basement access by a separate external staircase and its décor is playful whilst appearing mature and timeless.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The project design commenced during the Covid lockdown and initially we were unable to visit site. However modern technology allowed us to virtually walk around Exeter and the building assisting the formation of the design narratives. The deep building plan form was complex being laid out over several split levels with four very different external facades. IHG’s suggestion of removing the existing centrally located escalators and lifts to create a lightwell provided the perfect inspiration for the guestrooms by unlocking the floor plan. Using the building irregularities to our advantage, which we managed to create unique guestroom layouts for the 104 rooms. This led to a huge variety of guestroom shapes and sizes which proved very challenging to the contractor and the styling, ordering and placement of FF&E.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The project was complex and challenging in many ways but equally thrilling and exhilarating for all the team involved. Seeing the individual design elements come together from the basement spa and sports bar to the breathtaking rooftop bar and terrace was incredibly satisfying. Rarely do we have such a variety of building constraints that test and push the agility and flexibility of the designers on site and in the design studio.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The SBID awards are a great platform for designers to showcase their work and provide inspiration for other design professionals but they are also a tremendous encouragement for young talent.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being an award finalist is an incredible achievement for our design team and the wider project team including the client, architect, brand holder IHG, contractor and other collaborators. Being an Award Finalist enables all who were involved to be recognised for their unique abilities and the part they played in crafting and delivering the project. With regards to the business, we aim to continue creating designs with storytelling, passion and sustainability at the forefront. We are always looking to exceed our clients aspirations creating unique experiences for all.

Questions answered by Denise Ellis, Director at Sweeney Ellis Design.

Lily of the Valley is the fruit of a family project, led by Alain and Lucie Weill, father and daughter, with the aim of creating a dream hotel inspiring Wellness and luxury. This is the very concept of the hotel, which offers to its residents an elegant setting in which they are guided in their weight loss goals with the most exclusive Technogym training solutions.

Entirely imagined and designed by the famous designer Philippe Starck, the hotel fits in naturally with the surrounding nature. With an organic architecture, the place opens up to the surrounding light and the vegetation is part of the hotel’s design. He states: “I designed an organic and vernacular village. Everything is so harmonious that it feels like it has always been there. It’s a place that welcomes you at any time of your life, at any time of the season.”

This small “village” inspired by the gardens of Babylon, the architecture of Provençal abbeys and Californian villas, is made up of small Mineral houses with 38 rooms and 6 suites with nature and the Mediterranean as far as the eye can see. 8 pool suites are also part of the picture: these private villas with swimming pool are set in the Mediterranean environment of the French Riviera. Below, the hotel’s own beach with restaurants and bars is available to residents.

2,000 m² are dedicated to sport and fitness within the hotel, and 3 programmes are available for residents who wish to keep fit, accompanying them throughout the year, over 4, 7, 10 or 14 days:
– Optimal weight & serenity
– Intensive weight loss
– Weight loss & sport

All three programmes are supervised by a team of professionals, using the so-called “TGV” method. Developed by Jacques Fricker, it is said to be in three stages and consists of a “high speed” phase, a stabilisation phase and a full fitness phase; all three allow for rapid and lasting weight loss, particularly appreciated for the flexibility and balance of its approach.

Technogym is partnering with Lily of the Valley in the development of this luxury sports area.

Fitness and coaching, present in each of the fitness programmes of the place, are thus proposed and highlighted thanks to Technogym solutions. The Artis line dresses the hotel and allows residents to live an exclusive fitness experience. From cardio equipment to weight training equipment, Artis offers high-end products with a touch of elegance. With customised workouts and a variety of entertainment options, Artis makes working out more motivating and enjoyable for everyone. Working independently on an assigned program or accompanied by the Technogym Coach through the Technogym Live console, residents have access to a simple and ergonomic training experience that adapts to their needs and goals.

Artis equipment includes Artis Run, the treadmill that combines elegance, technology and connectivity. Designed with attention to detail, it is the essence of indoor running. It adapts to the user’s running style, with a natural feel that makes for the most comfortable training experience.

In addition to the Artis Line, residents can also take advantage of the Kinesis Personal Vision, the Technogym innovation “par excellence”. Perfect for a wide variety of functional exercises, it can be used to improve physical condition, endurance, sports performance or to accompany a rehabilitation process. Kinesis Personal Vision is designed to train while respecting the body’s natural movements, in order to achieve fitness, athletic or health goals in an efficient and personalised way.

For over 35 years, Technogym has been promoting Wellness worldwide, a lifestyle based on regular physical activity, a balanced diet and a positive mental approach. Through its wide range of products, Technogym supports Lily of the Valley in offering high quality fitness solutions to its residents, enabling them to achieve their wellness goals through the best Wellness experience to improve their quality of life.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Looking back at sofa.com’s favourite projects of 2023, it’s clear that boutique hotels are no longer simple nor quaint. We’ve worked with designers who are looking to bring the boutique hotel into modernity, and this starts with a reconsideration of what it is that makes a hotel welcoming, and how hotels can keep comfort and function as a top priority yet experiment more with colour and personality, creating a home away from home for guests.

One of the largest projects our dedicated trade team have worked on has been to furnish 9 bedrooms in a new luxury hotel in Ibiza. Perfectly pitched between boutique and mid-sized, Pikes is a project which showcases personality, textural interest and great use of materials. An infusion of colour with beautifully bright upholstered beds and complementary artwork creates an ambient and welcoming environment. Lucinda Swayne, interior designer on the project, comments, “During the renovation, it was vital that the quirky elements were retained to preserve the identity of the hotel. Within the redesign we have created eclectic comfortable rooms with a unique feel, coupled with micro-attention to functionality, so that guests will never want to leave”.

This focus on functionality comes down to vital design choices: bed size and placement, extra surfaces and storage, and lighting decisions.

A perfectly placed bed should leave ample space on each side, ideally enough for the essential bedside table. While beds are ideally placed centrally within the room, this can be a struggle within smaller spaces, when it comes to allow for storage on both sides. Working with designers at Rendall & Wright on a project in Norfolk, our nifty solution was to incorporate a storage ottoman at the foot of the bed, providing both a place to perch and somewhere to stow away personal effects.

Comfort is paramount, with almost all the designers we work with opting for king size beds, as the ultimate requirement for a great overnight stay, is comfort. The main goal is to ensure each guest has the best night’s sleep. Returning customers is the greatest compliment a hotel can receive, and the comfort levels will heavily influence the reputation of a great hotel.

Lucinda comments that a bedroom should be “a comforting space that provides guests with somewhere they never want to leave. Top of the list is by far a comfortable and statement bed.” For the ultimate in indulgence, beds with velvet headboards are a winner – not only do they look luxurious, but they are also beautifully soft and tactile.

Once comfort levels have been established, lighting is the next crucial element, and should be one of the first things considered. Where is the bed going to be placed? You’ll need bedside lamps or wall lights on a separate circuit to allow for adjustable light levels, and true comfort means not leaving your bed to turn off a light switch. Although inherently practical, lighting is another aspect of the room design that can be a vehicle for introducing colour or pattern.

Very much dispelling the reputation of being twee, it’s clear that smaller hotels are going through somewhat of a design shift. A well thought through and exquisitely executed delivery on all the non-negotiables of a dream hotel stay promises a luxurious escape form day-to-day life.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Overlooking Lake Garda, EALA is a luxury hotel designed in every detail to give its guests a one-of-a-kind experience. The choice of Foglie d’Oro flooring, different in design but united by the quality and comfort of wood, creates a clear identity for each room – from the suites and the bistro to the wonderful hall.

In the elegant hall, the Matita modular system, in the Ca’ Bollani finish and with Marquinia marble and brass inserts, creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, where the natural light from outside creates a play of reflections on the dark marble.

In the refined lake-view bistro, the Tricot modular floor in Ca’ Melli finish creates an evocative geometric composition. The tones of the smoked oak wood create a pleasant play of chiaroscuro, giving the surface and the room dynamism and character.

The Spina Jazz in Ca’ Gabriel finish brings the rhythm of the herringbone parquet to the bedrooms, revisited by Foglie d’Oro with a contemporary soul: its serial interlocking corners create an airy, embracing design, perfect for creating a synthesis of comfort and luxury.

Our know-how allows us to meet the demands of customers and designers even beyond the wide range of floors in our catalogue, and Foglie d’Oro has created custom-made products for this project too.

Visit the Projects section of our website to see the complete gallery dedicated to EALA and discover, in the Bespoke section, how we can customise floors and panelling in a completely original way.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Designing a luxury hotel in one of the most vibrant metropolises means creating functional environments with a refined design, finding solutions capable of ensuring guests the best conditions of comfort, with a focus on sustainability.

It is with these premises in mind that for the Nobu Hotel Shoreditch, in London, the modular flooring Frammenti was chosen, made of oak from well-managed and responsible forests.

Thanks to its extraordinary versatility, Frammenti is the perfect solution for every type of environment. The geometric design of the modular floor, which makes it resemble an abstract, contemporary mosaic, is reminiscent of the creative flow and dynamism of the metropolis.

The customised finish was realised by Foglie d’Oro to indulge the creative intuition of the designer and contribute to building the aesthetic identity of the spaces of a luxury hotel, whose attention to detail is one of its most distinctive aspects.

The ability to create customised floors, starting from the designer’s drawing and the client’s needs, is one of the reasons why Foglie d’Oro is chosen by architects and interior designers all over the world.

Would you like to choose a Foglie d’Oro floor or realise your own customised solution in both finish and format? Discover more here.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Visitors will also have access to the schedule of content at the co-located CSI Design Expo Americas providing even more opportunities to leave the show inspired.

Secure your complimentary conference and networking pass here to join the hotel & resort design community in Miami on 6 – 7 June.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a luxurious hotel suite design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Jeffrey Beers International.

Uniquely situated in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, Hard Rock Hotel New York offers a backstage pass to the city’s historic Music Row, honouring its legacy through intricate design, curated amenities, and award-winning guest experiences. Sitting atop the 36th floor is the jewel of the Rock Star Suite, a glass-enclosed penthouse with expansive city views, original contemporary artwork, bespoke music memorabilia, and one of the largest terraces for entertaining in New York City at 1,600 sq. ft. The sleek interior design includes double height ceilings and rich tones and textures creating an inviting and timeless space. On its first level, the suite features an open-plan living and dining area with a bar and butler pantry, an outdoor bar, VIP direct access to the RT60 rooftop bar & lounge, and more. Guests can retreat upstairs to a luxurious bedroom area with a walk in closet and contemporary bathroom featuring a red free standing bathtub.

What was the client’s brief? 

The double story suite is to be used as both a guest room and an event space as well. We therefore designed the separate bedroom on the upper level, as well as created a direct access to the public bathrooms on the floor below. Last but not least, the space exemplifies what the guestrooms are about: to make the guest feel like a rockstar.

What inspired the design of the project?

The rich history of New York’s Music Row, as well as the culture of the Hard Rock brand. The city’s energy at dusk, when the Marquee lights of Times Square come out, also inspired our design.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Creating maximum impact with a reasonable budget. Also every material has to be high quality and resistant without feeling commercial. Being the only Rockstar Suite it has to be ADA accessible.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The red bathtub with a view feels very unique.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

It is a wonderful honour to be recognized by an internationally focused design award. We also greatly enjoy the opportunity to visit London for the awards event.

Questions answered by Pierre Josselin, Associate Principal, Jeffrey Beers International.