Four Seasons
Kuwait City
Having shed its mid-century reputation as a Sin City (of sorts), Kuwait now pursues a more genteel and sophisticated pace, which are qualities that also inform its Four Seasons hotel. Inside, design firm Yabu Pushelberg has humanised the soaring spaces with a mix of theatre and tradition; think vast decorative panels, low-slung furniture and geometric mashrabiya patterns, which appear all over, including strategic sections of room windows, such as bathrooms, where they offer guests an additional layer of privacy. All grey and white striped marble, slabs carefully aligned like elongated barcodes, bathrooms are screened off from bedrooms by sliding doors. Furnishings are courtesy of Australian luxury bath makers, Apaiser, which produced standalone tubs, walk-in showers and, of course, twin sinks. Bronze fixtures, in-mirror televisions and concealed lighting add splashes of drama and in places, the marble expanse is subtly interrupted by mosaic tiling or contemporary mashrabiya screens.
Al-Soor Street, Al Mirqab, Kuwait, T 965. 2200 6000, www.fourseasons.com/kuwait
Four Seasons
Kuwait City
Having shed its mid-century reputation as a Sin City (of sorts), Kuwait now pursues a more genteel and sophisticated pace, which are qualities that also inform its Four Seasons hotel. Inside, design firm Yabu Pushelberg has humanised the soaring spaces with a mix of theatre and tradition; think vast decorative panels, low-slung furniture and geometric mashrabiya patterns, which appear all over, including strategic sections of room windows, such as bathrooms, where they offer guests an additional layer of privacy. All grey and white striped marble, slabs carefully aligned like elongated barcodes, bathrooms are screened off from bedrooms by sliding doors. Furnishings are courtesy of Australian luxury bath makers, Apaiser, which produced standalone tubs, walk-in showers and, of course, twin sinks. Bronze fixtures, in-mirror televisions and concealed lighting add splashes of drama and in places, the marble expanse is subtly interrupted by mosaic tiling or contemporary mashrabiya screens.
Al-Soor Street, Al Mirqab, Kuwait, T 965. 2200 6000, www.fourseasons.com/kuwait
Elements of Byron
Byron Bay, Australia
Celebrated for its cinematic ocean frontage and powdery beaches, Byron Bay’s laid-back charms have been raised a few notches by its most stylish resort, Elements of Byron, which is set amongst 50 acres of wilderness. Cabins – which have bush, beach, rainforest or creekside views – also have walled decks for bathing outdoors in privacy. With a Japanese simplicity-meets-Australian-informal feel, the onsen vibe is enhanced by wooden bath stools and ladder towel racks, while the potted cheesecloth plants (and elsewhere, rattan armchairs and shell chandeliers), are coy nods to the Bay’s bohemian reputation.
144 Bayshore Drive, T 61.2 6639 1500, www.elementsofbyron.com.au
Elements of Byron
Byron Bay, Australia
Celebrated for its cinematic ocean frontage and powdery beaches, Byron Bay’s laid-back charms have been raised a few notches by its most stylish resort, Elements of Byron, which is set amongst 50 acres of wilderness. Cabins – which have bush, beach, rainforest or creekside views – also have walled decks for bathing outdoors in privacy. With a Japanese simplicity-meets-Australian-informal feel, the onsen vibe is enhanced by wooden bath stools and ladder towel racks, while the potted cheesecloth plants (and elsewhere, rattan armchairs and shell chandeliers), are coy nods to the Bay’s bohemian reputation.
144 Bayshore Drive, T 61.2 6639 1500, www.elementsofbyron.com.au
Almanac
Barcelona, Spain
The Almanac group’s debut just off Barcelona’s Passeig de Gracia is the work of local studio, OAB, who have combined two existing buildings into a 91-room cocoon. Inside, Jaime Beriestain Studio has conjured a cinematic, contemporary art deco vibe, with copper accents, low-hanging white drum lamps, and panels of oak and walnut in the bright bedrooms. The immaculate bathrooms meanwhile, feature double sink vanities with individual mirrors, walk-in showers and full-length tubs, and are once again an orgy of marble and glass. The chill is softened through the addition of muted metal fixtures, which hover somewhere on the colour spectrum between copper and gold, and by bespoke bathroom products from Scottish-Catalan perfumer, Jimmy Boyd, a graduate of Grasse, which scent post-shower air with subtle notes of bergamot and pear-apple.
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, T 34.9 3018 7000, www.almanachotels.com/barcelona
Almanac
Barcelona, Spain
The Almanac group’s debut just off Barcelona’s Passeig de Gracia is the work of local studio, OAB, who have combined two existing buildings into a 91-room cocoon. Inside, Jaime Beriestain Studio has conjured a cinematic, contemporary art deco vibe, with copper accents, low-hanging white drum lamps, and panels of oak and walnut in the bright bedrooms. The immaculate bathrooms meanwhile, feature double sink vanities with individual mirrors, walk-in showers and full-length tubs, and are once again an orgy of marble and glass. The chill is softened through the addition of muted metal fixtures, which hover somewhere on the colour spectrum between copper and gold, and by bespoke bathroom products from Scottish-Catalan perfumer, Jimmy Boyd, a graduate of Grasse, which scent post-shower air with subtle notes of bergamot and pear-apple.
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, T 34.9 3018 7000, www.almanachotels.com/barcelona
Hotel Bocage
Hua Hin, Thailand
An homage to concrete, the stark, pared-down Hotel Bocage is the work of Thai architect, Akaradej Pantisoontorn. Inside, Duangrit Bunnag has created complementary interiors that border on the austere. This includes the bathrooms which, definitely not for the retiring, are separated from the rest of the room by floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Those not convinced, can add a modicum of privacy by drawing the curtains, but doing so will deprive bathers of dramatic in-tub views over the Gulf of Thailand – and roommates of a show. Sculptural sanitary ware is by Antonio Lupi and toiletries, as stripped-back as the décor, are from the bamboo charcoal-based Charcoalogy range produced by local skincare specialists, Gla Nature.
Seenspace Building, 4th Floor, Hua Hin, T 66.91 712 8822, hotelbocage.com
Hotel Bocage
Hua Hin, Thailand
An homage to concrete, the stark, pared-down Hotel Bocage is the work of Thai architect, Akaradej Pantisoontorn. Inside, Duangrit Bunnag has created complementary interiors that border on the austere. This includes the bathrooms which, definitely not for the retiring, are separated from the rest of the room by floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Those not convinced, can add a modicum of privacy by drawing the curtains, but doing so will deprive bathers of dramatic in-tub views over the Gulf of Thailand – and roommates of a show. Sculptural sanitary ware is by Antonio Lupi and toiletries, as stripped-back as the décor, are from the bamboo charcoal-based Charcoalogy range produced by local skincare specialists, Gla Nature.
Seenspace Building, 4th Floor, Hua Hin, T 66.91 712 8822, hotelbocage.com
Le Mount Stephen
Montréal, Canada
The former home of Canadian railway pioneer, George Stephen, and later a private members’ club, this landmark property has now been reincarnated as a hotel to include a new, honeycomb-covered annexe. A bit of a hybrid, the new addition contrasts starkly with the ornate, neoclassical splendour of the mansion and, occasional nod to the past aside, rooms are resolutely contemporary. Bathrooms, which are marble and minimal throw a technological punch with multifunctional Japanese Toto toilets with heated seats that do everything but go to the toilet for you, walk-in rain showers equipped with Cura chromatherapy showerheads, toiletries by Italy’s Comfort Zone and, blessed be, window-defoggers and heated floors – for come winter, the temperature difference between indoors and out can be 40°C, sometimes more.
1440 Drummond St, T 1.514 313 1000, www.lemountstephen.com
Le Mount Stephen
Montréal, Canada
The former home of Canadian railway pioneer, George Stephen, and later a private members’ club, this landmark property has now been reincarnated as a hotel to include a new, honeycomb-covered annexe. A bit of a hybrid, the new addition contrasts starkly with the ornate, neoclassical splendour of the mansion and, occasional nod to the past aside, rooms are resolutely contemporary. Bathrooms, which are marble and minimal throw a technological punch with multifunctional Japanese Toto toilets with heated seats that do everything but go to the toilet for you, walk-in rain showers equipped with Cura chromatherapy showerheads, toiletries by Italy’s Comfort Zone and, blessed be, window-defoggers and heated floors – for come winter, the temperature difference between indoors and out can be 40°C, sometimes more.
1440 Drummond St, T 1.514 313 1000, www.lemountstephen.com
