Grand Hotel du Midi — Montpellier, France
Montpellier’s Grand Hotel du Midi has just had an overhaul, courtesy of designer Julie Gauthron, who enhanced the original staircases, stained glass windows and ornate ceilings of the 1876 Haussmannian building with unexpected colour associations from black and yellow to red and aubergine, and subtle touches - such as dancers engraved into desk legs - inspired by her grandmother’s tales of dance evenings at the hotel. Meanwhile, custom fabric headboards, zany wallpapers, bold carpets and 50s Danish-style furnishings result in a contemporary-baroque look.
The same style runs through the scarlet red bar, Les Loges, where the eye bounces along the curve in the furniture. The breakfast room, with its original wood panels and green stained glass doors, are updated with dashes of lime and purple, while whimsical ballet motifs on the walls reinforce the hotel’s theatrical element.
Outside, the hotel is lined with stone balconies, from where guests can watch life unravel in Montpellier's buzzine square, the Place de la Comédie.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
22 Boulevard Victor Hugo
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Dive into Buccellati's rich artistic heritage in Shanghai'The Prince of Goldsmiths: Buccellati Rediscovering the Classics' exhibition takes visitors on an immersive journey through a fascinating history
-
Love jewellery? Now you can book a holiday to source rare gemstonesHardy & Diamond, Gemstone Journeys debuts in Sri Lanka in April 2026, granting travellers access to the island’s artisanal gemstone mines, as well as the opportunity to source their perfect stone
-
The rising style stars of 2026: Connor McKnight is creating a wardrobe of quiet beautyAs part of the January 2026 Next Generation issue of Wallpaper*, we meet fashion’s next generation. Terming his aesthetic the ‘Black mundane’, Brooklyn-based designer Connor McKnight is elevating the everyday
-
Form... and flavour? The best design-led restaurant debuts of 2025A Wallpaper* edit of the restaurant interiors that shaped how we ate, gathered and lingered this year
-
New Marseille restaurant Dévo dishes up a sultry 1970s moodMirrors, satin curtains, and tubular steel define the atmosphere of this theatrical hangout, as envisioned by a local team of creatives
-
A local’s guide to Paris by Art Basel newcomer Ash LoveVisual artist Ash Love shares their essential addresses in the French capital as the city hosts the art fair’s fourth edition
-
Hôtel Le Provençal is a sun-kissed family affairA beloved third-generation hotel in the south of France reopens with a fresh look, all whilst preserving its authentic midcentury heritage
-
A night at Le Meurice’s Suite 1835 is like ‘sleeping in an exhibition’At the historic Paris hotel, design studio Things From shake things up with an installation-like suite – a futuristic cocoon available until the end of 2025 only
-
Crosby Studios reimagines the espresso bar in ParisIndustrial poetry and a blaze of orange define Café Nuances’ latest outpost in Le Marais
-
Yannick Alléno takes over Monsieur Dior: ‘What would Christian Dior do if he were to create a restaurant today?’At 30 Montaigne in Paris, the world’s most Michelin-starred chef reimagines French gastronomy as Christian Dior himself might have dreamt it
-
Les Domaines de Chabran redefines the Provençal summer houseArchitect Alain Meylan and interior designer Liliana Atilova bring contemporary finesse to centuries-old country houses in southern France. Discover their latest