Tuve, Hong Kong

For me the hotel I stay in whilst on holiday is as important as the location. I like to stay in hotels that inspire me and where good design is a considered part of the whole experience and not an afterthought.

On a recent trip to Hong Kong I was lucky enough to stay at the hotel Tuve on Hong Kong Island. From the street the hotel is very unassuming and its only the weathered steel frontal that alerts you to its presence. You step in and are greeted by a perfect example of minimalism and brutalism which may not be to everyones liking but I absolutely loved it.

Reception Area Hotel Tuve, Hong Kong

Reception Area Hotel Tuve, Hong Kong

The bedrooms have concrete walls and floors and the cracks were filled in with a gold filler which helped highlight and treat the cracks as a thing of beauty and not an imperfection. The schemes in the bedroom feature materials such as concrete, marble wood, steel and glass, but the space never feels too austere or cold.

The hotel is inspired by the Scandinavian photographer Kim Hølterman’s images of Lake Tuve in Sweden and the hotels owner wanted this to be the inspiration behind the interior scheme.

Interior Designer Cheshire

The hotel is definitely a stand out an exceptional space for all the right reasons and its really interesting and exciting to see designers using concrete as a finished material rather than something that needs to be covered.

Hotel Dylan, Amsterdam

Going to a new city and discovering new hotels and bars is probably up there with one of my favourite things to do. I love surrounding myself with beautiful design and The Dylan in Amsterdam is a hotel that has stayed with me and inspired me ever since I visited it a few years back.

The Dylan has a discreet but comforting atmosphere. It has a feel of old-world elegance with the wood-panelled walls, leather upholstery, stripped back original floor boards all set against contemporary elements such as the geometric light fittings over a long, curved black marble bar that invites you into the space and Norman Cherner Mid Century bar stools.

Its a great example of how the traditional and modern can co exist in a space if done correctly and is something I always strive to do in the designs I create for my clients.