Grand Hotel Bellevue opens in London: a boutique hotel in the heart of bustling Paddington, the 60-room hotel is the first British property by French group Lignée Hotels and features interior design by Paris-based architect Fabrizio Casiraghi
The hotel takes over the five floors of a listed Victorian townhouse facing the peaceful greenery of Norfolk Square, with the interiors conceived as an intimate home merging quintessentially British design codes and a dynamic spirit. The architect was inspired by the contrast between the elegant facade of the house and the location itself, in a neighbourhood in constant evolution, to develop the story behind the hotel interiors.
The townhouse is imagined as the London residence of an eclectic couple, a narrative that became Casiraghi’s starting point for the design identity of the hotel. An aristocratic Englishman and his eccentric, globetrotting wife take over the home, which they decorate by merging their taste and aesthetics throughout. A sophisticated use of lacquered dark wood and traditional decorative elements nod to the more classic side of the design, while bold colour choices and quirky details represent the stronger creative identity of the other half.
Guests are welcomed into the hotel via the Lobby, where they are greeted by an environment that sets the tone for the hotel’s aesthetic. The furniture, a mix of bespoke pieces and antique finds includes a settee facing the reception desk and surrounded by dark boiserie, suggesting the interiors of a traditional English home, while the bold orange hue chosen for the walls gives a contemporary energy to the space.
This theme of visual contrasts continues in the hotel rooms, where a vintage feel is mixed with a more contemporary approach. The material choices and colour palettes further enhance the intimate decor: in every room, bespoke furniture in dark wood is elegantly combined with matching carpets and curtains in muted tones, while the same shades are replicated in their bolder version across the sleek tiles in the bathrooms, in a palette of alternating green, orange and blue.
The same style is declined across the different types of rooms found throughout the hotel, all characterised by natural light and original architectural features. The most compact of the hotel’s offerings, the Cabin Rooms (available as single or double) are inspired by boat cabins, offering a comfortable and functional space for guests. The larger lodgings of the hotel include the Classic Rooms, imagined as a peaceful sanctuary and the Superior, on the upper floors, defined by high ceilings that nod to the Victorian architecture and luxury heritage of the building, and feature an expertly crafted, vintage-inspired wooden wardrobe.
More of the home’s traditional elements are celebrated in the Deluxe Rooms, characterised by traditional sash windows and super king size beds, while the Executive Rooms, sleeping up to 3 people, offer a sophisticated stay and include a bespoke sofa, full length mirror and large wardrobe.
Finally, the Grand Norfolk Suite represents the combination of British tradition and eclectic approach at its finest, featuring high ceilings, large French windows and views over the square below. All rooms are equipped with amenities by Floris cosmetics, and guests have access to the 24 hours NOHrD Fitness Studio.
The energetic spirit of the Grand Hotel Bellevue culminates in the Pondicherry Bar, in the ground floor space opposite the lobby and open to the city with the feeling of an intimate members bar. For this space, Casiraghi chose a bold palette with a bright yellow tone on the walls, offset by the rich tapestries created in collaboration with American fashion designer Emily Bode. Wrapping around the entire room, their design best represents the eclectic spirit of the hotel and the duality that defines it in its entirety. Inspired by the British connections to India, the deep blue tapestry is adorned with motifs that nod to South Asia, with elephants and tigers as well as men dressed in traditional garb adding a rich element of colour to the space.
With its constant tension between traditional design codes and eclectic inspirations, the interiors have been designed like the Grand Hotel Bellevue has been around forever becoming the perfect home away from home in the heart of London.
