Have you ever stayed in a boutique hotel and thought about bringing more than the free toiletries home with you? We’re talking about the glamorous decor and mid-century interiors of course. Boutique hotels often have unique, themed and carefully curated interior schemes that welcome you into an oasis away from home in a much more personal way than the big hotel chains. Europe’s most popular spots for a city break are also where you’ll find some of the most beautiful hotels around and we’re giving you the key to their interior styling. Take a closer look behind the door of some of Europe’s top boutique hotels and unveil their design secrets with us.
Paris
Few places on earth radiate elegance quite like Paris and Chateaux Voltaire brings it in bucket loads. If there was one word we would use to describe this new hotel on the block it would be ‘sophistication’. The hotel’s decor perfectly blends the grandeur of the past with Paris’s modern edge resulting in a tranquil and calming space that is utterly timeless. Every corner of each room is carefully thought out down to the meticulous scalloped moulding and wall panelling. Older furniture silhouettes are brought bang up to date with crushed velvets and buttery soft leather upholstery.
Subtle lighting and abstract artwork that mirrors the building's architecture all give this boutique hotel its unabashedly cool character. Want to bring a little bit of Paris to old Blighty (or whichever little corner you reside)? We’ve given you a helping hand with the new The Parisian Edit in partnership with Laura Jackson. Discover the shade ‘Voltaire’ which is a versatile warm white that can be used anywhere and everywhere and provides the perfect canvas for a Parisian-inspired home.
A sophisticated throwback to the sexy seventies if ever we saw one; Madame Rêve in central Paris is giving us ‘Mad Men’ chic. The hotel occupies what was once the old post office, so its heritage is long-standing. The floor to ceiling wood-panelled walls are warm and cosy, and with the early evening sun streaming in through the windows casting a dramatic golden glow in the room you might even think you’re on a film set.
The stylists have opted for a palette of warm neutrals to complement the heavy wooden aesthetic including natural materials like tan leather seating and terrazzo bathrooms. If you’re not a fan of wood panelling everywhere, why not go for walls painted in earthy tones using ‘Baked’, ‘Mezcal’ or our newest shade ‘Brasserie Brown’, part of the Laura Jackson collaboration?
Interior designer Luke Edward Hall crossed the channel to design this stunning boutique hotel situated by Paris’ buzzing international station. This kitsch and colourful scheme is super inviting and cheerful. Each room focuses on one strong, standout colour and is decorated with bold striped headboards and soft velvet armchairs.
If you’ve fallen head over heels for this serene bedroom blue, you can achieve the look with our ‘Mr. Clifton’, but if you’re tickled pink then ‘Ciao, Sofia’ is the perfect hue to recreate the alternative bedroom look. The fabrics on the soft furnishings undoubtedly deliver a bold statement here. If you’re looking for fantastic bright, bold and quirky upholstery options, check out Poodle & Blonde. If an entire leopard print sofa is a bit much for your taste, trial the look with a few scatter cushions from boutique designer Charlotte Jade Design.
London
Why choose between two cities when you can have both? NoMad is the perfect combo between eclectic London cool with New York city suave. The interiors at NoMad give a nod to the building’s grade-II listed past while allowing its guests to indulge in understated luxury from every angle. The artists, Roman and Williams, from the design studio behind the hotel’s unique look describe how they "loved how nature was breaking into this strong, masculine building – the femininity creeping in was a big inspiration. We wanted to let the sunshine in, to liberate it."
This considered pairing of masculine and feminine influences can be seen in every room, from the solid dark wood furniture, to the soft plummeting peach-toned curtains and iridescent bathroom tiles. The soft putty shade on the suite walls provides the perfect backdrop to the larger furniture pieces that work together so well. Inspired? Our ‘Mindful’ and ‘Cargo’ shades will help you achieve NoMad’s look.
Bringing a little bit of Tokyo to South West London, The Prince Akatoki is a masterclass in modern neutrals and Japandi style. The sleek and simple lines of the walls and furniture allow the natural, untreated wood to shine at the forefront. To achieve this look, think about mixing woods with neutral wall colours including ‘Cafe Flore’ or ‘Pablo’. This look also relies on the small but delicate and carefully considered ornaments which elevate the design and stops the overall space from looking too sparse. You’ll find the perfect selection of Japandi furniture and ornaments from Kave Home.
Take a leaf out of the Holmes Hotel’s book and stick to a simple palette of colours throughout your property for a seamless interior look that takes you from room to room. Inspired by the character of Sherlock Holmes, the hotel is a witty blend of heritage and playfulness that consists of a colour palette formed of three overarching colours: charcoal black, a mid-toned grey and ochre yellow. This paired-back colour scheme provides the perfect backdrop for the hotel’s extensive collection of antiques and oddities that bring character and charm to every corner. If you’re thinking of recreating this interior scheme, it works wonderfully in modern and traditional homes alike and can be achieved with COAT’s ‘The Record Store’, ‘The Coal Drop’ and ‘House Points’; a triple threat.
Bright, bold and beautiful. The Portobello hotel is as colourful and eclectic as its supposed historical past. It’s known for playing host to many musicians and rockstars over the years. The walls are adorned with colourful paint and murals and each room is filled with trinkets and antique ornaments that give each space a personalised character, look and feel. It’s a boho-style that is undoubtedly influenced by the nearby Portobello market, but with an upmarket, luxurious twist.
Get the look in your own home using ‘The Old Corset Factory’, ‘House Points’ and ‘Hamilton’. For an eclectic mix of ornaments and decorations (we know you’ll likely already have trinkets from here and there) but you’ll find some incredible vases, pottery, candles, picture frames and prints from Glassette. Clash colours and prints to lean into the one-of-a-kind boutique look and embrace your personality with a mix of accessories.
Berlin
Looking for class amongst the classics? Look no further than Sir Savigny which can be found in Berlin’s literary quarter. Perfect for culture vultures, this hotel’s style is fresh with a retro nod and is the ideal base for city exploring. The decor is simplistic but classic, opting for wooden floors, beautiful panelling and expansive white walls that are ideal for letting the retro furniture stand-out.
The bedrooms and ensuites are elevated with injections of brass accents and velvet soft furnishings for that sumptuous boudoir feel. To really make brass accents pop, a dark wall colour like 'David Rose' or 'The Record Store' is a go-to.
A warm and cosy blend of modern and Nordic design, the Lulu Guldsmeden effortlessly delivers a home-away-from-home vibe alongside their eco-minded ethos.
Pairing warm wood tones with earthy reds in the soft furnishings, the decor is simple yet inviting under the self-coined term ‘uber-hygge’. This style would look wonderful in a cottage or new build home that’s crying out for an injection of warmth and character.
Madrid
We know, we know, the unique selling point of this hotel is undoubtedly the mega-glamorous rooftop pool, but we think the stylish and modern interior is one aspect we wouldn’t mind bringing home either. Embracing those sensational city views from the panoramic windows, the decor here is understated elegance.
Stunning parquet floor is met with off-white walls and minimal panelling delivering a serene sense of calm. If you think this style suits your home, show your walls some love with our shade ‘Mindful’ which is an earthy pale timeless taupe. Choose metal furniture with clean lines to bring some of the Dear Hotel style to your pad. We know parquet floors come with a price tag so if you’re trying to achieve this look on a budget, there are some awesome vinyl options now - have a look at Remland Carpets which come in various shades.
Grown-up glamour at its finest. This hotel looks like it should be gracing the covers of Condé Nast Traveller. Located in the uber-stylish Salamanca district, part of the Golden Mile, not only is it a haven of impeccable design but it’s perfectly located too.
The facade is a restored 19th-century building but the interiors are pure mid-century modernism imbued in deep, rich colours. You can achieve the look and feel of the Corner Junior Suite with our deep navy shade ‘2AM’, just add crisp white sheets (the higher the thread count the better) and some black sconce lights. Splurge on these by Andrew Martin, or save on this version by Graham & Green.
We don’t know about you but we’re ready for a city break. Have you stayed in a beautifully designed boutique hotel? Need some more advice on how to achieve these boutique hotel looks? Why not chat to our colour consultants for endless style advice, book your consultation here.
