One Devonshire Gardens by Hotel du Vin in Glasgow has seen its bedrooms and restaurant areas transformed and two new luxury townhouse suites created.
The hotel, which was bought by Frasers Hospitality UK Holdings Limited three years ago, has seen a substantial investment in its 49 rooms which includes six suites.
The refurbishment was spearheaded by Hotel du Vin’s Group Development Director Jonathan Livesey, and supported by interior design business Anita Rosato Interior Design who have worked on other hotels within the Hotel du Vin portfolio. The designers brief was to give One Devonshire Gardens a distinctive contemporary approach, which was still sensitive to the property’s heritage and longstanding reputation as one of the best hotels in Glasgow.
Certainly the new-look bedrooms are hardly recognisable. Out have gone the four-poster beds, dark walls and traditional furniture and in has come a contemporary look combined with a retro-feel, based around an association with the flora and fauna of the nearby botanical gardens. However the designers have kept the original fireplaces, original ornate cornices and mouldings and have created an ecletic of-the-moment feel.
Anita Rosato, Owner at Anita Rosato Interior Design, comments, “Inspiration for the concept of the guestrooms came from the Hotel du Vin brand and its close association with great wines and champagnes as well as from the beautiful Botanical Gardens nearby, where boldly coloured flora and fauna have really informed the move to a more vibrant colour palette.”
She certainly has been bold – the autumal wallpaper in the bedroom of the newly-named Belle Epoque Suite is all encompassing and has a oriental feel. It covers the four walls and certainly makes an impact. The pictures however don’t do it justice – it marries together amazingly well with the oriental artwork and soft furnishings – . The suite itself (formerly The Krug suite) has been completely reconfigured and now features a dining area (which can also serve as a meeting room) and a luxury bathroom which comprises a free standing roll top bath and large shower.
The lounge area features a retro-sideboard, armchairs upholstered in a vibrant purple velvet and matching drapes. It is split from the dining area with a feature room divider The room is set off by modern artwork and funky contemporary sculptural lighting as well as re-invented antique furniture.
The other suite – Toques & Clochers has been elevated to a sumptuous Luxury Townhouse Suite, and now has the potential to be either a one or two bedroom suite.
All the bedrooms have had new Sealy beds put in, bespoke headboards have been created in vivid colours and fabrics, and behind each there is a hand blocked abstract panels of Grasscloth. There are numerous large mirrors particularly behind the beside lamps. Where wallpapers hasn’t been used the designer has used heritage paints – but again she is certainly not afraid of colour. As you will see from the photographs.
The soft furnishings in the rooms range from deep pinks to vivid orange, and the wallpaper in the rooms feature exotic species. The carpets have all been replaced and are a more neutral gunmetal grey.
What the new look also emphasises is the scale of the bedrooms, which are all of a very good size, with high ceilings and cornicing. The new décor reflects the brightness of the rooms, yet at night the clever lighting creates an cosy ambience.
All the bathrooms have also been given a make-over. Contemporary, monochrome, wallcoverings have been used in all the bathrooms which again have been inspired by the Tropical Gardens at the Botanics. The wood work has been refreshed, simply, in white, and black matt tiles have been used specifically in areas where walk-in showers have been added.
It’s not just the bedrooms that have benefitted from a refresh, one of the most effective additions to the hotel has been new flooring which now extends throughout the dining areas and whisky snug. It may look like it has always been there, but until recently the flooring was different in the each are – now it hangs together and gives character to the dining areas.
This grand old lady of the West end has certainly been livened up. The 19th century Grade B listed houses, have been brought firmly into this eclectic generation.
Guus Bakker, CEO EMEA Frasers Hospitality comments “One Devonshire Gardens is a truly unique hotel which brings centuries of heritage together with today’s modern life, and I’m delighted that the guestrooms reflect this. The final result is 49 beautiful spaces which marry together the old and the new, creating a warm space which is not only steeped in history but is also functional for today’s traveller. We’re delighted with the result.”
Susan Young