How to recreate hotel design at home
We asked Citadines apart’hotels to share the secrets behind the designs of three very different Citadines properties, along with tips to help us recreate those designs in our own homes.
Artistic genius
The famous French novelist and poet Jules Verne spent his childhood in the bustling maritime city of Nantes, sparking a fascination for travel which later inspired him to write his adventure novel, ‘Around the World in 80 Days’. Situated just minutes from the city centre and main tourist attractions, the playful design of Citadines Confluent Nantes apart’hotel pays homage to Verne’s whimsical tales. There are spacious and stylish communal areas and a focus on rest and cocooning. Large black and white pencil-sketches, featuring the iconic elephants and hot air balloons from Verne’s novels, march and sail across the walls in the bedrooms, and splashes of tropical colour pattern the fabrics.
Stéphanie Baconnais, Residence Manager, Citadines Confluent Nantes says: “Taking inspiration from what’s around you is a clever way to anchor a place to its location and provide an interesting talking point for guests. Think about the history or essence of your location and add hints to reflect that, to spark imagination, whether that’s seashells for a coastal location, specific colours to reflect the environment or nods to a famous novelist in the form of prints on the wall. You can create a mood board to see how all your elements work together.”
Natural style
The fully equipped studios and apartments in the newly renovated Citadines Arnulfpark Munich draw their inspiration from the natural environment - the urban green spaces in and around Munich as well as the lush valleys and rivers of the surrounding Alpine foreland beyond. In the lobby, varied natural-toned floor coverings separate the reception, seating area, breakfast area and lounge, giving the impression of a winding path through a park landscape. In the refurbished breakfast area, pops of brilliant green and yellow are set against earthy tones and dark wood to enhance this natural theme, and a Bavarian beer garden-style table finishes the look.
Hamburg interior designer Doris Zimmermann of raumdesignkontor.de based her design on local inspirations such as the ‘Englischer Garten’, one of the largest inner city park landscapes in Europe: “The aim was to create the atmosphere and moods of the park with its many possibilities of use such as relaxation, sports activities and nature experiences in the public area of the hotel,” she says.
Steal this style idea by bringing plants both large and small inside and using contrasting textures and natural materials such as wood, bamboo, cork and stone. A green wall, if you have the space, is an eye-catching way to bring the outdoors in.
Colour me beautiful
Colour played a leading role in the interior design of Citadines Islington, the newest addition to the UK Citadines portfolio. This apart’hotel is decorated in vibrant pastel hues, with statement lighting and furnishings contrasted with soothing neutral tones to create a relaxing ambiance.
The apartments and communal areas feature a colour palette of Prussian blue, eggshell blue, and blush pink. These are set against a backdrop of warm European oak flooring, and honey-toned aged-brass light fittings, which provide the perfect foil to make the colours pop. The apartments also feature striking bespoke blue and white monochromatic screen-printed wallpaper.
Citadines Ramblas Barcelona, located in the centre of the vibrant and colourful Catalan capital, takes its design inspiration from the famous Ramblas streets surrounding the property. The primary colour is a mustard yellow, which works well against the soft green / grey backdrop and the black accents. The paving of much of the city is made from a hexagon concrete tile that was designed by Gaudi himself. This pattern, as well as Gaudi’s mosaic concept, was incorporated into the design of Citadines Ramblas Barcelona. Hilary Lancaster, CEO and Creative Director for Fusion Interiors Group who has completed several interior design for Citadines says: “The interior design for Citadines Barcelona was inspired by the hexagonal Gaudi-designed tiles paving the streets of Barcelona and the colour and vibrancy of his artwork and his architecture. Barcelona is such a vibrant city, we wanted to bring this energy into the design while maintaining the Citadines personality that the guests know and love”.
To give your home a refresh and to lift the spirits, add a playful twist by experimenting with bold colours. You can add this to your own space with vibrant colours including blue, yellow and red, mosaic tiles or vases, and rustic clay pottery. If you don’t want to commit to painting a whole room, you could paint a single feature wall, or simply add a new rug, cushions or chairs in bright and bold colours which can easily be changed or moved around to fit your design over time.