Going traditional in the city

Antiques went out of fashion and their prices bombed when Tony Blair swept to power. In their place came the cool and the modern. Now that there is a coalition government, people are daring to be traditional in all sorts of ways, and an aesthetic that’s been limited to the pages of homes and gardens is once again creeping into the design mainstream.

This is no clearer than in the design of luxury hotels, which are continuing to spring up at a rate that implies that the super-rich are completely immune to the world’s economic problems.

The excitement in the past was all about new projects- the so-called ‘designer hotel’ with interiors that conspicuously showcased the work of hyped designers and architects: but now the talk is all about heritage, restoration and the little comforts of tradition.

It’s a trend reinforced by two major hotels that have recently opened their doors in luxurious London- the St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel, which had its grand opening on the 5th May, and the Corinthia Hotel London, which opened on 16th April. The projects share a great deal in common. Both restore spaces that ceased to be hotels in the 1930s. More interestingly both projects share the same interior design pairing of GA design international for the main hotel interiors and David Collins Studio on a showcase restaurant.

David Collins Studio can take considerable credit for the rehabilitation of old-school interior design and for making it seem glamorous rather than frumpy.

Despite designing the Corinthia’s interiors, GA design international wasn’t involved in the commissioning of the Hotels’ centrepiece – an enormous chandelier, more than 4m wide and featuring more than 1000 crystal baubles. The chandelier gives the impression of having always been there, and provides an effective focal point for the vast building. Very recently, chandeliers and pattern were a knowing i9ronic statement- now they are once again for real.

These hotels are inspiring to look at, and delicate to touch, but can they really encompass such intricate antique details without looking a bit shabby and out-dated? Every designer has their own take on how antique interior designs should look, and over which period to capture.

The hotel looks every inch the pricelessness; however what it certainly makes up for in quality, perhaps it lacks in functionality- in some ways it boasts about the money that went into creating such a masterpiece but acts rather as a well-oiled painting, than a well-rounded living area.

Design and build specialists David Collins Studio and GA design international have certainly created two elegant regal hotels that will no doubt become a must see destination along with main competitor Savoy London Hotel, the only question that springs to mind however is- how long with this specific look last before the next concept makes it big in the city?